Lina couldn't breathe.
Her phone slipped from her hand, hitting the floor with a dull sound.
"I'm the one who gave you this gift."
The words echoed in her mind like a curse.
"This isn't real…" she whispered.
But it was.
Too real.
She backed away slowly until her legs hit the couch, collapsing onto it without realizing.
Her thoughts spiraled out of control.
Someone was watching her.
Someone knew.
Someone… was controlling this.
"No," she said suddenly, shaking her head.
"No… I'm not a puppet."
Her hands clenched into fists.
"If this is a 'gift'… then I decide how to use it."
The moment she said it—
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
As if something… was listening.
Her heart pounded.
"Fine," Lina whispered into the empty apartment.
"You want to play?"
A cold smile formed on her lips.
"Then I'll play."
That night…
The city was alive again.
Lights.
Voices.
People.
So many people.
Lina stood across the street, watching them.
Her eyes moved from one face to another.
Strangers.
All of them.
All carrying lives she could take.
Her stomach twisted.
"I'm not a killer…" she whispered.
But the memory of that night—
The feeling of becoming someone else—
The rush—
It was still there.
Calling her.
Then she saw him.
A man in his late thirties, arguing loudly on his phone near the sidewalk.
"Listen to me, I don't care what they said—just fix it!" he snapped.
He looked stressed.
Angry.
Distracted.
Alone.
Lina's breath slowed.
Her eyes locked onto him.
"This is just a test…" she told herself.
"I just need to know if I can control it."
One step.
Two steps.
Three.
Her heart pounded louder with each movement.
"Stop now," a voice inside her whispered.
But she didn't.
The man turned slightly, still focused on his call.
Perfect.
Lina reached out.
Her fingers trembled—
Just before touching him.
For a split second…
She hesitated.
Then—
She touched him.
Everything broke.
The world twisted violently.
Light exploded into darkness.
Reality collapsed.
And suddenly—
She wasn't Lina anymore.
She was him.
His body.
His breath.
His heartbeat.
"What the—?!" she gasped—but it came out in his voice.
Panic surged through her.
But this time—
She didn't fight it.
"I'm in control…" she whispered.
Memories rushed in.
Faster than before.
Stronger.
Sharper.
A wife.
A daughter.
Debt.
Fear.
Secrets.
Lina staggered slightly, overwhelmed.
But she forced herself to stay focused.
"No… not this time."
She clenched her jaw.
"I won't lose myself."
Seconds passed.
Or minutes.
She couldn't tell.
Then—
A sharp pain hit her chest.
Her breath caught.
"What… is this…?"
Her heart—
His heart—
Was failing.
"No… no no no—!"
Panic exploded inside her.
"This isn't supposed to happen!"
The pain grew worse.
Crushing.
Burning.
"I need to get out—!"
Darkness.
Lina collapsed to her knees.
Back in her own body.
Gasping violently.
"No… no…"
Her hands shook uncontrollably.
She turned slowly.
The man.
He was on the ground.
Just like the first one.
Not moving.
"I did it again…" she whispered, her voice breaking.
Footsteps.
People gathering.
Voices rising.
"Call an ambulance!"
"Is he breathing?!"
Lina stepped back.
Then another.
Her vision blurred.
Her chest tightened.
"I can't… stay here…"
She turned and ran.
Minutes later…
Lina slammed her apartment door shut, locking it quickly.
Her entire body was shaking.
"I didn't mean to…" she whispered.
"But deep down—
She knew.
This time…
It wasn't an accident.
Her phone buzzed.
Slowly…
She looked at it.
A new message.
"Good girl."
Lina's stomach dropped.
"Now you understand."
"Every life you take…"
"Makes you stronger."
Her breathing stopped.
"And soon…"
"You won't want to stop."
"Shut up…" Lina whispered.
But her voice was weak.
Because part of her—
A small, terrifying part—
Wasn't afraid anymore.
It was curious.
Then another message appeared.
"He saw you."
Lina froze.
"Who…?"
Her phone vibrated again.
"The detective."
Her heart stopped.
Cut to—
Across the street…
Under the dim glow of a streetlight…
Noah Hale stood silently.
Watching.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"I knew it…" he murmured.
Back in her apartment—
Lina's hands trembled.
Her world was closing in.
And for the first time—
She realized something terrifying.
She wasn't just being watched.
She was being hunted.