Shattered Symmerty

Chapter 7 Shadows of Symmetria

Sunaina stood in front of the mirror, her reflection a perfect embodiment of Symmetria's rigid ideals. Her dark brown eyes examined the crisp lines of her uniform with a gaze that once held admiration but now felt... hollow. Her long black hair was braided neatly and wrapped into a tight bun at the base of her neck, just as expected. A small beauty spot, sitting parallel to her eye, gave her a certain elegance, but today, it felt like a detail she no longer cared about.

Her reflection was everything she had once strived to be: neat, symmetrical, without flaw. But standing there, in her carefully pressed uniform, her athletic figure framed perfectly by the stiff fabric, she felt far from perfect. The uniform no longer symbolized pride. It was a mask, a shield she now wore to blend in, to deceive.

"How did I end up here?" she whispered, brushing a stray hair back into place. There had been a time when she would have given anything to wear this uniform with honor. Now, it felt like a cage, a way to hide from the uncomfortable truths she wasn't ready to face.

Her thoughts turned to Jenna and Marcus. They had been through so much together-Jenna, always the energetic one, and Marcus, reliable and steady. But recently, doubts had crept in. Jenna had been acting strange, disappearing at odd times, coming back with vague explanations. Sunaina trusted them, she had to. Yet, there was a part of her that couldn't shake the suspicion that Jenna wasn't telling her everything.

But what could she do? They were in this together.

---

Standing beside her, Jenna adjusted her uniform in the dim light of the room. Her short black hair brushed just past her shoulders, kept neatly out of her face by two thin hairbands. The slight freckles across her cheeks gave her an air of mischief, a youthful energy she never quite lost, even when things grew tense. She had always been a little taller than Sunaina, her frame just slightly more lithe, like she had been designed for quick movements rather than strength.

As she pulled at her sleeves, Jenna felt the familiar tug of excitement-a spark of individuality she could never quite snuff out, even in the confines of Symmetria. Her light brown eyes gleamed, not with defiance but with the thrill of being part of something bigger than herself.

Fiddling with the uniform's collar, she felt something odd in her pocket. Her fingers brushed against paper, and she hesitated before pulling it out. It was a small note, neatly folded, as if placed there with purpose. She glanced over at Sunaina and Marcus but decided to tuck it back inside the pocket without saying a word. Not yet. She wasn't sure what the note meant or if it was the right time to share it. She'd figure it out later-when it mattered most.

---

Marcus, standing to the side, barely glanced at his reflection. The uniform fit him, but he never felt the need to scrutinize himself the way Sunaina did. His short black hair was practical, his skin dark against the standard-issue clothing. He wasn't the type to fuss over appearances. At an average height, his broad shoulders and solid build were more a result of function than vanity. There was no elegance about him, just the straightforward confidence of someone who knew how to get the job done.

He glanced down at the map in his hands, his brow furrowing in concentration. The council hall was guarded tightly, and getting in would require more than just looking the part. Every detail mattered, every possible entrance and exit had to be accounted for. His charcoal-stained fingers traced the lines of the map, circling the routes they could take, the places they might be able to blend in.

"Are we ready for this?" he asked, not looking up. The question hung in the air, not needing an answer.

"We have to be," Sunaina muttered, her gaze shifting from the mirror to the doorway.