Chapter 4 – Smile Like You Mean It

Christine's smile didn't reach her eyes.

She stood at the threshold, dressed like she had just stepped out of brunch. Not a hair out of place. Not a trace of tension on her face. Just a soft, practiced grin.

"Elira," she said, like she hadn't just found her in a hidden memory sanctuary. "You left the studio without saying goodbye."

Elira's heartbeat thundered in her ears. Her mind was screaming, She shouldn't be here.

Kael stepped forward. "How did you find this place?"

Christine tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Why wouldn't I? I've always been good at finding things you try to hide."

Elira's throat tightened. "Christine… what's going on?"

Christine's eyes flicked to her, warm and reassuring. Too warm.

"Elira, sweetie. You don't have to do this again."

"Again?" Elira echoed.

"Every time you start piecing things together, it falls apart. You get hurt. He lets you remember just enough to keep you hooked."

Kael's jaw clenched. "You don't get to twist this."

"Oh, I'm not twisting anything." Christine took a slow step inside. "I'm reminding her that you're not the hero you claim to be."

Elira's hands trembled as she held the notebook tighter.

"Christine… how long have you known?"

Christine blinked. "Known what?"

"That I reset. That this has been happening."

Christine's smile finally faded. What replaced it was… tired. Wounded. Older than her years.

"Long enough to know the truth hurts more than forgetting."

A heavy silence fell.

Kael broke it. "We need to go."

"She's not ready," Christine said.

"She's already waking up," Kael snapped. "And you can't stop it this time."

Elira's voice shook. "Stop what?"

Christine turned to her, eyes soft again.

"Elira, I've always protected you. From Kael. From yourself. Please—don't let him pull you back into this."

She stepped forward, hand outstretched.

"Just come with me. We'll go home. Everything will be okay. You won't have to remember a thing."

Elira looked at Kael. His knuckles were white. He was tense, like he expected a fight.

She looked at Christine. Her oldest friend. Her almost-sister. Eyes pleading.

Then… the flicker.

A memory. A whisper behind her eyes.

—Christine holding her down.

—Kael screaming her name.

—A needle.

—"It's for your own good, Elira."

She blinked and stepped back.

"No."

Christine froze. "What?"

"I want to remember. Even if it hurts. I want to know what you did to me."

Christine's face cracked.

Then she laughed.

Not a girlish laugh. Not a best-friend giggle.

It was hollow. Sharp. Shattered.

"You always say that… right before you beg to forget again."

Kael grabbed Elira's hand. "We're leaving."

Christine didn't stop them.

But as they disappeared into the alley, Elira turned back—and saw Christine watching.

Alone.

Still smiling.

But her eyes were full of something Elira couldn't unsee anymore.

Hate.