📖 DIMENSION X —
CHAPTER 4: "THE CHOICE"
The treehouse felt smaller than usual.
Not because it had shrunk.
But because of the tension.
No one was talking.
Ryan stood near the window, arms crossed, staring outside like the answer was written in the wind.
Zayn paced back and forth like a detective in a crime show.
Arjun sat on the floor, chewing on a pencil like his brain was buffering.
Layla leaned against the wall, arms folded, clearly judging everyone silently.
And Maya?
Maya was sitting right next to Evie.
Like it was already decided.
"She's staying."
Ryan said it first.
Calm. Firm.
No hesitation.
"Excuse me?" Zayn stopped pacing. "We just gonna ignore the fact she almost burned the whole forest down??"
"She didn't mean to!" Ryan snapped.
"Oh yeah?" Arjun raised a brow. "Because accidental fire seems very safe. Totally normal. Definitely not dangerous."
Layla added, "We don't even know who she is."
Maya rolled her eyes so hard it could win awards.
"Oh my god, you guys are so dramatic."
"DRAMATIC??" Zayn pointed at Evie. "She literally—"
"Saved herself," Ryan cut in.
Silence.
Everyone looked at him.
"She was scared," he continued. "Something happened. She reacted."
"And what if she reacts again?" Layla challenged.
Ryan didn't answer immediately.
For the first time—
He hesitated.
That was enough.
"Exactly," Arjun said.
Maya sighed loudly.
"Wow. Okay. Great. Amazing teamwork guys. Let's just throw her outside and hope she doesn't die. That's very heroic of us."
"Don't twist it," Layla said.
"I'm not twisting anything," Maya shot back. "I'm just saying you all are acting like she's some kind of villain."
"She could be," Zayn muttered.
That did it.
Maya stood up.
"Fine."
Everyone blinked.
"Don't keep her. Whatever. I don't care."
She walked past them and sat beside Evie again.
Evie hadn't said a word this entire time.
She was quiet.
Watching.
Listening.
Learning.
Maya softened immediately.
"Hey…" she said gently.
Evie looked at her.
"You okay?"
Evie nodded slowly.
But her fingers tightened around the edge of the blanket.
Maya noticed.
She always noticed.
"Can I ask you something?" Maya said.
Evie tilted her head.
"Your powers…"
She leaned closer, eyes sparkling.
"…can you show me?"
Evie hesitated.
Her eyes flickered slightly.
Not fear.
Not fully.
But something close to it.
Maya quickly added, "Only if you want to! No pressure. Like zero pressure. Negative pressure actually."
Evie stared at her for a moment.
Then…
Slowly…
She nodded.
Ryan noticed from across the room.
He straightened a little.
Evie raised her hand.
The air around it shimmered.
At first—
Nothing.
Then suddenly—
🔥 A small flame appeared above her palm.
Maya's eyes widened.
"Wait—"
The flame twisted.
Shifted.
đź’§ It melted into water mid-air.
"What—HOW—" Maya whispered.
The water hovered for a second.
Then—
It dropped.
Before it could hit the ground—
❄️ Evie snapped her fingers.
The water froze instantly into a tiny crystal.
Maya gasped.
"No way…"
The crystal spun.
Then—
🌪️ It burst into a tiny swirling cyclone.
"THIS IS SO COOL—"
The others turned.
Even Zayn stopped arguing.
Arjun stood up.
Layla leaned forward.
No one spoke.
The cyclone slowly faded.
Evie lowered her hand.
Touched the ground.
🌱 A small green sprout pushed through the wood.
Growing.
Twisting.
Blooming into a strange, glowing flower.
Not from Earth.
The room was silent.
Maya whispered, "Okay yeah… she's staying."
Ryan smirked slightly.
"Guys…" Maya turned dramatically. "Imagine the possibilities."
Zayn already looked concerned.
That's never a good sign.
"We could literally prank people."
"Maya—" Layla warned.
"No listen," Maya continued, "like imagine—BOOM—fire heart in someone's face. Or like ghost pranks. Or like—"
"MAYA."
"Okay okay jeez, I'm kidding," she laughed.
"…mostly."
Evie watched them.
Confused.
But…
A little smile appeared.
Ryan noticed that too.
For a second—
Everything felt normal.
Then Evie suddenly went still.
Her eyes shifted.
White.
Then flickered.
"…it found me."
The room froze.
"What?" Ryan stepped closer.
Evie looked at him.
Her voice was quieter this time.
"…they found me."
Instant tension.
Zayn cursed under his breath. "I knew it."
"The government?" Arjun asked.
Layla's face went serious.
Ryan clenched his jaw.
"How?" he asked.
Evie shook her head.
"I don't know…"
Maya grabbed her hand.
"It's okay. We're here."
Ryan looked at the others.
Decision time.
"…she stays."
This time—
No one argued.
Not because they agreed.
But because…
They understood.
Something bigger was coming.
And whether they liked it or not—
They were already part of it.
🌙 LATER THAT NIGHT
The treehouse was quieter.
Dim lights.
Soft whispers.
Everyone had somehow agreed to stay.
Zayn and Arjun were still arguing quietly in the corner.
"I'm telling you, this is a bad idea."
"Oh yeah? And kicking her out is a great idea?"
"At least we won't die."
"You're so dramatic."
"YOU'RE dramatic."
Meanwhile—
Maya and Layla were with Evie.
"Okay so rule number one," Maya said, "you're officially one of us now."
Evie blinked.
"One… of you?"
Layla nodded.
"Yeah. Which means you don't have to be scared all the time."
Evie looked down.
"…I don't know how not to be."
That hit.
Hard.
Maya softened instantly.
"Then we'll teach you."
Evie looked up.
For the first time—
There was hope in her eyes.
Across the room—
Ryan was watching.
Not staring.
Just…
Watching.
Arjun nudged him.
"Bro."
Ryan didn't look away.
"Broooo."
"What?"
"You're staring."
"I'm not."
"You literally are."
"I'm thinking."
"Yeah thinking about her."
Ryan rolled his eyes.
Zayn smirked.
"Oh it's over for him."
"Shut up," Ryan muttered.
Maya shouted from across the room:
"LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT—"
"SHUT UP MAYA!"
Evie flinched slightly at the sudden noise.
Ryan noticed.
Immediately softer.
"Hey… it's okay," he said gently.
Evie looked at him.
Silence.
Something unspoken passed between them.
And for a moment—
The chaos faded.
But far away—
Deep in the forest—
Something moved.
Watching.
Waiting.
And this time—
It wasn't leaving.
🎬 END OF CHAPTER 4