Chapter 19: Following the Clues
818 Words
The afternoon sun shone brightly over Paris as Isabelle and Daniel walked slowly along the banks of the Seine. The river moved calmly beside them, but neither of them felt calm.
Too many questions were filling their minds.
Isabelle held the folder Daniel had given her earlier. She had read several pages already, but the complicated research notes were difficult to understand.
“I still can’t believe this,” she said quietly. “Connecting dreams between two people… it sounds impossible.”
Daniel sighed.
“I thought the same thing years ago. But after the dreams started, I began to wonder if the experiment actually worked.”
They stopped near a stone railing overlooking the river.
Tourists were taking pictures nearby, laughing and enjoying the beautiful view of the distant Eiffel Tower.
For them, the day was normal.
For Isabelle and Daniel, nothing felt normal anymore.
Isabelle opened the folder again and pointed at a section of the research paper.
“This part says the dream connection could only happen if the emotional response between the two subjects was strong,” she said.
Daniel nodded.
“Yes. They believed emotions could strengthen brainwave synchronization.”
Isabelle raised an eyebrow.
“So… our feelings are actually making the connection stronger?”
Daniel looked slightly embarrassed.
“It seems that way.”
Isabelle closed the folder slowly.
A soft smile appeared on her face.
“Well… that’s one scientific explanation for falling for someone.”
Daniel laughed quietly.
For a moment, the tension between them faded.
But the moment didn’t last long.
Daniel’s expression became serious again.
“There’s something else we need to figure out,” he said.
“What?”
“Whether Camille is still running the experiment.”
Isabelle felt a chill.
“You think she’s controlling the dreams?”
“I’m not sure,” Daniel replied. “But the voice we heard… it sounded too clear to be a coincidence.”
Isabelle nodded slowly.
“So how do we find out?”
Daniel thought for a moment.
“Camille works at a research institute near the university,” he said. “If she’s continuing the study, there might be records or equipment there.”
Isabelle looked surprised.
“You want to go there?”
Daniel smiled slightly.
“Just to look around.”
Isabelle crossed her arms.
“You’re suggesting we investigate a scientist’s workplace.”
Daniel shrugged.
“Technically, yes.”
She stared at him for a moment.
Then she laughed softly.
“You realize this sounds like the beginning of a detective story.”
Daniel grinned.
“Maybe it is.”
After a moment of thought, Isabelle nodded.
“Alright,” she said. “Let’s do it.”
---
Later that evening, the sky over Paris turned deep orange as the sun began to set.
Daniel and Isabelle stood across the street from a modern glass building.
Lights glowed inside the upper floors.
A small sign near the entrance displayed the name of the research institute where Camille worked.
Isabelle looked at the building nervously.
“So… what’s the plan?”
Daniel studied the entrance.
“Camille usually stays late at work,” he said. “But if we’re lucky, she might already be gone.”
“And if she’s not?” Isabelle asked.
Daniel smiled slightly.
“Then we’ll improvise.”
Isabelle shook her head.
“I can’t believe I agreed to this.”
Still, curiosity pushed her forward.
They crossed the street together and approached the building.
The front door opened easily.
Inside, the lobby was quiet.
Most of the lights were off, and only a few distant rooms were still illuminated.
Daniel led the way toward the elevators.
“Her lab should be on the fourth floor,” he whispered.
Isabelle pressed the elevator button.
The quiet ding echoed through the empty building as the doors opened.
They stepped inside.
Neither of them spoke as the elevator slowly moved upward.
Second floor.
Third floor.
Fourth floor.
The doors slid open.
The hallway was dim and silent.
Daniel walked carefully down the corridor until they reached a door with a small glass window.
A name was printed beside it.
Dr. Camille Durand.
Isabelle looked at Daniel.
“This is it?”
Daniel nodded.
He gently pushed the door open.
Inside, the lab was filled with computers, monitors, and strange scientific equipment.
But one screen immediately caught Isabelle’s attention.
Two glowing brainwave patterns moved across the display.
And above them were two names.
Daniel Laurent
Isabelle Martin
Isabelle’s heart pounded.
“She’s still running the experiment,” she whispered.
But suddenly—
A calm voice spoke behind them.
“I was wondering when you two would come.”
Daniel and Isabelle turned quickly.
Standing in the doorway was Camille.
She looked completely calm.
Almost amused.
Camille crossed her arms and smiled slightly.
“Well,” she said.
“Welcome to the experiment.”
- Writer
