Mara forced herself to move. Every muscle in her body protested, but she couldn't stay here. The wreckage of her car was useless—her only hope was to walk toward town and hope someone passed by.
She wrapped her coat tighter around herself, the cold night air biting at her skin. Every few steps, she glanced back at the road, half-expecting to see that figure again. But there was nothing. Just the eerie stillness of the forest.
After what felt like an eternity, she reached a familiar street. Streetlights flickered above, casting faint glows onto the pavement. Relief flooded her as she spotted a small gas station up ahead, its neon sign buzzing in the quiet.
She pushed through the glass door, the chime ringing overhead. The warmth inside was immediate, but so was the strange feeling that settled in her gut.
Something was… off.
The shelves were stocked, the radio played softly in the background, and the cashier stood behind the counter, flipping through a magazine.
But it felt wrong.
Mara hesitated before stepping forward. "Excuse me?"
The cashier, a middle-aged man with a tired expression, looked up. His gaze landed on her, and for a moment, he just… stared.
Then, his brow furrowed. "Didn't expect to see you again so soon."
Mara froze.
"What?" she asked, her voice hoarse.
The man gave her a puzzled look. "You were just here a few minutes ago."
Her stomach dropped.
"That's impossible," she whispered. "I just… I was in an accident."
The cashier frowned. "Yeah, but you were just here. You bought a bottle of water, walked out like nothing happened."
Mara's hands trembled. "That wasn't me."
The man's frown deepened. He looked at her for a long moment, then muttered, "Hold on." He turned to check the security camera feed behind the counter.
Mara stepped closer, her pulse pounding. The screen flickered as the footage rewound.
And then—
There she was.
Mara on the screen.
Walking in. Buying water. Leaving.
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
She had no memory of this.
She gripped the counter, her breath coming too fast. "That's not me," she whispered, but the evidence was right there.
The cashier looked at her, uneasy now. "Listen, are you okay? Maybe you hit your head or—"
Mara staggered back. Her thoughts raced.
Something was happening. Something she couldn't explain.
And whatever it was, it had already begun.