Chapter 6 – The Memory She Hid From Herself

The darkness in Room 306 wasn't ordinary.

It pressed in, thick and unnatural. Like it wasn't just the absence of light—but the presence of something else. Something watching.

Kael lit a small flashlight from his coat. Its beam barely pushed back the black.

"Elira," he said carefully, "you need to stay calm."

"What's going on?" she whispered, hugging the notebook to her chest.

"There's something in this room that only activates when your memories start waking up. Something you left behind."

She turned slowly. "I don't remember doing that."

"You weren't supposed to."

He stepped toward the wall with Virella's name, scanning the surface. His flashlight caught on a section where the paint looked newer, smoother.

Kael pressed his palm to it.

The wall gave a click—and a hidden compartment slid open.

Inside was a small, dust-covered box. Unassuming. Ordinary. But Elira's stomach dropped the moment she saw it.

Her fingers twitched.

"I know this," she whispered. "I don't know how, but… I hate this box."

Kael handed it to her slowly. "You told me to only let you open it if you remembered Virella."

Elira sat down on the floor, breathing shallow. Her hands hovered over the latch. Then she clicked it open.

Inside was a flash drive. Old. Scuffed. Labeled in her handwriting:

"Watch Only If You're Ready."

She looked up. "Is it a memory?"

Kael nodded. "A message. You recorded it during your second reset. You didn't trust anyone—not even me. So you left this. As proof."

Her hands trembled as she plugged it into Kael's tablet. The screen lit up.

And there she was.

Herself. But with sharper eyes. Harsher. Tired and knowing.

The past Elira stared directly into the camera.

"If you're watching this… then it means you remembered her name. Virella."

"That also means she's looking for you now."

Present Elira held her breath.

"I made the loop myself. I begged Kael to help me. We needed to break free from her grip. But the only way was to forget her. Because if you remember—if you even think her name too long—she'll find you again."

"Christine doesn't know everything. But she's trying to keep me 'safe' by erasing me over and over. I can't trust her anymore."

"Kael… I don't know. I want to. But even now, I'm scared of what he's not telling me."

Elira's eyes welled up.

"If I'm watching this… it means I've hit the point of no return."

"Virella will come. And when she does, don't run. Make her remember you too."

"Because if she forgets who I am…" The past Elira smiled faintly, painfully.

"Then maybe, I win."

The screen went black.

Elira didn't speak.

She sat frozen.

And then—her phone buzzed.

No number. No ID. Just a message.

"Hello again, Elira. Let's not forget each other this time."