Mae sat in front of the vanity in her dressing room, her black hair falling in loose waves around her shoulders. The adrenaline from her performance still buzzed faintly in her veins, but it did nothing to ease the gnawing sense of dread that had been building inside her all night. She wiped off the stage makeup, her reflection staring back at her like a ghost. Her dark eyes were haunted, her face paler than usual. Every move felt mechanical, as if she were simply going through the motions to appear normal when everything inside her was screaming.

The performance had been flawless, perhaps one of her best, but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered anymore, not when her every move was being watched, her every step calculated by forces beyond her control. She had seen Charlie in the audience earlier, and though he had vanished before the show ended, she couldn't shake the feeling of his eyes on her, even now.

He's always watching, she thought bitterly. Everyone was watching, waiting for her to make a mistake, waiting to push her over the edge.

Her phone buzzed on the vanity, pulling her from her thoughts. Mae glanced at the screen, her stomach twisting into knots as she saw yet another message from the unknown number.

"Time's up, Mae. Make your choice."

Her pulse quickened, and a cold sweat broke out on the back of her neck. Make your choice. She had no idea what choice they were forcing her into, but the urgency in the messages had been building for weeks. Whoever was behind the threats wasn't going to wait much longer.

Mae's hands trembled as she set the phone down, her mind racing. She felt like she was in a maze with no way out, no clear path forward. And every time she thought she was getting closer to an answer, the walls closed in further.

The sudden creak of the door opening made her heart leap into her throat. She spun around, her eyes wide, expecting to see Charlie or maybe even Frank. But the figure that stepped into the room was someone she didn't recognize.

A tall man with broad shoulders and a face hidden mostly in the shadows of his hoodie. His presence was imposing, his movements deliberate as he closed the door behind him and locked it with a quiet click. The soft smile he wore didn't reach his eyes, and Mae's skin crawled as he stepped closer.

"Mae," he said, his voice calm but dripping with something dark. "I think you know why I'm here."

Mae's throat tightened. She had no idea who this man was, but the cold, predatory energy he exuded told her everything she needed to know. He wasn't here to help.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, her voice steadier than she felt inside. She had learned how to fake confidence on stage—now wasn't the time to let that skill falter.

The man tilted his head slightly, amusement flashing in his eyes as he took another step toward her. "Don't play dumb. You've been warned. You've had plenty of time to make your decision."

Her blood ran cold. The texts. The threats. This man was behind them. Or worse, he was just another pawn in a much larger game.

"I don't know who you are or what you want," Mae said, standing up from the vanity, her heart pounding in her chest, "but I'm not going to let you scare me."

The man chuckled softly, his smile widening. "I don't need to scare you, Mae. You're already scared. You've been scared for weeks. I can see it in your eyes, the way you look over your shoulder, the way you doubt everyone around you."

Mae swallowed hard, trying to keep her composure as he circled her slowly, like a predator stalking its prey.

"You don't understand," he continued, his voice low and controlled. "This isn't just about you. It never was. It's about the choices you've made, the ones you keep running from. And now, you're out of time."

He stopped in front of her, leaning in so close that Mae could feel his breath on her skin. Her heart raced as she stood frozen, her mind scrambling for a way out of this nightmare.

"You need to make a choice," he whispered, his voice like ice. "Stay where you are and let us control your every move, or... well, you already know what happens if you don't play along."

Her skin prickled with fear. The unspoken threat hung heavily in the air, suffocating her. She had tried to keep her head down, tried to play along without losing herself completely, but this—this was different. They were forcing her hand, and she didn't know how much longer she could keep resisting without giving in.

"Who's behind this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, even though she already knew she wouldn't get a straight answer.

The man smirked, his eyes gleaming with something dark and dangerous. "You'll find out soon enough. But for now, you just need to worry about making your choice."

Mae's hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms as she fought to hold back the wave of fear threatening to overwhelm her. She couldn't let them control her, but what choice did she have? Every time she thought about running, about leaving everything behind, the walls seemed to close in tighter. And now, this man—this stranger who knew too much—was standing in front of her, telling her that there was no way out.

The man straightened up, his smile fading slightly as he watched her struggle with the weight of his words. "You don't have much time, Mae. You can either play along and keep your head above water, or..." He trailed off, letting the unspoken threat hang in the air again.

He turned to leave, but before he reached the door, he paused and glanced back at her, his expression cold and unfeeling. "Just remember: we're always watching. Don't make the wrong choice."

With that, he slipped out of the room, leaving Mae standing there, frozen in place, the air around her thick with tension. The door clicked shut behind him, and Mae let out a shaky breath, her mind spinning.

She had been cornered, pushed into a trap she hadn't seen coming. And now, she had no idea what to do. The choice they were forcing on her was clear—give in, or be destroyed.

But no matter how much fear clawed at her chest, one thing was certain: Mae wasn't ready to surrender just yet.