Page 157 of Damsel in Disguise

For several seconds, none of it makes sense.

Then I see a very familiar name—ARIELLA KEINSTON, A-07.

The world stops. For several seconds, I simply stare, unable to breathe. Unable to think.

The file opens nonetheless.

Observation Period: 2 Years, 4 Months.

Initial contact with Subject A-01—me.

Every muscle in my body locks as I notice the date attached to the first observation log. That also means they were watching her ever since she started watching me in real life, not online.

It didn’t begin with online activity.

It didn’t begin with social media interactions.

It didn’t begin with anonymous messages buried among the thousands of notifications I receive every week.

The Dominion ignored all of that.

Ariella only appeared on their radar when she began physically inserting herself into my world—lecture halls, university grounds, public appearances.

Places where observation became proximity.

Places where fascination became action.

Of course, they noticed.

Millions of people follow me online.

Millions of people consume the public version of Alistair Hertley.

The Dominion couldn’t possibly monitor every admirer, stalker, or obsessive stranger hiding behind a screen.

But unlike the others, Ariella didn’t stop staying behind a screen. She stepped directly into the web herself.

And more importantly, she’s a Keinston. Nobody targets a Keinston lightly.

Nobody risks provoking one of the most powerful families in the world unless the potential reward outweighs the consequences.

So when Ariella Keinston willingly attached herself to the Dominion’s most valuable asset, they saw an opportunity too valuable to ignore.

Thus, they started observing her. And once they started, they never stopped till it led to today.

The file continues. The Dominion knew she was there every single time.

Timestamp after timestamp.

Observation after observation.

A sick feeling settles beneath my ribs. They watched the entire thing happen.

Every encounter documented.

Every interaction analyzed.

Every deviation recorded.