The bar was almost empty when Mara arrived.
Greyhaven had dozens of places for nightlife, but The Harbor Glass wasn't one of them. It was quiet, dim, and smelled faintly of salt from the nearby docks.
Exactly the kind of place where no one asked questions.
Adrian Vale was already there.
He sat in a corner booth, coat folded beside him, a glass of whiskey untouched in front of him.
Mara slid into the seat across from him.
"You're early," she said.
"I prefer observing a place before the conversation begins."
"Of course you do," she muttered.
The bartender came over, and Mara ordered a cheap beer.
Adrian watched her carefully.
Not the way men usually looked at women.
It felt more like being studied under a microscope.
"You're uncomfortable," he said.
"Because you're analyzing me again."
"Not analyzing."
"Observing?" she said, mocking him.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Exactly."
The bartender dropped the beer on the table.
Mara took a long sip before speaking again.
"So," she said. "A psychiatrist wandering into a community center at midnight. That normal?"
"Not particularly."
"Then why were you there?"
Adrian leaned back slightly.
"Insomnia."
Mara raised an eyebrow.
"A sleep doctor who can't sleep?"
"That's often how it works."
He rotated the glass in his hand slowly.
"Tell me about your nightmares."
The question came out of nowhere.
Mara froze.
"I didn't say I had nightmares."
"You didn't have to."
She stared at him.
"You really don't turn it off, do you?"
"Turn what off?"
"The therapist thing."
Adrian considered this.
"Would you prefer if I lied and said I wasn't curious?"
"Probably."
He laughed softly.
The sound surprised her.
It was warmer than she expected.
For a moment the conversation relaxed.
They talked about Greyhaven, the endless rain, the cost of living, and how the city always felt like it was hiding something.
Hours slipped by.
Eventually Mara checked her phone.
1:38 AM.
"I should go," she said.
"Your son?"
She nodded.
Adrian studied her again.
But this time something in his expression changed.
Something more… careful.
"There's something you should know," he said.
Mara paused halfway out of the booth.
"That sounds ominous."
"I'm married."
The words hung in the air between them.
Mara blinked.
"Well," she said after a moment, "that's good information to have before the drink."
"I agree."
"So why didn't you mention it earlier?"
Adrian held her gaze calmly.
"Because I wanted to talk to you first."
Mara narrowed her eyes.
"That's not a great answer."
"No," he admitted. "It's not."
She grabbed her coat.
"Then I think this conversation is over."
Adrian didn't try to stop her.
But just as she reached the door, he spoke again.
"Have you ever experienced sleepwalking, Mara?"
She stopped.
Slowly turned around.
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"Pretty sure I'd remember something like that."
Adrian tilted his head slightly.
"Most people don't."
A chill passed through her.
"Goodnight, Doctor."
She stepped out into the rain.
The cold air felt sharp against her face as she walked down the street.
But halfway home, something strange happened.
Her phone buzzed.
A notification from the home security camera app.
Motion detected in Leo's bedroom.
Mara frowned.
The neighbor should still be there.
She opened the camera feed.
The room appeared dark.
Leo was sleeping peacefully.
But as Mara watched..
The bedroom door slowly opened.
And someone stepped inside.
The figure moved silently toward Leo's bed.
Mara's heart began pounding.
"Hey!" she whispered at the screen.
The figure paused.
Then slowly turned its head.
Even in the grainy night vision, Mara could see something horrifying.
The person standing beside her son…
Was her.
Same hair.
Same face.
Same clothes she was wearing now.
But Mara was standing in the street.
Watching it.
And the thing in the room smiled.