chapter 7: The unseen camera
252 Words
The next morning, Elara discovered that the Vanguard Loft was far more invasive than she had initially realized. While trying to change out of her rehearsal gear in the cramped bathroom, she noticed a tiny, blinking red light embedded in the corner of the ceiling—a security camera she hadn't seen the night before. Panic flared in her chest, cold and sharp. If she was being filmed twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, her every movement, every subtle mannerism, and every private moment was being archived for the crew's technical staff to analyze. She realized she had to be "Elias" even when she was entirely alone, trapped in a performance that never truly ended. The pressure was absolutely suffocating. Later that afternoon, Riven, the group’s tech-wiz and resident prankster, cornered her near the main monitor station, his eyes glinting with mischief and hidden intent. "You know, the raw footage of your audition is trending online, but the tech team is having a total field day trying to figure out your rhythm," he teased, leaning in close and invading her personal space. "They think it’s a glitch in the style. I think you're hiding something much deeper." Elara laughed it off with a practised, arrogant smirk, her voice steady despite the fact that her heart was racing like a drum. Riven was dangerous not because he was cold or aloof like Jaxen, but because he was observant, and it was becoming increasingly clear that he was enjoying the hunt
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