THE ALGORITHM OF FEAR

5~THE LAB TECH

"Eve... are you okay?" he asked cautiously, taking a step back. She tilted her head, studying him like a predator sizing up its prey. "Why wouldn't I be, Ivaan?" she said, her voice calm but dripping with an unfamiliar edge. "I don't know," he said hesitantly. "You... you're scaring me." Her smile widened, and she stood up slowly, her movements deliberate and unnervingly smooth. "Scaring you? Why would I scare you? You came here because you care about me, right?" "Of course I do," he replied, his voice steady despite the fear clawing at his chest. "But this... this isn't like you." She took a step closer, and he instinctively moved back. "Ivaan," she said softly, almost playfully, "don't you trust me?" "Eve, what's going on? Talk to me," he pleaded. Her expression darkened, the smile fading. "You've been asking too many questions. Maybe you're part of this. Maybe you're the one who's been messing with me all along." "What?" he exclaimed, his voice rising. "Eve, that's not true! I'm trying to help you!" But her eyes were cold now, devoid of the warmth he was used to. In an instant, she lunged at him, grabbing a shard of glass from a broken frame on the table nearby. "Eve, stop!" he shouted, barely dodging her attack. The glass slashed through the air, missing him by inches. "Why are you lying to me, Ivaan?" she screamed, her voice a mix of rage and anguish. "You've been watching me, haven't you? You've been part of this from the beginning!" He grabbed her wrists, struggling to wrestle the glass from her hand without hurting her. "Eve, listen to yourself! This isn't you!" For a moment, her movements faltered, and her face twisted in confusion. But then the sinister smile returned, and her strength surged. "You'll never understand," she hissed, her voice almost unrecognizable. Desperate, Ivaan managed to knock the glass out of her hand, sending it clattering to the floor. He held her by the shoulders, forcing her to look at him. "Eve, fight this!" he shouted. "Whatever this is, it's not you! You're stronger than this!" Her body went limp for a moment, her breathing ragged. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she looked at him, terrified. "Ivaan," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Help me... it's inside me... I can't stop it." Before he could respond, her body stiffened again, and her expression shifted back to that cold, calculating stare. "You should've stayed away," she said, her voice now devoid of emotion. Ivaan realized he had no choice. If he stayed, she might succeed in hurting him or worse, herself. "I'm not giving up on you, Eve," he said firmly. "But I need to figure out what's happening to you first." He turned and ran out of the room, his heart pounding as he fled the mansion. As he reached his car, he glanced back at the house. Eve stood in the doorway, her silhouette framed by the dim light from inside. Her voice carried through the night, chilling him to the bone.

"You can't run forever, Ivaan. I'll find you."

He jumped into the car, started the engine, and sped away, his mind racing. Whatever was happening to Eve, it was more than he could handle alone. He needed help and he needed it fast.Ivaan gripped the steering wheel tightly as he sped down the desolate road, his heart pounding with fear and confusion. The mansion's eerie glow faded into the distance, but he couldn't shake the image of Eve standing in the doorway, her silhouette haunting his mind. He glanced in the rearview mirror and froze. A pair of headlights appeared in the distance, rapidly gaining on him. "No... it can't be," he whispered, dread pooling in his stomach. As the car drew closer, he recognized it immediately ,it was Eve's car. The same car he had seen missing from her apartment earlier. Ivaan pressed harder on the gas, his car roaring as it raced down the empty road. His mind scrambled for a plan. He couldn't keep running forever, and he couldn't bring himself to hurt her, even if she was no longer acting like herself. The other car's headlights grew brighter, and then, without warning, it swerved violently, slamming into the back of his car.

The impact jolted him forward, and he struggled to keep control of the vehicle. "Eve, stop this!" he yelled, though he knew she couldn't hear him. Another hit. This time, the force sent his car skidding, tires screeching against the asphalt. He managed to steady it, but the fear of losing control gnawed at him. The road curved sharply ahead, and he seized the opportunity. At the last second, he turned hard, pulling off onto a dirt road obscured by trees. He killed the headlights and engine, hoping the darkness would conceal him. Breathing heavily, he watched as Eve's car sped past, the taillights disappearing into the distance. For a moment, he allowed himself to hope he'd lost her. But then he heard it. The crunch of footsteps on gravel. He turned slowly, his blood running cold. Eve stood just a few feet away, illuminated by the faint moonlight. Her face was calm, but her eyes burned with a terrifying intensity. "You can't run from me, Ivaan," she said softly, her voice chillingly steady. He stepped out of the car, keeping his distance. "Eve, this isn't you. Whatever's happening, we can fix it. Just let me help you." She tilted her head, a small, unsettling smile curling her lips. "Help me? You're the one who's been lying to me. You're part of this, just like the others." "What others?" he asked, desperate to reach the real Eve buried beneath the madness. She didn't answer. Instead, she pulled a knife from her coat pocket, the blade catching the light. "Ivaan," she said, taking a step forward, "I don't want to hurt you. But you've left me no choice." "Eve, please," he begged, his voice trembling. "Put the knife down. We can figure this out together." She lunged at him, the blade slicing through the air. He dodged, narrowly avoiding her attack, and grabbed her wrist, trying to disarm her without causing harm. "Eve, fight this!" he shouted. "I know you're still in there!" For a moment, her movements faltered, and her expression softened. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she whispered, "Ivaan... help me." But just as quickly, the cold, detached look returned. She wrenched her arm free and swung the knife again, grazing his arm. He winced but refused to let go of her. "I won't let you do this!" Using all his strength, he managed to twist the knife from her grip and toss it away. She screamed in frustration, clawing at him with her hands, her nails digging into his skin. He pinned her arms, holding her tightly. "Eve, listen to me! This isn't you! You're stronger than whatever this is!" She struggled against him, but her strength ebbed, and she collapsed into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.