Apocalypse: The echoes of Madness

Rose stood in front of the mirror, her reflection staring back at her with an unsettling familiarity. She traced the contours of her face with her eyes—long black hair falling in disheveled waves, brown eyes shadowed with weariness, a pale face that seemed almost hollow. She noticed her usual attire: the same purple hoodie and baggy pants she had been wearing since she woke up.

"I wonder why I always avoid mirrors," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "My heart feels uneasy every time I see myself. I've never truly looked... never really seen myself." Her fingers brushed against the edge of the mirror as a faint shiver ran down her spine. "What happened to me? And those dreams... where are they coming from?"

Suddenly, a wave of dizziness overtook her. She stumbled, her hand clutching the table for support. A loud thud broke the silence as a book toppled from the table to the floor. Gasping for breath, she whispered, "I shouldn't have looked in the mirror. This... this is just like last time."

Steadying herself, Rose's gaze fell on the fallen book. It lay open, its pages fluttering faintly. She knelt down, her trembling hands reaching for it. As her eyes landed on the last page, she froze.

"Wait... something's written here." Her voice quivered as she read the words aloud, "The One and Only Reader." A chill ran through her as she flipped to the publication details. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

"The book was published in... 2028?" She bolted to the door, wrenching it open, and found the nearest calendar. The year glared back at her—2023.

"What?" she whispered, her thoughts racing. "How is this possible? Could it be... my psychic power? No, it can't be." She paused, recalling the strange inscription. "The One and Only..." But there was no author's name.

Clutching the book tightly, she returned to her room, her heart pounding. She sat on her bed and began reading, desperation and curiosity gripping her.

---

Meanwhile, in Dr. Lucas's office, the tension was palpable. The room buzzed with quiet anticipation as several individuals gathered, awaiting the final decision.

"Sir, should we announce the team for the mission?" Thomas, Dr. Lucas's assistant, asked impatiently.

Dr. Lucas leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes scanning the room. "Wait a little longer," he said calmly.

"But it's already ten," Thomas pressed. "Do you really think she'll come? We could just force her—"

"No," Dr. Lucas interrupted, his voice firm. "Forcing her would only make things worse. She has to come on her own."

Just then, the door flew open with a bang. Rose stood in the doorway, her chest heaving as though she had been running. Her face was flushed, her determination shining through her exhaustion.

"I'll go," she declared, her voice resolute.

Dr. Lucas stood, a rare smile softening his usually stern expression. "What took you so long?"

"I was... thinking," Rose replied, still catching her breath.

Thomas wasted no time. "I'll make the announcement right away," he said, hurrying off.

"Come with me," Dr. Lucas said, gesturing for Rose to follow. "The others are waiting."

Rose trailed behind him as they entered another room, where the mission briefing would take place. As she stepped inside, she felt the weight of the mysterious message lingering in her mind. She didn't know what awaited her on this mission, but one thing was certain—her life was about to change forever.Everything felt distant, like fragments of a dream she couldn't piece together.

The cold, silent hallways stretched before her, her mind was quiet, unsure of what lay ahead but certain that she had to keep going.

They reached a steel door, and Dr. Lucas placed his hand on a panel. The door slid open with a soft hiss, and Rose stepped inside, her heart heavy but her thoughts still blank.

"Maybe through this," Rose thought, her gaze shifting to the people gathered in the room, "I can uncover the truth about myself… about those dreams, that book and about these people."

Her breath hitched as she studied their faces—some determined, others wary, each carrying a story she didn't yet know. There was a weight to their presence, a shared purpose that both grounded her and made her feel like an outsider.

am i the only one outsider? rose wonderer.

To know the danger of the future is both a gift and a curse; it is not the peril that lies ahead that defines us, but the courage we muster to face it. For in the chaos, when all seems lost, we uncover the strength that we never knew we had—strength forged not in comfort, but in the storm itself.

As the silence in the room deepened, she exhaled softly, her voice barely audible but resolute. "Now this is where it all begins.I will survive, until the truth finally breaks through."

And I will find you—the one who pulled me into this twisted tale. The writer, Rose thought, her mind sharp and unyielding. You sealed your fate the moment you handed me your novel. You won't stay hidden forever.

Her gaze swept over the crowd, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. I know you're here, hiding in plain sight. So, let's play your little game of hide and seek.

Because you're not just the one who brought me here—you're the only one who can send me back.

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(to be continued)

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