Pov Josiane.....
The question still wouldn't leave me.
Why me?
I sat quietly on my bed, staring at nothing in particular.
The silence of my room felt heavier than usual, almost like it was pressing down on my thoughts.
Everything had changed.
Nothing felt normal anymore.
She stood up slowly and walked toward the balcony.
Fresh air.
Maybe that would help.
As she stepped outside, the cool breeze brushed against her face, but instead of calming her, it made her feel… aware.
Too aware.
Her eyes moved around absentmindedly—
And then—
They stopped.
Something small.
Near the corner of the balcony floor.
She frowned slightly and walked closer.
A coin.
"...What?" she whispered.
It wasn't an ordinary coin.
It looked old.
Darker.
Almost… worn out.
She bent down and picked it up.
The surface was cold—
Unnaturally cold.
Her fingers brushed over it.
There was something engraved.
A symbol.
Not numbers.
Not currency.
A symbol she didn't recognize.
Her heartbeat slowed.
Then—
Quickened.
"Why is this here…?" she murmured.
I didn't remember bringing it.
No one came to her room.
Right?
A strange thought crossed her mind.
Or did someone… leave it here?
Her grip tightened around the coin.
P
For a second—
She felt like she shouldn't be holding it.
Like it didn't belong to her.
She quickly stepped back inside.
Something felt wrong.
She placed the coin on her table—
But her eyes didn't leave it.
That symbol.
Why did it feel familiar?
I shook my head.
"No… I've never seen this before…"
But deep down—
I wasn't sure.
My mind started racing again.
E.V.E.
The files.
The target.
"Is this… connected?"she whispered.
She turned away, trying to calm herself.
"Stop overthinking, Josie…"
But her thoughts didn't stop.
Instead—
They led her somewhere else.
Her house.
Her past.
Her mom.
A sudden memory flashed.
A cupboard.
Old things.
Something metallic.
My eyes widened slightly.
"No way…"
Without thinking, she walked quickly to the corner of her room where her small suitcase was kept.
Inside—
Some things from home.
Her breathing became uneven as she opened it.
She searched quickly—
Clothes.
Books.
Random items.
Then—
A small pouch.
My hands froze.
"This…" she whispered.
I slowly opened it.
Inside—
Old belongings my mom had once kept.
And then—
I saw it.
Another coin.
My heart dropped.
"No…"
She picked it up with shaking hands.
Same size.
Same texture.
Same—
Symbol.
Her breath hitched.
"This… was in Mom's cupboard…" she whispered.
She remembered now.
A long time ago—
She had seen it.
Hidden.
Not meant to be touched.
And her mom—
Had immediately taken it away.
"Don't touch that."
That voice echoed in mymind.
My hands trembled slightly.
"Why… did she have this…?" Josie whispered.
Now there were two
One from my past.
One from my present.
This wasn't coincidence.
This was connected.
My thoughts started spinning faster.
"Does Mom… know about E.V.E?" she said under her breath.
The idea felt impossible.
But also—
Terrifyingly possible.
Her chest tightened.
"Then… was I sent here…?"she whispered.
Her voice shook.
"On purpose…?"
Silence filled the room.
The coin in her hand suddenly felt heavier.
Like it carried something.
A meaning.
A message.
Her phone buzzed suddenly.
She flinched.
Slowly—
She looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
Again.
Her fingers hesitated.
Then—
She opened it.
A message.
"You found it."
Her heart stopped.
Her grip on the phone tightened.
Another message appeared.
"It was always yours."
Her breathing became uneven.
"What…?" she whispered.
Then—
The final message came.
"Ask your mother."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Josie stood there—
Frozen.
The coins in her hand—
The message on her screen—
Her past—
Her present—
Everything connected.
And for the first time—
I realized something.
This wasn't just about the university.
This started long before I ever came here.
And the truth—
Was closer than my thought.
My voice barely came out—
"…What did you hide from me, Mom?"
The coin slipped slightly in her fingers—
Cold.
Heavy.
Like a mark.
A mark that she was never meant to ignore.
To be continued…