secrets beneath the surface : A tale of mystery and power

{Mia}

The school gate loomed ahead, and I couldn't get through it fast enough. The air outside was crisp, a stark contrast to the stifling heat I had endured in "the box." As I stepped into the open, my heart leaped at the sight of my mom's car idling at the curb. She was leaning out of the driver's window, her familiar smile warming me in a way nothing else could.

But as I approached, the smile faltered, her brow knitting in concern. "Mia, are you okay? You look... pale."

"I'm fine," I lied, slipping into the passenger seat and slamming the door shut. The truth felt too raw, too strange to explain.

Her eyes didn't leave my face as she put the car in gear. "Did something happen at school? You can tell me, you know."

I hesitated, staring out the window as the campus disappeared behind us. What could I say? That the school I'd begged to attend seemed intent on breaking me? That a voice from the void had questioned my very existence?

"No," I mumbled. "Just a rough day."

The silence that followed was heavy, her worry almost tangible. She always had this way of knowing when I wasn't telling the full story, but for once, she let it slide.

As we drove home, her phone buzzed in the cup holder. She glanced at the screen, her face tightening. "Another one of those emails," she muttered under her breath.

"What emails?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.

She hesitated, then shook her head. "It's nothing. Just..... My boss giving me more work "

But I caught the tension in her voice, the way her fingers gripped the wheel just a little too tightly.

I sighed knowing that she would never answer me truthfully.

"By the way mom when did you apply for a job anyway?"

Her jaw clenched tightly, I could see the tension in her eyes . She slammed the brakes hard , and turned to me .

" Since when are you so nosy about what I do ?"

I shut up . She smiles at me triumphantly, and continued driving .

Once we arrived at home ,I ran to my bedroom , opened my computer and started looking at the security footage .

My eyes widened in shock , and my pulse quickened I felt my chest tighten.

I saw my parents moving the bookshelf out of the way only to reveal a secret room that they had not shown us .

I turned to the security system that I had installed and asked . " Hey Scarlett, please scan the house and make sure no one is inside ."

" No , no one is inside ."and before I could ask she continued.

" Your mother left to pick up Emilia , she should be out for about an hour or so. I checked the fridge it's empty she will most likely go grocery shopping"

I smiled to myself. " Thanks Scarlett. Please initiate house lockdown. And make sure no one enters."

"Consider it done ."

I walked out of my room and went to the bookshelf.

I pushed it , pulled out all the books and struck it with my foot but nothing . It didn't budge.

Then I heard Scarlett " There's a button on the bookshelf, press it "

The bookshelf was tall , super tall . I couldn't reach the top . I turned the wall and shouted. " How on earth do you expect me to reach the top ? Please can you press it yourself?"

" Of course!" She said sarcastically.

I rolled my eyes in amusement,as I watched a mechanical hand come down from the ceiling pressing the button.

The bookshelf shifted, revealing a narrow, dimly lit staircase leading downward. I hesitated, my pulse pounding in my ears. The air that seeped through the doorway was cold, carrying a faint metallic tang that made my stomach twist.

"Scarlett," I whispered, my voice trembling, "what is this place?"

"Unknown," Scarlett replied. "Would you like me to scan it for threats?"

I swallowed hard. "No. I need to see it for myself."

Step by step, I descended into the darkness, each creak of the wooden stairs echoing like a warning. At the bottom, I reached for the light switch. The flickering bulb illuminated walls lined with shelves, each filled with documents, strange devices, and... photos of people I didn't recognize.

My heart stopped. One of the photos was of me.

It wasn't a typical school photo or a candid one Mom might have taken at home. This was different clinical. The image showed me sitting at a desk, staring blankly ahead, with strange symbols scrawled along the edges of the picture. A chill ran down my spine as I realized I didn't remember ever being in that room.

"Scarlett," I whispered, my voice shaking, "are there cameras in the house I don't know about?"

"No," Scarlett replied, her voice devoid of its usual sarcasm. "This photo was taken elsewhere. I'd need more information to determine the location."

I felt a cold sweat prickling along my spine as I looked at the photo. It wasn't just a picture. It was a message ,one that chilled me to the bone. How could I have been in that room, and why had I forgotten it? I pressed my palm to my chest, trying to steady my breathing, but the knot in my stomach tightened with every passing second. Someone had been watching me.

I placed the photo back, my hands trembling as I moved to the next shelf. It held a series of thick, leather-bound notebooks. I grabbed one and flipped it open, my breath catching as I scanned the pages. They were filled with pictures of people with all their personal information .

The title on the first page read, Targets

"What the hell is this?" I muttered, tracing the pictures of faces I didn't recognize, all connected by the same thread. Something dark, something secret.

Scarlett interrupted my thoughts. "Mia, someone is approaching the house. Your mother."

Panic set in. "How long do I have?"

"Approximately five minutes."

I quickly snapped photos of the documents with my phone, shoving the notebooks back onto the shelf. My mind raced as I scanned the room one last time. There was so much more I hadn't seen yet, but I couldn't risk getting caught.

"Scarlett, reset the bookshelf," I ordered, dashing up the stairs two at a time.

The bookshelf slid back into place just as I heard the front door open. I stood in the middle of the living room, trying to slow my breathing, when Mom walked in, holding a bag of groceries.

She froze when she saw me. "What are you doing here?"

Her tone was sharp, almost accusing, and my stomach twisted. "Just... waiting for you," I lied, forcing a smile.

She didn't reply immediately, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the room. "You've been in here all day?"

"Yes," I said too quickly. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Her gaze lingered on the bookshelf for a moment, and my pulse quickened. Did she know? Could she tell?

Without another word, she set the grocery bag on the counter and turned toward her room. "Dinner will be ready in an hour," she said over her shoulder, her tone distant.

I let out a shaky breath and slipped back into my room, locking the door behind me. My heart was racing, my mind spinning with questions.

Who were the people in the photos? And why were my parents hiding all of this from me?

Scarlett's voice interrupted my spiraling thoughts. "Mia, would you like me to analyze the photos you captured?"

"Yes," I whispered, sitting down on my bed. "Tell me everything you can."

I leaned closer to the screen, the glow of Scarlett's interface casting a faint light on my face. Her voice had become a strange comfort, almost like a friend I didn't have. ''Scarlett,'' I whispered, ''what are we getting ourselves into?'' Her response was as neutral as ever, but somehow, it felt like she understood. It was the only constant in a house full of secrets.