Maya's heart skipped a beat as she saw the figure from the mine standing at the back of the auditorium. She nudged Rachel, who was sitting beside her.
"Look," Maya whispered, nodding towards the figure.
Rachel's eyes widened as she followed Maya's gaze. "What is he doing here?" Rachel whispered back.
Maya shook her head. "I don't know."
The principal, Mr. Johnson, stepped up to the microphone. "Welcome, students. We have a special guest speaker today."
Maya's eyes were fixed on the figure, who was still watching her. She felt a shiver run down her spine.
"Please welcome, Mr. Smith," Mr. Johnson announced.
The figure stepped forward, and Maya saw that he was dressed in a suit. He looked completely out of place in the small-town school.
"Hello, students," Mr. Smith said, his voice low and smooth. "I'm here today to talk to you about the history of Malma."
Maya's ears perked up. She had always been fascinated by the history of her town.
Mr. Smith began to speak, telling the students about the founding of Malma and its early days as a mining town. Maya listened intently, but she couldn't shake the feeling that Mr. Smith was hiding something.
As the assembly drew to a close, Mr. Smith's eyes locked onto Maya's. She felt a jolt of electricity run through her body.
"Thank you, students," Mr. Smith said, his voice dripping with sincerity. "I hope you learned something new today."
As the students filed out of the auditorium, Maya lagged behind. She wanted to talk to Mr. Smith.
"Maya, come on," Rachel called out.
Maya waved her off. "I'll catch up with you later."
Rachel nodded and followed the other students out of the auditorium.
Maya approached Mr. Smith, who was standing by the microphone. "Mr. Smith?" she called out, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mr. Smith turned to her, his eyes glinting with interest. "Yes, Maya?"
Maya hesitated. She didn't know what to say.
But before she could speak, Mr. Smith leaned in close. "I think we need to talk, Maya," he whispered. "In private."
Maya's heart skipped a beat. What did Mr. Smith want to talk to her about?
She nodded, and Mr. Smith led her out of the auditorium. They walked down a long corridor, the only sound being the echo of their footsteps.
Maya felt a sense of unease growing inside her. She didn't know what Mr. Smith wanted, but she knew it couldn't be good.
They reached a door at the end of the corridor, and Mr. Smith pushed it open. "After you, Maya," he said, his voice dripping with politeness.
Maya hesitated, but something about Mr. Smith's tone made her feel like she had no choice. She stepped through the doorway, and Mr. Smith followed close behind.
The room was small and dimly lit, with a single desk in the center. Mr. Smith gestured for Maya to sit down, and she did, her heart pounding in her chest.
Mr. Smith sat down behind the desk, his eyes fixed intently on Maya. "So, Maya," he said, his voice low and smooth. "I think you know why I'm here."
Maya shook her head. "No, I don't."
Mr. Smith leaned forward, his eyes glinting with interest. "I think you do, Maya. You see, I've been watching you. And I know all about your little adventure in the mine."
Maya's heart skipped a beat. How did Mr. Smith know about the mine?
"What do you want?" Maya asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Mr. Smith leaned back in his chair, a small smile playing on his lips. "Oh, Maya. I want a lot of things. But most of all, I want to help you."
Maya raised an eyebrow. "Help me?"
Mr. Smith nodded. "Yes, Maya. You see, you have a very special gift. A gift that could be very useful to me."
Maya's mind was racing. What gift was Mr. Smith talking about?
And what did he want from her?
As she sat there, trying to make sense of Mr. Smith's words, Maya felt a sense of unease growing inside her. She knew that she had stumbled into something much bigger than herself.
And she wasn't sure if she would be able to get out alive.
Maya's eyes narrowed. "What gift?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Mr. Smith leaned forward, his eyes glinting with excitement. "You have the ability to see things that others can't, Maya," he said. "Things that are hidden beneath the surface."
Maya felt a shiver run down her spine. How did Mr. Smith know about her visions?
"What do you mean?" Maya asked, trying to play dumb.
Mr. Smith smiled. "Don't play games with me, Maya," he said. "I know all about your little visions. The ones where you see things that haven't happened yet."
Maya's heart skipped a beat. How did Mr. Smith know about her visions?
"What do you want from me?" Maya asked, finding it hard to keep her voice steady.
Mr. Smith leaned back in his chair, a small smile playing on his lips. "I want to help you develop your gift, Maya," he said. "I want to teach you how to control it, how to use it to your advantage."
Maya raised an eyebrow. "Why would you want to help me?" she asked.
Mr. Smith's smile grew wider. "Because, Maya, you have the potential to be very powerful," he said. "And I want to be the one to help you realize that potential."
Maya felt a surge of unease. There was something about Mr. Smith that didn't feel right.
"I don't know," Maya said, trying to stall.
Mr. Smith's smile faltered for a moment, before he regained his composure. "I see," he said. "Well, Maya, I think you'll find that you don't have much of a choice."
Maya's heart skipped a beat. What did Mr. Smith mean?
Before she could ask, Mr. Smith stood up, his eyes glinting with a sinister light. "You see, Maya, you're not the only one who knows about your gift," he said. "There are others out there, others who will stop at nothing to get what they want."
Maya felt a chill run down her spine. What was Mr. Smith talking about?
"And what do you want from me?" Maya asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Mr. Smith's smile grew wider. "Oh, Maya," he said. "I want everything."
As Maya watched, Mr. Smith's eyes seemed to gleam with an otherworldly light. She felt a surge of fear, and she knew that she had to get out of there, fast.
But as she turned to leave, Maya realized that she was trapped. The door was locked, and Mr. Smith was standing in front of it, a sinister smile spreading across his face.
Maya's heart was racing. She was trapped, and she didn't know how to escape.