“I can’t believe it!” Leyla gasped, her eyes wide with shock as the mirror’s mysterious glow slowly faded away, leaving her stunned. For a fleeting instant, she had glimpsed a blurred image of Evelyn, the woman who haunted her dreams, a face that felt so familiar… yet impossibly far away.

  That telepathic connection hit her like a sudden wave, flooding her with dread and anticipation alike. The hunger to uncover the truth behind the cryptic message burned inside her, fierce and unstoppable. She was certain now: the women from her dreams, her mother, Evelyn, and her grandmother, had played a crucial role in her life, nothing like the cruelty Helen had painted them with.

  “Damn it! I’ve been lied to!” she cried, hot tears of rage and disappointment streaking down her face. “The story Helen told me can’t be true! How could she betray me, of all people, the only one I ever truly trusted?”

  She knew too many things didn’t add up, but she kept hoping that once she stepped out of that room, the answers would be waiting. Still, everything depended on Helen, every door and window with a single touch on the wall-mounted control panel. Frustration built inside her, twisting into a knot of emotions that left her feeling powerless, yet more determined than ever to uncover the truth.

  She broke down, letting the tears flow freely. But once the storm passed, she decided it was safer to keep her suspicions to herself, at least until she had a clearer picture of this strange new reality.

  The days that followed blurred into a haze of anxiety and restless waiting, every moment fueled by the desperate hope that Evelyn’s apparition would return. But to her bitter disappointment, it never did. Leyla spent countless sleepless nights staring at the ceiling, waiting for dawn.

  Then, at last, something shifted. Not the vision she had prayed for, but something she longed for with every fiber of her being: the chance to see Edenlost with her own eyes.

  Leyla was getting ready to cross the threshold of the metropolis, determined to uncover the mysteries she knew would change the course of her life. Her heart brimmed with hope, her mind hungry for answers, as she stepped boldly toward the unknown.

  “I can’t wait!” she burst out, her voice alive with excitement. “At last, I’ll get to see this city for myself, to give shape to everything I’ve only imagined so far, listening to Helen’s stories.”

  “Not much of a view …” she muttered under her breath, her eyes drifting to the landscape beyond the glass.

  Time dragged on endlessly. With every passing minute, her impatience grew sharper. She paced the room back and forth, hands clenching and unclenching, her gaze locked on the clock.

  I can’t wait to explore the library, Leyla thought …and to finally meet Adam. I wonder what he’s like! Helen barely told me a thing about him, or about anything else, really.

  A new energy coursed through her. For the first time, she felt truly ready to leave those walls behind. She didn’t even worry much when she noticed a lock of her hair, braided neatly, had turned lighter than usual. She was used to those changes, black, red, blonde. Helen herself had admitted she’d never seen anything like it. Just another question on her ever-growing list, but that could wait.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  A shiver ran down her spine as she spotted Helen crossing the street. To ease the tension, she slipped behind the door, only to have the door fly open right into her face.

  Helen jumped back, startled. “Leyla! You nearly gave me a heart attack! What on earth were you thinking?”

  Leyla, amused by her little prank, burst out laughing. “See that? I’m an athlete now, quick as a rabbit!” She darted closer, kissed Helen on the cheek, her laughter still echoing.

  Helen, softened, pulled her into a tight hug. “What a wild, untamable girl you are!” she exclaimed, her voice full of affection.

  “I need to tell you something in secret,” she whispered, lowering her tone as if someone might be eavesdropping. “In my latest reports, I wrote that you were more docile than you really are. Otherwise, they’d have never let you out. I just hope I won’t end up regretting it. But you know what?” She smiled. “I couldn’t be happier to have you here with me.”

  Deep down, Helen would’ve risked anything for that girl. Still, her voice turned firm. “Now listen carefully. You can’t go wandering off, you’re my responsibility. And no, you’re not getting your fingerprints registered to open the door yet. They want to see first how willing you are to follow the rules.”

  Leyla pulled a face but held back her reply. She didn’t want to jeopardize her newly won freedom. Switching her crutch to the other hand, she stood tall and threw her a mock military salute.

  “Yes, ma’am!” she said with a mischievous grin.

  On their way, Leyla greeted everyone they passed with a cheerful nod, her face lit up with genuine curiosity. Everything about that seemingly perfect metropolis fascinated her. She even noticed how Helen, despite her age, still caught the admiring glances of passing men.

  Edenlost thrived on clean energy drawn from hydrogen and the sun. The streets were divided into fast lanes, slow lanes, and pedestrian walkways, weaving together a maze of open spaces and playgrounds. Spiral skyscrapers seemed to defy gravity, while rows of compact townhouses dotted the landscape. There were themed zones: a bustling center with boutiques and restaurants, a sports district to the west, a quiet southern quarter with a wellness center, and an open-air events district.

  Helen suggested a break on a bench, but Leyla shook her head. “Thanks, but I’m not tired! Look at that huge building up there!” she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling as she pointed skyward.

  She was mesmerized by a towering marvel of architecture that seemed to defy all logic. Curiosity burned inside her.

  “That’s the Edenlost Skyline,” Helen explained with pride. “It’s got a panoramic terrace with a view of the city, and beyond the walls.”

  Leyla’s expression grew serious. “And what’s beyond the walls?”

  “Nothing, just desert, plateaus, and endless sand.” Helen answered, her tone caught somewhere between mystery and truth.

  Leyla lowered her gaze, thoughtful. Helen, noticing the shift, tried to lighten the mood. “I’ve been told what your new job will be.”

  “And why didn’t you tell me right away?”

  “I couldn’t exactly wake you in the middle of the night! Besides, you’re not starting anything until you’re fully healed,” Helen replied with a smile.

  “Come on, tell me! Don’t keep me in suspense!”

  “Everyone here has to take the job they’re given. You’ll be at the Grand Factory.’ I don’t know exactly what it involves, but you passed the tests for a role that requires precision and manual skill.”

  “Interesting… but what kind of factory is it?”

  “I don’t know. No one really knows. Everyone just does their part. But I’m sure you’ll meet someone from there soon and they’ll fill you in.”

  Leyla fell silent as they walked on. Helen watched her carefully; she knew that silence was always a sign with the girl. “You okay?”

  “Yes. Just… wondering why there are so many secrets.” Then, she tried to lighten the mood. “Guess I should change the subject. Look over there, who are those people?”

  “They’re city enforcers,” Helen explained, lowering her voice. “ of Uttermost. They keep order and security.”

  “So I’m just supposed to ignore my gut, huh?” Leyla asked, scanning their faces as if chasing a memory just out of reach.

  Helen answered with a touch of irony. “Sure, unless you’re plotting something.”

  Leyla grimaced. “Those men in black, with their faces covered… I don’t trust them.”

  Helen grabbed her arm, visibly worried. “Please, sweetheart, be careful what you say. I’ll explain when I can, just promise me you’ll keep quiet until we’re home.”

  Leyla gave her a reassuring smile. “Okay, I didn’t mean to freak you out. But one of these days, I’d really like some straight answers.”

  Helen nodded, though her eyes stayed troubled.

  As they walked away, Leyla cast one last look at the soldiers. Those black, silent figures loomed over the city like menacing shadows. A shiver ran down her spine.

  Something, a blurred memory perhaps, stirred within her. Edenlost was hiding more secrets than it dared to admit. And Leyla was ready to uncover them, even if it meant breaking every rule… even if it meant betraying Helen’s trust.

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