"Will you give up the child?"
Sasha blinked, caught off guard by his question, "What?"
"I asked whether, for the sake of dreams, you can give up the child, too?"
Sasha paused for a moment and then gave a small, crooked smile. "This?" She tapped her stomach lightly. "This is nothing but a burden. Honestly, it isn't even a sacrifice. It would be a blessing to take this thing away."
She let out a bitter laugh as she added. "I would even thank whoever took her away."
The man studied her in silence for a heartbeat too long. Then, softly, he said with a nod. "Alright then, I'll help you. I'll give you what you want—fame, fortune, revenge. But in return…" He leaned closer, his breath almost brushing her ear as he said in a hushed tone. "When your child turns seven, her soul will be mine to claim. Deal?"
Sasha stared at him, stunned by his weird proposal, and then burst out in laughter. "Soul? Really?" She waved her hand dismissively. "You talk like you're some kind of devil. Doesn't suit that angelic face of yours."
He smiled faintly at that. "Whether I am a devil or an angel isn't the question, Sasha. The only question is—will you make such a deal?"
She met his gaze and shrugged. "Fine, fine. You can have her soul when she turns seven. It's a deal." Her tone clearly indicated that she wasn't taking it seriously at all, but something cold rippled through the room when she said it.
The man's smile widened, slow and satisfied. He stood and straightened his coat, then gave her a polite nod. "Then it's settled, Milady."
As he turned to leave, the waitress appeared from the kitchen, carrying a tray. |Please enjoy the taste, ma'am," She said cheerfully, setting down three elegant dishes for her to savor: the truffle soup, roasted duck, and glazed fruit dessert.
Sasha let out a smile as she picked up the spoon. As she tasted, she gave a nod with her eyes lighting up in delight. "This... is… good..."
*
The next morning, a sharp gasp tore from Sasha's throat as she bolted upright in bed with sweat clinging to her skin.
She looked around.
Her ceiling. Her cheap curtains. And her tiny, messy room. She was at her home.
Her head throbbed. "What the hell…?"
She swung her legs over the side and stepped down from the bed. She stumbled to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water. Her reflection in the window looked pale, tired… and yet somehow lighter.
Then memory hit her like a wave—the diner, the man, the wine, that strange deal. She froze with the glass halfway to her lips.
"Had that really happened?"
Maybe she'd dreamt it.
Still… the taste of that wine lingered on her tongue. Sweet and smoky, impossible to forget.
Just as she was struggling to understand how she got home last night, as she could only remember savoring the dishes and falling asleep right there, her phone buzzed, startling her. She glanced at the screen: Unknown Number.
She hesitated, then answered. "Hello?"
A man's voice crackled through. "Miss Rodriguez?"
"Yes?"
"Hello. This is Carlo from City Lights Weekly. We'd like to do an interview about Director Hauer. Would you be free this afternoon?"
Sasha's heart skipped a beat. "Hauer? Why?"
The line hummed faintly.
*
One month later, the entire country began to burn because of the news that broke like a storm: Famed Director Daniel Hauer Arrested on Multiple Harassment Charges.
One by one, the names of his victims came out. The number was more than a dozen. A few of them were still active, but lots of them quit the industry. There was even one suicide in those names. And somewhere in the middle of it all, Sasha Rodriguez's name was included.
Just like others, she was interviewed by a few and got support from netizens on the internet.
And three weeks later, the headlines read: Daniel Hauer Found Dead in Cell.
Meanwhile, Sasha got an opportunity. A major TV drama wanted her for a two-episode role. She got cast as the pregnant wife of the main character's brother.
As her life seemed like it turned around, just to be sure, she drove back to the same street to thank the owner.
However, there was no diner located in that place.
Instead, it was only an empty lot filled with weeds and a rusted pole where a sign once hung. She stood there a long time, the wind tugging at her hair. Finally, she whispered, "Did they go out of business or something? Or maybe I came to the wrong place, or perhaps, it's just a dream."
She didn't think much at first.
Two months later, she gave birth to a baby girl, Amelia Rodriguez, right on her 23rd birthday. Her parents welcomed her back. She had support to raise her child, too.
Six months after that, she was back on set with only one offer in her hand.
But as if the goddess of luck smiled on her, her name began to spread like wildfire. Commercials, films, dramas— she became busy with one after another. Her face was on billboards, her laughter echoed through talk shows, and fans called her "the Miracle Star."
She didn't argue as she really thought that it was a miracle. However, as she was slowly becoming famous, she began to dream about the incident that night. They became more frequent as her popularity increased.
Almost seven years passed in the blink of an eye.
Year 2013;
Now, the news anchors spoke her name with reverence as every channel is about her.
"The nation's beloved actress, Sasha Rodriguez, celebrates her 30th birthday this week".
"Actress Sasha to celebrate her birthday with her daughter Amelia's 7th birthday on camera, for the first time."
"NFlix purchasing the rights to her biographical series for ten million dollars..."
Meanwhile, in a glass tower high above the city, Sasha jolted awake.
Her sheets were tangled around her while her body slick with sweat. Her penthouse shimmered with wealth, like marble floors, velvet drapes, and a skyline view worth fifty million dollars.
But she felt suffocated instead as she woke up. It has been that way for years. And now, following the same routine, she clutched her chest, gasping softly as she woke up.
She stumbled out of bed, poured herself a glass of water, and leaned against the counter as usual.
She murmured, almost to herself, "This dream… why does it keep coming back?"
She drank the water in one go, pressing the glass to her forehead.
"They're just nonsense," she told her reflection. "Just paranoia. I'm only nervous because Amy's birthday is coming up."
Forcing out a smile, she tightened her grip over the glass, "It's just a week. Once she turns 7, I won't have to worry anymore. Best to keep myself busy during this week. Let's go and look for some photoshoots or some interviews to occupy my mind."
Later in the morning;
Inside the glass building of Luminace Entertainment, employees greeted her with rehearsed enthusiasm. She waved politely and put up a picture-perfect smile as she walked through the corridors.
The meeting went smoothly. The CEO, a round man with a voice like buttered velvet, accepted her request and promised to arrange a photoshoot with Arlm, a global lifestyle and fashion magazine. Then, they talk about the guests of honor on her birthday.
After an hour, she excused herself. "Sorry, I need a quick break," she said softly, getting up from her chair.
The restroom was empty when she got in. Her heels clicked lightly on the tiles as she stepped to the sink and turned on the faucet. Cold water splashed against her wrists, calming her nerves.
Just as she glanced up at her face in the mirror, her face was frozen.
In the mirror, there was someone else apart from her. It was a familiar face, the handsome man from that diner six years ago. Still looking like he hasn't aged a bit in the past 6 years.
Sasha's breath hitched. She spun around in reflex.
However, there was nothing.
The restroom was empty.
Her mouth opened to scream in panic, but no sound came out. Her throat moved, and her lungs burned, but there was only silence that met her.
She whipped back to the mirror once again as the reflection inside whispered, "The promise is to be fulfilled in seven days, Milady."
The glass rippled once like a pond disturbed by a stone, and the reflection was gone in the next moment.
Sasha stumbled backward. Her hands shook violently. "No… no, that was… that was… It's real… It is real..."
Her knees buckled under the pressure. Her heel snapped against the tile with a sharp crack, sending her sprawling to the floor in shock. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she clutched her chest, feeling trouble to breath.
"I… I need… I need to get out… Amy… I need to get Amy..."