Beyond the Script

Dr. Julian Hayes hit the scientific community li

g in. I stared at the headline on my tablet, the words blurring togeth

lias

the core plot has deviated. The female lead, Seraphina Vance, is now single. The villain, Elias T

tablet down. Obsolete. My life' s work here, the

ring. "Objective: Fulfill the destiny of the world. Ensure

ips. "And what about me?" I

ay choose to return to your origin

car crash, the blinding light, and then waking up here, bound to this mission. Redeem E

untless readers of the original story fall in love with his tragic character, echoed in my memory. He had t

s, Elias had spiraled, his brilliance turning d

exposed their plots. When he fell into despair over Seraphina' s marriage, I sat with him through the long nig

gh, his eyes wild and intense. "Chloe, why?" he demanded, hi

aching with a truth I couldn't full

told me I had earned enough points to go home. I looked at Elias, who was laughing with me over

volatile, still prone to dark moods, but he was mine. He held me at night and

future was

the arms of another woman. I had to orchestrate their reuni

an that, I looked at the new mission objective again. Fulfill his destiny. If his true happine

lab door sliding

ic even in her grief, her eyes scanning the room. She looked jus

e, a flicker of conf

he lab, his face pale and agitated. "Serap

he seven years we had shared, the promises he had made last night, they all evaporated in

ith tears. "Elias," she wh

to a protective embrace. He held

ke it was being squeezed in a vise, a cold, crushing pressure. This

e. There was a brief flash of guilt in his eyes, a flicke

im a small, reassuring smile, a smile that felt like a mask

rateful nod, his attention already

. I had to make him happy. That was th

ched at my sides. I would do it. I would give him