Something That Didn't Belong
Ella didn't touch the pen drive immediately.
She just sat there, holding it lightly between her fingers, as if it might disappear if she moved too quickly.
She was sure of one thing—
She hadn't placed it there.
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The office was quieter now. Most people had already left, and the usual noise had faded into a soft, distant silence.
It made everything feel more noticeable.
Even something as small as this.
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She turned the pen drive slowly, her eyes fixed on it.
"…Who would leave this?" she murmured.
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For a brief moment, her gaze shifted across the office.
Liana wasn't at her desk anymore.
Xavier had left earlier.
Even the lights had dimmed slightly.
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It felt like she was alone.
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Ella looked back at the pen drive.
Then at her system.
Then back again.
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Her fingers tightened slightly.
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"Maybe it's nothing…"
But even as she said it, she knew that wasn't true.
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Slowly, she inserted it into her laptop.
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The screen blinked once.
Then opened.
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A single folder appeared.
No name.
No label.
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Her heartbeat slowed.
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"…What is this?"
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She clicked it.
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Inside—
There were files.
Documents.
Screenshots.
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Her eyes moved quickly across the screen.
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Her breath stopped.
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Because what she was seeing—
Was familiar.
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It was the same presentation.
The same file.
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But this version—
Was different.
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It showed changes.
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Time stamps.
Edits.
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And not all of them—
Belonged to her.
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Her fingers froze on the mouse.
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"This… can't be…"
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She leaned closer to the screen, her eyes scanning carefully.
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There were multiple entries.
System edits.
Access points.
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And then—
A name.
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Her heart skipped.
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But before she could read it clearly—
The screen flickered.
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Then—
Everything disappeared.
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The folder closed.
The drive ejected automatically.
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Ella stared at the screen.
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Empty.
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"…What just happened?"
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She checked again.
Opened the drive.
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Nothing.
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Completely blank.
---
As if nothing had ever been there.
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Her breath became uneven.
---
"I saw it…"
---
She knew she did.
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But now—
There was nothing.
---
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Behind her—
A soft sound.
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Ella turned quickly.
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The office was still empty.
---
Or at least—
It looked like it.
---
But near the glass wall—
There was movement.
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A shadow.
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Gone before she could focus on it.
---
Her grip tightened around the pen drive.
---
"…Someone is playing with me."
---
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Inside his office, Ethan hadn't left yet.
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He stood near the window, his phone in his hand, but his attention elsewhere.
---
He had seen the lights still on outside.
---
Ella was still there.
---
Again.
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His gaze shifted toward her desk.
---
She wasn't working.
---
She was staring at something.
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Still.
Focused.
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Different.
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Something about it—
Didn't feel normal.
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He stepped out of his office.
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"Ella."
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His voice cut through the silence.
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She turned immediately.
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For a second—
Her expression wasn't controlled.
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It was shaken.
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Then it disappeared.
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"Yes?"
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Ethan walked closer, his eyes briefly scanning her face.
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"You're still here."
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"I had some work," she replied.
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A pause.
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"What are you doing?" he asked.
---
Her fingers tightened slightly around the pen drive.
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"Nothing important," she said.
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Ethan's gaze dropped for a second.
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To her hand.
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He noticed.
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But he didn't ask.
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Instead, he said calmly,
"Finish and go home."
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Ella nodded.
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But neither of them moved immediately.
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There was a strange silence between them.
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As if both of them knew—
Something was wrong.
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But neither was ready to say it.
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After Ethan left—
Ella looked back at the pen drive.
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Her expression no longer confused.
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Now—
It was certain.
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Because she had seen enough.
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Even if it disappeared—
It existed.
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And someone—
Didn't want her to see it.
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Across the office—
Behind the glass—
Liana stood in the dark reflection.
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Watching.
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Her lips curved slightly.
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"Careful, Ella…"
she whispered softly.
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"Some truths… are better left hidden."
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