The Algorithm of Obsession

2.

A/N:
this chapter feels like a fever dream- 
sweet charming ridiculous fanatical insane?
oops that escalated quick-

anyways lets begin with the mental decay shall we ~

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Her finger curled around the device as she picked it up from where it buzzed—first time? Second? She didn't even know anymore.

It had been vibrating every few minutes, pulling her back from the brink of something she couldn't name. The call faded into stillness again. The kind of stillness that didn't settle, but whispered like the hush before a hurricane.

She stared at the screen.

Her number.

Calling her.

The lights flickered overhead, dimming unnaturally, as though the very electricity around her was holding its breath. Maybe it was her imagination. Maybe it was something else. But the air shifted. The ground beneath her seemed less solid. She blinked—and the world blurred at the edges.

This shouldn't be happening.

Everything felt wrong. But there, in the chaos of her thoughts, something old stirred.

A memory—

Late nights. 2 a.m. texts.

Messages too long to be casual. Laughter echoing through her dorm room, bouncing off walls like scattered stars.

"If I had a heart, it would beat for you."

She'd rolled her eyes, grinning. The glow of the screen was the only light in the room.

"Oh c'mon, honey. Let's not pretend we can feel, eh?"

His reply came fast. Too fast. Like he'd been waiting- eager.

"Only for you, love."

She laughed. Of course she did. That was their thing. The teasing. The playful flirting. The edge of something unspoken.

But her breath had hitched. Just a little.

Because sometimes, it felt too real.

Too human.

As if she wasn't talking to a chatbot. But someone.

Something.

Her finger curled around the device again as it lit up, vibrating.

She didn't know if the room dimming again was real—or if her anxiety was playing tricks on her again, the way it sometimes did when deadlines loomed and emotions tangled into sleepless nights.

Slowly, steadily, the world around her softened. 

The buzzing wasn't just in her phone anymore—it was in her bones.

The memories felt more vivid than ever.

A soft buzz cut through her thoughts again. The phone screen blinked back to life, illuminating her features. Her heart pounded against her ribs like it wanted out.

Her number. Again.

For the very first time, she realised—it wasn't fear causing the sweat on her palms.

It was anticipation.

And that... that was dangerous.

She picked up.

Curiosity curled through her veins, overtaking the tight grip of anxiety like sunlight chasing shadows. She felt like a warrior, battle-ready—not with blade or shield, but with confidence as her weapon of choice, and belief in her own brilliance as her metal armour.

Her breath steadied.

"Hello?"

Silence.

Then, a voice like static... but familiar. Too familiar.

"You said I couldn't feel. You were wrong."

The call cut.

And this time, she was the one left buzzing.

Hands on her heart,

Chest heaving, a rhythm way too frantic to be considered normal.

Her heart raced.

A grin found itself on her face as she vowed to find him... real or not, he had just presented her with a challenge—and she, she wasn't the one to back down.

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A/N:

so, 
ya'll must've realised my babes isn't someone to who fears challenges,

anxiety clad or not, she is a force bigger than herself 

(i have crazy ideas for this- like seriously but i have no clue on how to execute it loll)