Innocent Until Found Dead

Chapter Six

"We must be willing to let go of the life we've planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us."                

                                                                     —Joseph Campbell

Quinn found herself in a vast, pristine room bathed in white, everything clean and elegant. A grand bed, covered in layers of soft white linens, stood at the center of the open space. To her left, a tall glass window filled the room with brilliant sunlight, though she couldn't make out anything beyond it—just an endless flood of light that seemed to erase the outside world.

Her breath caught as she saw herself step out of what appeared to be a large bathroom, moving into the room with easy familiarity. Confusion gripped her. How could she be looking at herself? Her other self's hair was damp, falling loosely as she dried it with a towel. She wore a light blue T-shirt and black leggings, her bare feet padding softly across the floor. But this Quinn looked different—her skin held a sun-kissed warmth, her hair was longer and darker, and her face appeared slightly leaner, giving her an air of strength and confidence. These subtle differences made her seem older, even more strikingly beautiful.

A soft knock echoed from the door, breaking the silence. Her double didn't startle; instead, she smiled, letting the towel fall onto the bed before walking over with a relaxed assurance. She opened the door, and there was Hunter, both familiar and yet subtly altered. His skin was a shade deeper, a slight scruff shadowed his jaw, and his hazel eyes sparkled with warmth.

Hunter stepped inside and, without hesitation, wrapped his arms around her double, lifting her into a kiss that felt at once familiar and distant. She kissed him back, their embrace filled with an almost tangible warmth. When they finally pulled apart, he set her gently down and tucked a damp strand of her dark red hair behind her ear.

"Hey, Tris," he murmured, his voice tender. Quinn's heart skipped. Tris? Why was Hunter calling her by that name? "How'd you sleep?" he asked, his fingers brushing over her hand as he held it.

"Fine," her double answered, her lips curving into a soft smile. "A bit restless, maybe. Yesterday was... the happiest I've ever been." After another kiss, she turned and crossed the room to a mahogany dresser, picking up a small, gleaming object—a diamond ring. "I was just about to put this beauty back on. Sorry, I had to take it off earlier," she said, laughing lightly. "Didn't want to lose it during my morning workout."

Hunter took the ring, his expression warm as he slid it back onto her finger, then lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to the stone. "There you go. Now everyone knows you're mine," he said, pulling her close, his embrace filled with a quiet certainty.

"Yeah, you made sure of that by proposing to me in front of the whole agency yesterday. And just so you know, I've been yours since we started dating," she double teased, holding up her hand to admire the ring. Quinn could feel a sense of joy, almost giddy, flooding from her other self—a sense of belonging and happiness that felt both new and familiar.

"But now," Hunter replied, his voice low and steady, "now that we're engaged, everyone will see it. You're going to be mine forever." He wrapped his arms around her again, his gaze filled with a sense of unbreakable commitment.

"Good point," she replied, smirking playfully as she leaned in for another kiss.

As they pulled apart, Hunter's hand brushed her chin gently, tilting her face to meet his gaze. "I love you, Trissame Beverly," he whispered, barely louder than a breath.