A steady, subtle hum like a fly buzzing around her head resonated in Rachel's mind as she woke up. Her body felt weighed down as if submerged in thick syrup, each movement requiring monumental effort. She rubbed her eyes and swung her legs over the side of the bed, only to freeze. The sense of being watched prickled her skin, crawling across her arms like tiny insects. It wasn't just a feeling—it was as if her furniture, posters, and trophies had turned into silent spectators, judging her every move.

"Morning, sleepyhead," Emily said, glancing up from a battered notebook on her knee. She scribbled furiously, then snapped it shut and slipped it into her hoodie pocket. "How are you feeling?"

Rachel dragged a hand through her hair, pushing strands out of her face. "Like... I'm being watched."

Emily crossed her arms, nodding slowly. "Thought as much. Welcome to my world."

"And there's this hum..." Rachel trailed off, squinting at the gray clouds outside her window. "In the back of my mind. Like it's always there, waiting."

"That won't ever go away, by the way," Emily said flatly. Her voice carried a weight that made Rachel's stomach churn.

"This has to do with last night, right?" Rachel asked, turning to face her.

Emily nodded, leaning against the doorframe. "I've been hearing that hum since I started having these visions. Trust me, it doesn't get easier."

Rachel hesitated, chewing her lip. "So, am I going to start having visions, too?"

Emily shook her head, her gaze dropped to the floor. "No, it'll be something different. But we'll talk later." She straightened abruptly as footsteps echoed down the hallway. "We'll figure it out."

The knock came softly, followed by Rachel's mom peeking her head in. "Are you girls okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Rachel forced a smile, shrugging. "I'm fine, Mom. Just tired."

"You don't have to go to school today," her mom said gently. "I can call the principal and let him know you had a rough night."

"No," Rachel said firmly. "I'm fine."

"I think that might be a good idea, Rache," Emily interjected, flashing a tight smile at Rachel's mom. "Let's take a day off and regroup. Right, Rache?" She placed a hand on Rachel's shoulder, squeezing lightly.

Rachel shot her a glare. "If I have to do your homework for a week, you're coming to school."

Emily muttered something unintelligible, rolling her eyes. "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you."

As Rachel's mom retreated downstairs, Rachel headed to the bathroom, her temples throbbing. She gripped the edge of the sink, staring into the mirror. At first glance, her reflection seemed normal—but then it shifted. The edges blurred, crackling faintly like static electricity. Its expression remained stoic, almost mocking, as Rachel brushed her teeth mechanically, pretending not to notice.

Emily lingered in the doorway, arms crossed. "Do you hear anything besides the hum?"

Rachel spat into the sink, rinsing her mouth. "No, but I feel... off. Like something's wrong, but I can't put my finger on it."

Emily stepped closer, meeting Rachel's gaze in the mirror. "Do you remember the music from last night?"

Rachel frowned, digging into her memory. All she could recall were flashes of red lights and a haunting melody. "Just... red lights," she murmured.

Her words trailed off as the hum intensified, vibrating like a tuning fork in her skull. Something cold, mechanical, and indifferent stirred within her, and her eyes flickered mulberry for a split second.

"What are you?" she thought, scanning the empty bathroom.

There was no reply.

"What do you want?"

Still nothing.

"Why me?"

Silence.

Emily stepped back, watching Rachel warily. "You said you feel like you're being watched, right? That's the Engine. It's always listening, always watching."

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

She pulled out her notebook again, flipping to a page filled with crude drawings of mechanical eyes. One sketch stood out: a massive gear surrounded by smaller cogs with a single glowing pupil at its center.

"So all those drawings..." Rachel began, trailing off.

Emily nodded. "We'll talk later. Just try not to think about it too much."

Rachel glared at her reflection, her jaw tightening. The static figure tilted its head, smirking faintly—a gesture that sent chills racing down her spine. As she turned away, the bathroom light flickered ominously, casting long shadows across the tiles.

They left the house shortly after; Rachel paused before turning the engine on to her now-dented Pink Miata. As it hummed to life, so did the melody humming in her mind. The radio turned on, and a song, alien yet familiar, started to play.

We're sewn from threads of a dead star's glow,

Flickerin' ghosts in the static snow.

The Engine hums where silence should grow,

Sing it soft so it will never know.

Oh-oh, oh-oh…

Dead Star Lullaby,

Oh-oh, oh-oh…

Rewind the seams, but you can't break free.

