Smiley Face

Chapter 1: Smiley Face

The day was coming to an end in a dull monotony. Camille was going through countless graphs and tables under the cold lights of the laboratory, working on algorithms. The workday had long passed, but she was still buried in the sea of data on her computer screen. Her coworkers had already left, and the lab had fallen into silence. Only the faint hum of the ventilation system and the rhythmic clicks of the keyboard keys formed the soundtrack of Camille's world.

"Camille, you're still here!" Sarah's voice broke the silence as she stepped in through the door. She had wrapped her coat tighter around herself, her tone playful yet tinged with a hint of complaint.

"Yeah, just finishing up a few more analyses," Camille replied, rubbing her eyes but still offering a small smile.

Sarah sighed and leaned against the doorframe. "You're amazing, but seriously, don’t you ever take a break? You're young, you're smart, and the world is waiting for you outside while you’re stuck in here. Do you really want to spend your whole life in this lab?"

Camille laughed and shook her head. "I know, I know. But if I don't do it, who will?" she gestured to the endless data on her screen.

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Okay, workaholic. But at least promise me you'll get some sleep tonight. You look exhausted."

Camille smiled. "Promise. Goodnight, Sarah."

"Goodnight, genius." Sarah waved and disappeared into the hallway, leaving Camille once again alone.

Hours passed as Camille finally leaned back in her chair and stretched. The clock was almost striking midnight. With a sigh, she closed her laptop and grabbed her coat. As she stepped outside, the night air hit her with a sharp chill.

The city streets, lined with buildings with faintly glowing windows, were filled with massive concrete structures. Artificial lights flickered intermittently, and the long shadows from passing cars danced across the pavement. Camille stuffed her hands in her pockets to warm them. In this city, the stars were invisible, swallowed by the thick polluted air and neon lights.

She walked briskly, the abandoned streets unnerving her. No matter how far she went, everything grew quieter—until she was noticed.

Footsteps.

At first, she thought it was just her own echo. But then, the pattern was different. The steps behind her were distinct, regular, and definitely following her.

Her heart began to race. She forced herself not to turn around, focusing instead on controlling her breathing. Maybe she was overthinking, maybe it was just another late-night worker. Still, her instincts were telling her otherwise.

She quickened her pace. The footsteps mirrored her every move.

Her fingers clenched tightly in her pocket. There was nowhere to run—just dimly lit streets and quiet back alleys. A sick feeling settled in her stomach.

Then, she noticed an alley ahead. It was risky, but if she could get there, she could lose the person following her. Summoning her courage, she made a sharp turn.

And froze.

Three dark silhouettes were waiting for her.

A trap.

"Well, well. Where are you rushing off to?" One of them stepped forward, his voice smooth but threatening. His face was partially hidden in shadows, but his grin was unmistakable.

Camille's breath caught in her throat. Her pulse pounded in her ears. "I... I just want to go home," she murmured, taking a step back.

The men laughed mockingly.

"Ah, we’ll take you home, don’t worry," another one sneered. "But first, let’s have some fun, shall we?"

One of them lunged toward her. Camille stumbled backward, her legs paralyzed by fear.

Then, a shadow moved from the darkness.

It happened so fast that Camille could barely perceive it as more than a blur. The first man was sent flying backward, a sharp grunt escaping him. The second man's reaction ended with him crashing into a wall.

A figure stood between Camille and the last attacker. Tall, composed, and exuding an uncontrolled air of threat.

"Enough," the newcomer said, his voice calm but filled with undeniable authority.

The remaining man hesitated for a moment, weighing his options. Then, with a curse, he turned and fled with the others. The street fell silent once again.

Camille could hardly breathe.

The stranger turned toward her. In the dim light, his face became clearer.

Camille’s stomach churned. She didn’t recognize him.

"Who are you?" she whispered.

A faint smile appeared on Luca's lips. "I'm Luca. Are you alright? They didn't hurt you, did they?"

Camille blinked, trying to make sense of what had just happened. "I’m fine, thanks to you."

Luca’s expression remained unchanged. "Would you like me to walk you home?"

Camille paused for a moment. Everything felt strange. But despite the chaos and the lingering fear in her chest, Luca's presence gave her a sense of security. She nodded. "Yes."

They walked in silence, the city enveloping them. After a while, Luca finally spoke.

"Strange, isn’t it? When you’re walking alone, the world feels different."

Camille exhaled deeply and replied, "Yeah... everything feels bigger, more dangerous."

Luca nodded. "Because when you're alone, the world sees you as vulnerable. But that doesn’t mean you actually are." He glanced at her. "Do you feel vulnerable, Camille?"

The way her name fell from his lips sent a shiver down her spine. She stopped walking slowly. "How do you know my name?"

Luca hesitated for just a second, then briefly averted his gaze. "To be honest, I’ve read your work before. It’s impressive. BioMutations... you were one of the leading researchers at last year’s conference."

Camille’s stomach tightened. "You... read my research?"

He gave a small nod. "Of course."

Something felt off. Luca wasn’t just someone who happened to be in the right place at the right time. Did he know her? Camille was sure she had never seen him before. Yet, his timely arrival and his knowledge of her name seemed suspicious. Could she trust him? Was Luca a bad person? Camille pondered all these questions.

And yet, when she looked into his eyes, she felt this was just the beginning.

Maybe, just maybe, she was stepping into something much bigger than she could imagine.

And maybe, she had already taken her first step into a labyrinth from which there was no escape.

One thing was certain—Luca’s presence would change everything.