Chapter 1 — Arrival at the Headquarters

Lyra

The glass doors of Voss Enterprises slid open with a whisper, revealing a pristine lobby bathed in cool, artificial light. Lyra Kane stepped inside, her heels clicking softly against the polished marble floor. Her heart thrummed in her chest—quick, insistent—though she kept her expression calm and composed. She adjusted the strap of her leather satchel, the weight of her laptop inside a comforting anchor in this unfamiliar space. This moment, this building, represented years of determination: coding through sleepless nights, outpacing classmates, and clawing her way into Silicon Valley’s elite. And yet, a flicker of unease whispered beneath her excitement, a quiet doubt she couldn’t quite shake.

The air smelled faintly of espresso, mingling with the sterile tang of ozone from the holographic displays floating above the reception desk. Streams of data flickered across the projections, glowing in shades of blue and green, as though the building itself pulsed with life. One display caught her attention—a rotating company logo of a crescent moon encircled by interlocking lines of code. There was something about its design that felt... off, though she couldn’t pinpoint why. Lyra paused, her gaze sweeping the sleek, modern lines of the architecture, the quiet hum of technology vibrating in the very walls. For a moment, it felt as though she’d stepped into the future—and she wasn’t sure yet if it welcomed her.

“First time here?” a voice chirped, startling her from her thoughts.

Lyra turned to see a petite woman with electric blue hair spiked into confident angles. She wore a graphic tee that read “01001000 01101001” under an oversized flannel shirt, the sleeves rolled up to reveal a tangle of colorful bracelets on her wrists. Her sneakers squeaked slightly as she crossed the lobby.

“Riley Park,” the woman introduced herself, sticking out her hand. Her grin was wide, disarming, but her sharp eyes suggested she missed nothing. “Fellow code monkey and unofficial tour guide. You must be Lyra.”

Lyra shook her hand, noting the firm grip. “That obvious?”

“Well, you don’t look terrified, so you’re probably not an intern. But you do look like you’re trying very hard not to be impressed.” Riley smirked, her dark eyes gleaming with mischief. “Don’t worry. It wears off. Mostly.”

Lyra allowed herself a small smile. “I’ll take your word for it.”

“Come on. I’ll show you to the onboarding room.” Riley gestured for Lyra to follow, leading her past the holographic displays and into a corridor lined with frosted glass panels. “So... Voss Enterprises. Pretty wild, huh? Cutting-edge tech, billion-dollar valuations, and, oh yeah, the most enigmatic CEO in the Valley. Welcome to the big leagues.”

“Enigmatic?” Lyra asked, falling into step beside her.

“Enigmatic. Intimidating. Terrifying. Take your pick.” Riley glanced over her shoulder, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “Dominic Voss doesn’t just run this place; he *owns* it. Not just the company, either. The vibe. The air. The *gravity*. He’s the kind of guy who walks into a room and makes everyone sit up straighter. You’ll see what I mean.”

Lyra didn’t reply, but Riley’s words stuck with her. She’d read the articles, of course—Dominic Voss, the tech world’s golden boy turned power broker. Charismatic, calculated, and notoriously private. She’d even watched one of his rare interviews, studying the sharp angles of his face, the silver-gray eyes that seemed to pierce through the screen. She’d told herself it didn’t matter. She was here for the work, not the man behind it.

Still, a flicker of unease stirred in her chest. Her fingers brushed the pendant beneath her blouse, a familiar motion that usually grounded her. The faint warmth of the hexagonal charm against her skin made her pause. Was it her nerves? Or something else? Around them, the employees moved with silent efficiency, their faces focused but oddly subdued, as if the air itself demanded restraint.

Riley stopped in front of a set of double doors, pressing her ID badge against the scanner. The doors slid open silently, revealing a spacious room equipped with sleek workstations and a wall-sized screen displaying the company's logo. A handful of other new hires were already seated, their faces a mix of excitement and nerves.

“This is where the magic happens,” Riley said, motioning for Lyra to take a seat. “Orientation starts in ten. Dominic usually makes an appearance, so... you know, brace yourself.”