Rachel's eyes narrowed as they flashed mulberry as she fixated on the beat, which matched the hum she heard in her head. Emily quickly turned off the radio.

They left the house shortly after; Rachel paused before turning the engine on to her now-dented Pink Miata. As it hummed to life, so did the melody humming in her mind. The radio turned on, and a song, alien yet familiar, started to play.

Bruise-colored skies wrap around my head,

A dress stitched with echoes of lives long dead.

Every choice is a mirror reflecting me,

But the reflections are fractured; none feel real to be.

Rachel's eyes narrowed as they flashed mulberry as she fixated on the beat, which matched the hum she heard in her head. Emily glanced at Rachel after turning off the radio, her expression tightening as if she sensed something had shifted.

She mutters under her breath. "Not again…."

"Earth to Rachel!" Emily shouted as she snapped her fingers.

Rachel blinked and gazed around her car's interior, then looked back at her house.

"Did you turn off the radio, Em?" Rachel asked as she began to drive.

Emily forced a smile and then sighed. "No, it's been off," she said as she slumped into her seat. "Rachel, don't listen to any music today."

"Ummmm, why?"

"Can't tell you yet; you just gotta trust me on this one, okay?"

"It's about what's in my-our head, isn't it?" Rachel asked as the high school peaked over a hill.

Emily shook her head and exited the car as Rachel parked at the high school.

"You seriously not going to tell me?" Rachel asked as she followed Emily up the school stairs.

Emily sighed as she flipped her hood over her head. "I don't have all the answers, Rachel. I just know you're not going to be having visions of death like I do."

The hallway lights flickered as they entered the school. Students bickered and gossiped at their purple lockers while banners for the festival hung overhead. Trophy cases aligned the walls as the school faculty scrambled towards their classes. Judging eyes focused on Rachel and Emily as they turned a corner leading to their lockers.

Emily pulled Rachel into the woman's bathroom when she noticed a middle-aged, mocha-skinned P.I.A. agent patrolling the corridor.

"What the hell, Emily?" Rachel said as she clutched her textbooks.

"Shit," Emily muttered under her breath as she paced in the bathroom.

"EM!"

"We got to get out of here now, "Emily barked as she grabbed Rachel's arm and peeked out of the bathroom.

"I am not going anywhere until you tell me what the hell is going on," Rachel replied as she dug her feet and grabbed the wall.

Emily sighed and crossed her arms as she looked up at the ceiling. "You remember when I got mad over you wanting to go to that party this weekend?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"I die there in one of my visions. And the man who killed me is patrolling the hallways right now."

Rachel's eyes widened as she peeked out of the bathroom, watching the P.I.A. agent turn the corner. She stepped back into the bathroom and clutched her pink jacket.

Emily put her hand on Rachel's lips as she tried to speak. "Do not tell anyone what I just told you. Do you understand me?"

Rachel nodded. Her heart raced as she tried to understand what Emily said. The mechanical hum grinding in her head made her unable to think consistently.

The bell rang as Emily guided Rachel past a rotund P.I.A. Agent who entered a classroom. They blended in with a group of students as a blonde agent shuffled down the same hallway. Their eyes locked briefly just as they entered their Literature classroom.

"Rache!"

Rachel froze as she almost jumped out of her skin. Her eyes fixated on Mike, signaling at her, and Emily pulled her towards the back.

"Can we talk about-" Mike muttered as he rubbed his neck.

"I will talk to you when you pay for dents in my car," Rachel groaned as she sat in the back of the class.

"Give it a rest, Mike; she all cozied up with that weirdo now," Sara said as she blew a gum bubble.

"Don't humor her," Emily muttered as she sat beside Rachel and waved at Sara, who rolled her eyes back at her.

"Before we get started, I would like to remind everyone that the P.I.A. is conducting ether aptitude tests in the auditorium," Rachel and Emilies Literature teacher as she stood up behind the teacher's desk.

Rachel and Emily's eyes widened as the mocha-skinned P.I.A. agent entered the classroom.

"This is Agent Elijah Carter; please give him your attention as he explains the importance of this, especially if you are considering working at the reactor in the future."

Elijah silently nodded at the class before he walked toward the teacher's desk.

Rachel fidgeted in her seat as a sense of dread mixed with Deja vu crept up her spine as Elijah's eyes locked onto her with a stoic expression. He stared at her for what seemed like forever before his eyes slowly gravitated toward Emily, sitting beside her.