The weight of Charlie's words pressed on Mae's chest like a boulder as she left the dimly lit office. The air in the club was thick with tension, and even though it was nearly empty, it felt like the walls were closing in on her. She glanced at her phone again, reading the message that had shattered what little calm she had left.

If you don't stop, you won't just lose everything—you'll lose yourself.

Mae's fingers gripped the phone tightly, her mind racing. She couldn't shake the feeling that the walls were closing in. She had gotten too close to the edge, too deep into this world, and now she didn't know how to pull herself out. Between Charlie's control and the mysterious threat looming over her, Mae was suffocating.

Her footsteps echoed in the nearly empty hallway as she made her way back to the dressing room. She had a performance tomorrow night, and Charlie had made it clear that she had no choice but to show up. It wasn't just a performance—it was another way for him to remind her who was in control.

As she entered the dressing room, the bright lights above the vanity reflected her pale face. Her dark hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, a stark contrast to the deep red lipstick she had applied earlier. She looked like a woman in control, but the fear lurking behind her eyes told a different story.

Mae sank into the chair, staring at her reflection. She had thought she could play the game, that she could find a way to outsmart Charlie and whoever else was pulling the strings. But now, she wasn't sure if she had any power left. Every decision, every move, seemed to lead her deeper into this dangerous web, and she didn't know how to escape.

Her phone buzzed again, startling her out of her thoughts. She glanced down at the screen, her heart pounding as she saw another message from the unknown number.

We're watching. Midnight. Be ready.

A chill ran down her spine. Midnight. Charlie had said the same thing. Was he behind these messages, too? Or was it someone else, someone she hadn't yet identified? The fear gnawed at her, but she pushed it aside. She couldn't afford to be afraid right now.

Mae stood up, pacing the room, trying to figure out her next move. She couldn't trust anyone, not even the other dancers, not after Layla had disappeared. Frank was gone too, and Mae knew it wasn't a coincidence. They had asked too many questions, pushed too hard against the invisible boundaries that Charlie had set.

And now, Mae was the one being pushed.

She stopped in front of the vanity again, her hands trembling as she leaned against the cool surface. Midnight was only a few hours away. She had to decide—did she show up and play Charlie's game, or did she risk everything and try to escape?

But where would she go? Charlie had made it clear that he had eyes everywhere, that there was no escaping him. The mysterious messages had only confirmed that. Mae was trapped in this world, and every time she thought she had found a way out, another door slammed shut in front of her.

Her eyes flicked back to the mirror, her reflection staring back at her, haunted and unsure. She couldn't stay like this, teetering on the edge of fear and compliance. She had to make a decision.

But which decision would save her?

The hours dragged on, each minute feeling like a lifetime as Mae tried to make sense of the tangled web she had found herself in. Midnight loomed closer, and with it, the weight of the unknown. Her body felt heavy, exhausted from the constant strain of trying to stay one step ahead. She had been performing, dancing, living this lie for so long that she didn't even know who she was anymore.

Was this what she had become? A puppet, dangling from Charlie's strings, waiting for the next move he commanded her to make?

Mae sank onto the couch in the corner of the dressing room, her mind still racing. The room felt too small, too suffocating, but she couldn't bring herself to leave. Not yet. She needed to think, to figure out what her next move was before midnight arrived.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

Her heart skipped a beat, her pulse quickening as she sat up straight. She wasn't expecting anyone. Had Charlie come to check on her? Or was it something worse—someone sent to deliver a message?

The knock came again, louder this time.

Mae hesitated for a moment before standing up and crossing the room. Her hand hovered over the doorknob, her mind running through every possible scenario. What if it was Charlie? What if it was someone else sent to make sure she stayed in line?

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.

To her surprise, it wasn't Charlie. It was a man she didn't recognize, dressed in a dark suit, his face unreadable. His eyes flicked over her, cold and calculating, before settling on her face.

"Mae," he said, his voice smooth, almost too smooth. "It's time."

Her stomach dropped. She didn't recognize him, but the way he spoke, the way he looked at her, sent a wave of dread through her body.

"Time for what?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

The man didn't answer. Instead, he handed her a small envelope, his expression unreadable. "Midnight," he said simply, before turning and walking away, leaving Mae standing in the doorway, her heart racing.

She stared down at the envelope in her hands, her fingers trembling as she carefully opened it. Inside was a simple note, written in the same neat handwriting as the messages she had been receiving.

