Higher Dimension.4
Ava awoke to a sense of unease. The hazy morning light filtered through the curtains, casting long shadows across the luxurious room. Everything around her was perfect—too perfect. It wasn’t the chaotic, noisy morning of her old life, filled with the cries of children, the clatter of breakfast preparation, and the frenzied rush to get everyone out the door. Here, it was quiet. Eerily so. And while Ava had grown accustomed to the silence of this new reality, the guilt still gnawed at her. The absence of her children’s voices felt like a loss she couldn’t quite reconcile.
But Ava was determined to push forward. The unsettling reality of this world had brought with it an opportunity she couldn’t ignore: a chance to understand why the other Ava had chosen to leave everything behind. And more importantly, whether solving the other Ava’s problems could return her to her original life.
Her encrypted digital journal had become her primary source of information. Ava opened it once again, scrolling through entries filled with the other Ava’s reflections. One entry caught her attention:
“The glitz, the fame—it’s all a facade. I’ve built this empire, but it’s nothing more than a gilded prison. Every success feels like another link in the chain, every appearance another lie. But the worst part? It’s not just my world that’s toxic—it’s me.”
The words sent a chill through Ava. The other Ava’s struggles seemed painfully familiar. Despite the vast differences in their circumstances, they shared the same feelings of entrapment and guilt—only magnified by fame and power in this dimension. Ava’s empathy grew, along with her sense of urgency. If the other Ava had been seeking an escape, Ava needed to understand why.
Over the next few days, Ava threw herself into investigating the other Ava’s life. She met with Dana again, her closest link to the previous Ava’s inner circle.
“I need to know more about her,” Ava said, trying to keep her voice steady. “The real her, not the image she projected.”
Dana hesitated, her face lined with concern. “Are you sure you want to dig that deep? It wasn’t a pretty picture, Ava.”
“I need the truth,” Ava insisted. “I can’t help her—or myself—without it.”
Dana sighed, as if resigning herself to a difficult story. “She was struggling, Ava. Not just with the business, but with everything. The pressure of keeping up appearances, the weight of her own brand—it was crushing her.”
“What made her withdraw?” Ava pressed. “Why did she want to leave everything behind?”
Dana paused, then spoke softly, her voice tinged with sympathy. “It was the child. The one she lost. It happened during a time when the industry was exploding, and she was forced to choose—keep pushing forward or collapse completely. She buried her grief under work, but it never really went away. It just festered.”
The revelation hit Ava hard. The other Ava had lost a child, and that tragedy had driven her to the brink. The fame and success she’d built had only deepened the wounds, turning her life into a gilded but empty shell. Ava’s heart ached with understanding, but it also hardened with determination. If she was truly trapped in this dimension, she wasn’t just going to fix the other Ava’s life; she was going to reclaim the integrity of her own beliefs.
The more Ava uncovered, the clearer the stakes became. Victor Cain was not just a ruthless businessman; he was the architect of the other Ava’s undoing. As the CEO of CannaCore, Victor had gradually coerced the other Ava into compromising deals that betrayed the values she’d built her empire on. He was the force that had twisted her vision into something toxic, literally and figuratively. His black market grows, dangerous vape cartridges, and corrupt ties to politicians were all parts of a system designed to crush any opposition. The other Ava had tried to escape, but Victor’s influence was too pervasive.
Ava sat in her penthouse, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place. It wasn’t just about reversing the dimension swap anymore; it was about defeating Victor and the corruption he represented. The realization brought a mix of fear and resolve. If she was going to win, she would need to confront the darkest parts of both Victor’s empire and herself.
Ava’s paranoia deepened as her investigation progressed. She sensed she was being watched; black cars lingered outside her building, and she noticed the same faces reappearing in crowds. One evening, as she walked back to the penthouse, she felt certain she was being followed. Her heart raced, and she ducked into an alley, trying to evade her pursuer.
Her phone buzzed, its screen lighting up with another blocked number. Ava hesitated, then answered.
“You’re digging too deep, Ava,” said the distorted voice from the other end, its mechanical tone amplified by a voice modulator. “Victor doesn’t like people who dig.”
“Who are you?” Ava demanded, her voice edged with both fear and anger. “What do you want from me?”
“What I want is irrelevant,” the voice replied. “What you should be asking is whether you’re ready to go as far as it takes. Victor’s not just a businessman—he’s a system. The other Ava couldn’t break free, and neither can you. But maybe you can break him.”
The call ended abruptly, leaving Ava standing alone in the dark alley, her mind reeling. The voice had been right about one thing: Victor wasn’t just a man; he was the system she had to dismantle. But could she succeed where the other Ava had failed?
Ava’s desperation gave way to boldness. She decided she would not just uncover Victor’s corruption—she would actively work to bring it down. The transformation from an overwhelmed imposter to a strategic rebel became evident in her every move. She was no longer content to simply observe from the sidelines; she wanted to be the one pulling the strings.
She called Rob, Dana, and Sophia to a clandestine meeting, this time in a more secure location—a backroom of a private club that promised discretion. Her allies seemed both impressed and alarmed by her newfound resolve.
“We need to escalate,” Ava began, her voice steady and commanding. “Victor’s entire operation is built on a foundation of poison. We expose that, and we can start tearing it apart piece by piece.”
Rob’s skepticism was palpable. “You’re talking about going after everything—his grows, his black market events, his political connections. It’s too risky, Ava.”
“Maybe,” Ava conceded. “But if we play it safe, we’ll just keep losing. I’ve been there before, in another life, and I know how it ends. This time, we do whatever it takes.”
Dana’s eyes softened with something close to admiration. “You’ve changed, Ava. It’s like you’ve found the fire you lost.”
Sophia’s nod was decisive. “I’m in. It’s about time we stopped being afraid.”
Ava felt a surge of determination. “This isn’t just about taking down a corrupt CEO,” she said, her voice rising with passion. “It’s about reclaiming an industry that’s been hijacked by greed. If I can’t go back to my old life, then I’ll make this one worth living.”
