Shadows of the Multiverse

Chapter 4

Ava's POV (Past timeline)

"This will be your only warning," I said as I got up from the sofa and glared at Luna.

"Go, run as far as you can, and yes, bid farewell to your family, for they won't lay eyes on you again. Wherever you go remember that I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN" I declared with a wicked grin as she sprinted away.

"Cut!" My director's voice echoed from the background. "Ava, that was excellent. I absolutely loved it. Could you please step back to the monitor and review it? And to make any modifications you'd like," she said.

"Absolutely, I'm on my way," I replied, my eyes glued to the scene. Luna's acting was so incredibly realistic that I couldn't help but be captivated by it. I playfully asked her "Hey, Luna, are you sure you're just acting?"

 "No to be real you are scary when you are angry so I can assure you that half of this was not acting but me getting scared of you," she said as we all laughed 

"Alright, everyone, that's a wrap for today. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your outstanding teamwork. I promise, tomorrow, there's no need for those early 5 a.m. calls," I declared, rising from my seat and addressing the gathered crew over the microphone. The reason we started so early today was to capture an outdoor scene in the morning light, and now, as the day grows darker after a full day of shooting, I'm thrilled with the results.

I was both producing and taking on the role of the lead actor in a series that had been a long-time dream of mine. In hindsight, it might not have been the wisest choice, considering I was also the writer, and often found myself inadvertently slipping into the director's chair when I wasn't in front of the camera. The multitasking and stress levels were undeniable, but thankfully, Ingrid remained a steadfast pillar of support throughout the entire journey.

As I made my way toward my car, I instinctively checked my messages and noticed that Ingrid had sent me a message, requesting to come over to my house in the morning. Given that she had a spare key and an affinity for spending time with my cat, Felix, I assumed she was probably already at my place.

"Hey, Ava! How's it going?" Ingrid greeted me warmly as I stepped into my house, emerging from the kitchen as Felix climbed on me 

"Hi I'm okay," I said sounding tired

"What happened tell me" she replied she could read my face like a book.

"Nothing we were shooting all day but it was really fun," I said playing with Felix

"Oh yeah! I saw Luna's story on Instagram. By the way, I made dinner today," she said looking at me with a serious look on her face to show that she had made dinner

"Wow! You cooked dinner and my house is still standing—impressive!" I exclaimed, playfully shaking her hand. Then, with mock concern, I turned to Felix and asked, "Did she torment you, Felix?" We both shared a laugh as I glanced over at my cat.

"Oh, come on, am I really that terrible of a chef?" she asked with a hint of playfulness. "And as for Felix, I would never do anything to hurt him. I absolutely adore him," she added, trying to sound hurt.

"I suppose we'll have to let our taste buds be the judge," I responded with a playful grin. "And speaking of judgments, I have a lot on my mind that I'd love to discuss over dinner," I added, extending an invitation to join me at the dinner table. As I settled Felix onto his designated sofa, a smile crossed my face. Yes, he had his very own sofa.

"Presenting you veggie garlic noodles," she said giving me a plate

"Hmm this tastes good," I said tasting her noodles

"I put hard work into this so of course it would be really good," She said sarcastically

After dinner, she was sitting on the sofa so I went to her and asked "Do you wanna do something fun"

"Yeah the dishes are going to be clean by themselves," she said jokingly

I replied, "Just so you know, I have a team handling that. They don't call me a billionaire for nothing."

She was on the verge of explaining herself when I received a call from Leo, the person responsible for coordinating everything and ensuring that all the necessary items were present on set.

"Hey Ava sorry for disturbing but I wanted to talk about that camera," He said

"What happened it's not working right?" I asked

"Yeah so what do we do?" he asked awkwardly

"Just buy a new one," I responded

"But what about the budget?" He questioned a little surprised

"Wait what! Since  when did we have a budget?" I asked

"What so does that mean that I can buy a new one," He asked slightly confused

"Absolutely, and if you discover any other damage, just let me know, and I'll take care of ordering the replacements. Don't stress about finding a new camera; I'll handle that as well. Your weekend is for relaxation, so please, don't dwell on anything else," I reassured him.

The hour was late, and I was keenly aware of his strong work ethic, always going the extra mile for me.

"Alright you also have a great weekend bye" he replied

"Bye," I said cutting the call

"Okay, so should we watch a movie?" I asked turning to Ingrid

"Your movie?" She asked sarcastically

"Any movie you like doesn't have to be mine" I replied

"Okay sure," She said turning the TV on

(Present Timeline)

That turned out to be one of the most enjoyable moments I had ever shared with Ingrid. The simplicity of it all made it incredibly relaxing.

I attempted to go to bed, but my mind couldn't help but drift back to all the wonderful moments we had shared. In her absence, a sense of loneliness had settled in, and it weighed heavily on my heart.

This only fueled my determination to uncover her killer. With a resolute mindset, I set aside my thoughts and allowed sleep to engulf me.

Author's Note: Hello everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the most recent chapter that I posted. I received some feedback and decided to include more information about Ingrid and Ava's friendship, as well as some details about Ava's life. Unfortunately, I may not be able to post weekly updates for the next two weeks due to my busy schedule, but I will try my best to upload new chapters as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding and ongoing support!Hope you guys have a good day/night.