Actors Career

The next morning, Ethan dragged himself out of bed, his mind still clouded by the lingering whispers of Iago. His reflection in the mirror stared back at him, pale and worn.

"You're not him," Ethan murmured to himself. "You're Ethan."

A buzz from his phone snapped him out of his thoughts.

Group Chat – Film Squad:

Ryan: Yo, movie night tonight? I heard there's a new thriller out.

Maya: I'm in! Haven't seen you guys in forever.

Liam: Ethan, you better show up this time. No excuses.

Ethan stared at the messages. A night out with his friends sounded normal. Exactly what he needed to shake off the weight of the System.

Ethan: Count me in.

---

Later That Day

Ethan met his friends outside the college café. Ryan, Liam, and Maya greeted him with wide smiles and playful jabs.

"Look who finally decided to join the living," Ryan teased.

"Yeah, we thought you got trapped in some drama club vortex," Maya added with a laugh.

Ethan chuckled, trying to relax. "I've just been… busy with rehearsals."

Liam grinned. "Well, no rehearsals tonight. Just a good movie and hanging out like old times."

As they walked toward the theater, Ethan felt a flicker of hope. Maybe tonight would help him reclaim a piece of himself.

---

At the Theater

The theater was buzzing with life, the scent of popcorn filling the air. Ethan and his friends grabbed their tickets and settled into their seats.

The movie started—a psychological thriller about deception and trust. As the story unfolded, Ethan found himself gripping the armrests. The protagonist's descent into paranoia felt eerily familiar.

He glanced at his friends. They were engrossed in the film, but Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him.

A whisper echoed in his mind.

"Trust is a fragile thing…"

Ethan shook his head, trying to silence the voice.

As the credits rolled, Maya nudged him. "You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Ethan forced a smile. "Yeah. Just… thinking about the movie."

Ryan laughed. "Right? Makes you question everyone around you."

Ethan's smile faltered. That's exactly the problem.

---

After the Movie

Walking back to campus, Liam threw an arm around Ethan's shoulder.

"Glad you came out, man. We've missed you."

Ethan nodded. "I missed you guys too."

But as they walked, Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that the System was still with him, lurking in the shadows of his mind.

And for the first time, he wondered if he would ever be free of it.