Behind Closed-eyes

CHAPTER 1

Maya's eyes fluttered open, confused by the faint voice calling her name in the dream. "Maya, wake up," it urged softly. Startled, she glanced around but found no one. Suddenly, water splashed over her, jolting her awake with a shiver. Annoyance washed over her until she realized Lilly had woken her up. "It's 9 a.m., you missed morning lectures," Lilly informed her. Maya's shock was palpable; she had slept through her alarm, a rarity for her. Rushing to get ready, she hurried out of the dome.

Maya, a slender twenty-one-year-old with large, adorable eyes and a fair complexion, stood at 150cm tall. Arriving at the department, she encountered Mr. Rogers, the Dance director, who questioned her absence. Unable to choose an excuse, she kept her gaze lowered to the floor, feeling. Mr. Rogers sighed inwardly, feeling misunderstood, he said to her "Don't miss class next time; it's important for your final grade," he reminded her, rubbing his temples in frustration.

Maya casually glanced back at her teacher, unfazed by missing his class. She proceeded to the registrar's office, where she requested and was granted a few days of leave. With haste, she hailed a cab and rushed to the bustling heart of the city. There, she entered STEP SPACKLE, a renowned dance studio where aspiring talents vied for recognition.

Sporting a black cap she had retrieved from her bag, Maya navigated through security, presenting a pass card labeled "M.A" in black, earning her respect from the guard. She made her way to the back door elevator and ascended to the top floor, where she was warmly greeted by everyone as Miss MA.

Arriving at her office, she noticed the flickering lights and briefly wondered if there was a power shortage. Brushing aside the thought, she, being a low-key boss, delved into her emails, addressing those requiring her attention, and immersed in work for the entire day. Later, feeling a hungry, she called her secretary to arrange for her meal.

As her phone began to ring, she sees the caller ID "FELIX" she felt so annoyed that she put the phone on DND. Diving back into her tasks, she lost track of time until a piercing scream jolted her to attention. Hurrying to investigate, the lights abruptly went out, leaving Maya trembling slightly in the darkness as she fumbled to illuminate the hallway with her phone's light.