Lyra arched a brow. “For what?”

“You’ll see,” Riley said again, her grin softening slightly. “Hey, for what it’s worth, I know the first day can be overwhelming. Just... don’t let the place—or the man—get in your head too much. You got this.”

With that, she disappeared down the hall, leaving Lyra to settle into one of the ergonomic chairs. She placed her satchel on the floor and absently touched her pendant again—a small, hexagonal charm etched with binary code. The familiar texture calmed her, but faintly, she thought she felt it grow warmer against her fingertips. She frowned, shaking off the thought as the lights dimmed slightly and a hush fell over the room.

Lyra turned toward the entrance just as a tall figure stepped inside. Dominic Voss.

He was younger than she’d expected—mid-thirties, maybe—with sharp, angular features and dark hair streaked with silver at the temples. His tailored suit fit him impeccably, the crisp lines emphasizing the broad set of his shoulders. But it was his eyes that held her attention—piercing, silver-gray, and utterly unreadable. They swept across the room, and for a fleeting moment, they locked onto hers.

Lyra’s breath hitched. His gaze wasn’t just sharp—it was surgical, cutting through the room with deliberate precision. For a moment, she felt as though he saw something in her others couldn’t. Heat rose in her chest, her fingers tightening around the edge of her chair. Then the moment passed, and he addressed the group, his voice smooth and deliberate.

“Welcome to Voss Enterprises,” he began, his tone commanding the room’s attention without effort. “You are here because you are the best at what you do. But talent alone will not suffice. We are building something unprecedented—an ecosystem that will redefine human connection. The work we do here will shape the future.”

His gaze flicked back to Lyra briefly, and she felt the heat in her cheeks deepen. There was something unnerving about the way he looked at her, as if he knew something she didn’t. She straightened in her seat, willing herself to focus on his words rather than the inexplicable pull of his presence.

After a few more remarks, Dominic stepped aside, allowing another executive to begin the presentation. But Lyra couldn’t shake the feeling that his eyes had lingered on her a moment too long before he left the room.

---

That evening, Lyra stepped out of the building, the cool night air brushing against her skin as the neon skyline of the city lit up around her. Her heels clicked against the pavement as she made her way home, her mind still buzzing from the day’s events. By the time she reached her apartment, she kicked off her shoes and sank into the chair by her desk, staring out at the glowing city through the large glass window.

Her fingers found the pendant again, tracing its edges as she replayed Dominic’s words in her head. *Redefine human connection.* The phrase sounded innocuous enough, but there had been a weight to it, a purpose that made her uneasy. Or maybe it was the way his gaze had lingered on her, sharp and unyielding, as though he could see straight through her carefully constructed defenses.

She shook her head, opening her laptop and diving into the codebase she’d been given. The lines of code blurred together at first, but as she worked, a sense of calm settled over her. This was her element, her sanctuary. Here, at least, things made sense.

Hours passed before she finally closed the laptop, her eyes heavy with fatigue. She moved to the window, gazing out at the sprawling city below. The distant hum of traffic filled the air, a constant reminder of the world’s ceaseless motion.

As she turned to head to bed, her pendant grew faintly warm again, and a flicker of movement caught her eye in the reflection. She froze, her heart pounding. There was a shadow, faint and fleeting, just behind her shoulder. But when she turned back to the window, there was nothing there—only the city lights and the faint sliver of the moon rising above the skyline.

That night, she dreamed of a forest bathed in silver light. The trees stretched endlessly, their gnarled branches clawing at the sky. She felt the cool earth beneath her bare feet, the scent of pine and moss filling her lungs. A voice echoed through the trees, soft and familiar.

“Stay hidden,” it whispered. “Stay safe.”

Lyra woke with a start, her pendant warm against her skin. For a moment, she swore she could still smell the forest—damp and alive, as if it had followed her into the waking world.

She shook her head, climbing out of bed and heading for the coffee maker. Dreams were just dreams, she told herself. Nothing more.

But as she stared out at the city, the faint glow of her pendant caught her eye, and a chill ran down her spine.

Nothing felt certain anymore.