Maya didn't sleep.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw it again.
Her name.
TARGET.
She sat curled up on her bed, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. The messages. The man. The vision.
It was all real.
And for the first time since her ability started
She wasn't just afraid of what she could see.
She was afraid of what others would do because of it.
The next morning, everything felt… different.
The world looked the same.
But it didn't feel the same.
As Maya walked into school, her eyes moved more carefully than usual. Every face she passed made her wonder—
Do they know?
Are they watching me?
Even the smallest movements felt suspicious.
A student looking in her direction for too long.
A phone being lifted slightly.
A whisper that stopped when she passed.
Her chest tightened.
I'm not safe here.
When she entered the classroom, she noticed it immediately.
Ethan wasn't there.
Her stomach dropped.
He was always there before her.
Always.
She sat down slowly, trying to ignore the growing unease inside her.
Five minutes passed.
Ten.
Still nothing.
The teacher walked in.
Class started.
But Maya couldn't focus.
Her fingers tapped lightly against her desk, her thoughts racing.
Where is he?
Then suddenly—
The classroom door opened.
Maya's heart jumped.
Ethan walked in.
But something was off.
His usual calm confidence was gone.
His expression was tense.
Serious.
And when his eyes met hers—
She knew.
Something had happened.
The teacher paused. "You're late, Ethan."
"Sorry," he said shortly, walking to his seat.
The room fell into its usual whispers, but Maya barely heard them.
She kept looking at him.
Waiting.
But he didn't look back again.
Not once.
The moment the bell rang, Maya stood up.
She didn't wait.
Didn't hesitate.
She walked straight out of the classroom.
And she knew—
He would follow.
Footsteps echoed behind her.
Fast.
"Hey."
She didn't stop.
"Maya."
Still, she kept walking.
Then—
His hand grabbed her wrist.
And the world stopped.
Maya froze.
Not because of the touch.
But because—
Nothing happened.
No vision.
No flashing memories.
No secrets.
Just… silence.
Her breath caught.
Slowly, she turned to look at him.
Ethan seemed just as surprised.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Maya pulled her hand away.
"What happened?" she whispered.
Ethan frowned. "What do you mean?"
"My ability," she said. "It didn't work."
His expression darkened slightly.
"That's not a bad thing."
"But it's never happened before."
Silence fell between them.
Then Ethan exhaled.
"Come with me," he said.
"Where?"
"Somewhere we can talk."
They ended up behind the old gym.
A place no one really used anymore.
Quiet.
Isolated.
Safe.
Or at least, it felt that way.
Maya leaned against the wall, crossing her arms slightly.
"Start talking," she said.
Ethan ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated.
"They're moving faster than I thought," he muttered.
"Who?"
He looked at her.
"The same people who came last night."
Maya's chest tightened.
"What do you mean?"
"They don't just watch," he said. "They interfere."
Her mind raced.
"You think they did something to me?"
Ethan hesitated.
"Maybe not directly," he said. "But if they're interested in you…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
But Maya understood.
"They're trying to control it," she whispered.
Ethan didn't deny it.
A heavy silence followed.
Then Maya looked at him.
"Why do you know so much about them?"
That question lingered in the air.
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
His gaze shifted away.
And that—
That was answer enough.
"You were part of them," she said quietly.
He stiffened.
Maya felt her heart sink.
"I wasn't… exactly part of them," he said slowly.
"But you worked with them."
Silence.
Her chest tightened.
"How could you?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly.
"You don't understand," Ethan said.
"Then make me understand!"
Her voice echoed slightly in the empty space.
Ethan stepped closer.
"Everything I did," he said, his voice low and intense, "was to survive."
Maya shook her head.
"That doesn't explain Daniel."
Ethan's expression hardened.
"It's not that simple."
"It never is with you!" she snapped.
The tension between them snapped tight.
For a moment, it felt like everything was about to break.
Then Ethan said something that made her freeze.
"They're watching you right now."
Maya's breath caught.
"What?"
"I noticed it this morning," he said. "Different faces. New people."
Her heart started racing again.
"You're not imagining things," he added. "You're being watched."
Maya's hands trembled slightly.
"I can't do this," she whispered.
Ethan stepped closer.
"Yes, you can."
She looked up at him.
His eyes were steady.
Serious.
"You're stronger than you think," he said.
Something in his voice—
Something real—
Made her pause.
For a moment, her fear quieted.
Just a little.
But then—
Reality hit again.
"They want me," she said.
Ethan didn't deny it.
And that was the scariest part.