📖 DIMENSION X —
CHAPTER 5: "OUT OF PLACE"
The argument came back like it never left.
Louder this time.
Messier.
More real.
"You're all acting like this is normal!" Zayn snapped, running a hand through his hair. "She has powers. POWERS. That's not something you just casually deal with!"
"And what do you want us to do?" Maya shot back. "Kick her out again? Great plan. Let's just hand her over to whatever she's running from."
"I didn't say that—"
"You basically did."
Arjun sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Look… we're not saying abandon her. We're saying… we need to think."
Layla crossed her arms. "We are thinking."
"No, you're feeling," Zayn corrected.
Ryan had been quiet the whole time.
Leaning against the wall.
Watching.
Evie sat on the bed, knees pulled close, eyes shifting between them.
Every raised voice made her flinch just a little.
Not obvious.
But enough.
Maya noticed first.
Of course she did.
"Okay that's enough," she said suddenly.
Everyone stopped.
"We're not doing this in front of her."
Silence dropped.
Guilt followed.
Maya turned to Evie, instantly soft again.
"Come on."
Evie blinked.
"Where?"
Maya grinned.
"Operation: Human Upgrade."
Layla smirked slightly. "Translation: you need a bath."
Evie frowned, confused. "I already… wash."
Maya leaned closer like she was revealing a secret.
"Not like this."
And just like that—
The girls kidnapped her.
"HEY—where are you taking her?" Zayn asked.
"Relax," Layla said over her shoulder. "We're not killing her. Yet."
Arjun snorted.
Ryan didn't laugh.
He was still watching.
The bathroom filled with steam.
Water running.
Soft light reflecting off tiles.
Evie stood awkwardly in the middle of it all like she had entered a completely different world.
Which… she kind of had.
Maya held up a shampoo bottle.
"Step one: trust the process."
Evie stared at it like it might attack her.
Layla chuckled. "It's not poison."
"…are you sure?" Evie asked seriously.
Maya froze.
Then burst out laughing.
"Oh my god I love her."
Minutes later—
Evie sat on the edge of the tub, hair wet, wrapped in a towel, looking like she had just survived something intense.
"That wasn't so bad, right?" Maya asked.
Evie blinked slowly.
"…it attacked my eyes."
Layla laughed this time.
"Okay fair."
Then came the next step.
Clothes.
Maya opened the bag dramatically.
"Welcome… to Earth fashion."
Evie tilted her head.
Layla pulled out a simple outfit—soft, comfortable, but still stylish.
"Try this."
Evie took it carefully.
Like it mattered.
Like it meant something.
When she disappeared to change—
Maya turned to Layla.
"She's staying."
Layla didn't argue this time.
"…I know."
When Evie stepped out—
Everything paused.
Her hair, now shorter and softer, framed her face.
The clothes fit her perfectly.
Simple.
But…
She looked different.
Not like a lost girl.
Like someone who belonged.
Maya blinked.
"…oh."
Layla raised a brow.
"…okay."
"WHY IS SHE PRETTIER THAN ME ALREADY??" Maya whispered aggressively.
Evie looked down at herself.
"…is this… okay?"
Maya grabbed her shoulders.
"You look like a main character."
Evie didn't understand.
But she smiled anyway.
Meanwhile—
The boys were still in the treehouse.
Arguing.
Of course.
"We can't just take her outside," Zayn said.
"Why not?" Arjun asked.
"Because what if someone sees something??"
Ryan leaned back. "Then we don't let them."
"That's not how the world works."
Before Ryan could reply—
The door opened.
And everything stopped.
Evie stepped in.
Silence.
Complete.
Silence.
Zayn blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Arjun straight up forgot how to breathe.
Ryan—
Just stared.
Not in a weird way.
Not in a creepy way.
Just…
like he was seeing her properly for the first time.
Maya crossed her arms proudly.
"Yeah, we know. She ate."
Layla leaned casually against the door. "Try not to embarrass yourselves."
Arjun recovered first.
"…okay what."
Zayn pointed at Ryan.
"BRO. Look at your face."
"I'm not doing anything."
"You're literally smiling."
"I always smile."
"No you don't."
Maya gasped dramatically.
"OH MY GOD—"
"No," Ryan warned.
"RYAN + EVELYN = RYALYN."
"Stop."
"It's official."
"Shut. Up."
Zayn smirked. "He doesn't even know her."
"Exactly my point ☝🏻," Arjun added.
Ryan rubbed his face.
"I hate all of you."
Evie watched this entire interaction like it was a show.
"…what is happening?"
Maya patted her shoulder.
"Don't worry about it."
The decision came quicker than expected.
"We take her out," Maya said.
"No," Zayn said immediately.
"Yes," Layla countered.
"We don't even know if it's safe."
"It's never going to be safe," Ryan said.
That shut everyone up.
"If she stays hidden forever, she'll never learn anything," he continued. "She needs to see the world."
Evie looked at him.
"…the world?"
Ryan nodded.
A pause.
Then—
Maya grinned.
"Field trip it is."
The outside world hit Evie like a wave.
Light.
Sound.
Movement.
People.
Everything was loud.
Bright.
Alive.
She walked between them carefully, eyes wide, taking in everything.
Cars passing.
Children laughing.
Dogs barking.
At the park—
She stopped.
A little girl ran past her, holding a balloon.
Laughing.
Free.
Evie watched her like it was something she had never seen before.
"…they're not scared," she whispered.
Maya softened.
"No."
"They're just living."
Evie looked at her.
"…how?"
Maya smiled.
"We'll teach you that too."
At the grocery store—
Chaos.
Evie touched everything.
"What is this?"
"Bread."
"What is this?"
"Also bread."
"Why so many breads?"
"No one knows."
Arjun whispered to Zayn, "She's asking the real questions."
Zayn nodded seriously.
Ryan followed quietly behind her.
Making sure she didn't wander too far.
At one point—
She picked up a lollipop.
Paused.
"…I remember this."
Ryan looked at her.
"From… before."
Something flickered in her eyes.
Then it was gone.
Later—
They sat in the park again.
Evie held the lollipop carefully.
"…thank you."
No one replied immediately.
Because they all felt it.
This wasn't just a day out.
This was…
Something bigger.
Something that changed things.
Ryan leaned back on the grass.
For once—
Everything felt okay.
But not far away—
Something unseen…
was already moving closer.
And next time—
It wouldn't miss.
🎬 END OF CHAPTER 5