You've run out of time. Midnight.

Mae's breath caught in her throat as the words sank in. The game was over. Whatever Charlie had planned, whatever the person behind these messages wanted—it was happening tonight. Midnight was her deadline.

She closed the door behind her, her heart racing as she stared down at the note. Time was running out, and Mae knew she had to make a choice.

Stay and face whatever awaited her at midnight or run and risk losing everything.

But deep down, Mae already knew the answer.

There was no running.

There was only Charlie.

And tonight, she would face him.

Mae stood frozen in place, the weight of the note in her hand heavy as if it carried more than just a simple message. Midnight was only a couple of hours away, and the realization that she had run out of time hit her harder than she expected. Every second ticked by like a countdown to something inevitable, and the room seemed to close in around her.

She placed the note down on the small vanity table, her eyes never leaving it as if it might disappear and take the reality of the situation with it. But it didn't. The threat loomed closer with each breath she took, and she felt the walls of her world closing in tighter. Running wasn't an option, and facing Charlie, with all his power and control, was terrifying.

Her legs felt weak as she sat down on the edge of the couch, her mind spinning. This was the moment everything had been leading up to—the point of no return. She was being cornered, and no matter which direction she turned, she was trapped.

Mae reached up, brushing her fingers through her dark hair, trying to calm the nerves that shook her. She had to think clearly. The dance, the performances, the nights of pretending—all of it had been leading her to this moment. But what did they want from her? What would Charlie ask of her now?

The thought of Charlie brought a chill to her bones. He was the puppet master, pulling the strings, and she had danced to his tune without even realizing it. He had been patient, deliberate, making her believe she had a choice when she never did. And now, at midnight, he would reveal just how deep his hold on her went.

Mae's eyes flickered to the clock on the wall. Two hours left.

She stood up abruptly, the urge to move taking over. She couldn't sit still any longer. The fear gnawed at her insides, but underneath it was something else—a strange pull, a twisted curiosity. What would happen at midnight? What did he want from her now? Would he demand her full submission, make her relinquish every last piece of herself?

Or was this something else, something darker?

Mae caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror across the room, her pale face staring back at her. She barely recognized herself anymore. The woman she had been before all of this was gone, replaced by someone who danced under neon lights and lived in the shadows. But maybe this was who she was meant to be all along.

The thought sent a shiver down her spine, but she couldn't shake it. No matter how hard she tried to convince herself that she was just a victim, just another pawn in Charlie's game, there was a part of her that had wanted this. A part of her that had been drawn to the darkness, to the power he wielded.

And maybe that was why she hadn't run.

Mae walked over to the vanity and stared at her reflection. She touched her lips, still red from the lipstick she had applied earlier. This was the face Charlie had fallen for, the performer who had captured his attention. But beneath the makeup, the costumes, there was something else—someone else. Someone who had willingly let him lead her into this world.

Her phone buzzed again, and Mae's heart jumped in her chest. She picked it up, her fingers trembling as she read the message.

Be ready. I'm waiting.

Her breath caught. It wasn't just a warning—it was a command. Charlie was waiting for her, and there was no escaping it now. Midnight was approaching, and she had no choice but to face him.

Mae slipped on her jacket, grabbing her bag as she prepared to leave the dressing room. The club was quiet now, the usual noise of the crowds replaced by an eerie silence. She walked through the empty corridors, her footsteps echoing in the stillness, and made her way to the back entrance of the club. The alley was dark and deserted, the cool night air brushing against her skin as she stepped outside.

As she walked down the narrow alley, Mae felt a mix of fear and anticipation bubbling inside her. She didn't know what would happen next, but she knew that tonight would change everything. This wasn't just about control anymore—this was about survival. And deep down, Mae knew that in order to survive, she would have to give in to the very thing she had been resisting.

Her phone buzzed again.

Midnight. You know where to find me.

Mae stopped walking, her breath catching in her throat. She knew where he was. She knew exactly where he wanted her to go. But was she ready? Could she face Charlie and whatever darkness he held over her? Could she give him what he wanted?

Her hand tightened around her phone, her pulse quickening as she made her decision.

There was no turning back now.

She would go to him.

She would face Charlie.

And whatever happened at midnight, Mae knew one thing for certain: she was walking into the lion's den, and she wasn't sure if she'd come out the same person.