Past Self

...

...

Jasmine had always been driven to succeed. Growing up in a small town in Georgia, she dreamed of owning her own business. After completing cosmetology school, she worked tirelessly to save enough money to open her own nail salon.

At 28, Jasmine's hard work paid off. Her salon had with a loyal client base and a reputation for exceptional service.

Jasmine's personal life was a different story. Her last relationship had ended badly, leaving her wary of love. Focus on her business and spending time with her tight-knit group of friends became her priority.

One fateful evening, while attending a networking event, Jasmine met Anthony. Charming, handsome, and charismatic, he swept her off her feet. They bonded over their entrepreneurial spirits and shared passion for community development.

As they dated, Anthony seemed supportive of Jasmine's business ventures, offering valuable advice and helping out at the salon. Jasmine couldn't believe her luck. She thought she'd finally found someone who understood and respected her ambitions.

Six months into their relationship, Jasmine began to notice subtle changes in Anthony's behavior. He'd often take calls outside, speaking in hushed tones, and seemed evasive about his past.

Jasmine brushed off her concerns, attributing them to her own trust issues. That was when she received the mysterious text message from her past self:

"Jasmine, don't trust Anthony. He's not who he seems. Your future self."

Initially dismissing the message as a prank, Jasmine continued her life as usual. But the words lingered, planting seeds of doubt...

.....

.....

Jasmine tried to shake off the feeling of unease, focusing on her business and the growing feelings she had for Anthony. But the message kept nagging at her.

One day, while organizing the salon's storage room, Jasmine stumbled upon a hidden folder on Anthony's laptop. The contents made her blood run cold:

Receipts for expensive jewelry, luxury cars, and lavish vacations – all purchased under her business's name.

Jasmine felt betrayed. Anthony had been embezzling funds from her salon, using her hard-earned money to fund his lavish lifestyle.

Confronting Anthony, Jasmine demanded answers. He broke down, confessing to his scams and promising to make it right.

But the blow didn't stop there.

A visit to the doctor revealed Jasmine was pregnant with Anthony's child.

Overwhelmed, Jasmine didn't know what to do.

That's when she received another mysterious message:

"You think you know the truth? Think again. Anthony's secrets run deeper. - Your past self"

Jasmine's curiosity got the better of her. She demanded Anthony tell her everything.

Anthony's eyes locked onto hers, a sinister grin spreading across his face.

"Jasmine, you have no idea what you're involved in. This pregnancy... it's not an accident."

Suddenly, the lights flickered, and the salon's phones began ringing simultaneously.

"Congratulations, Jasmine," a distorted voice spoke through the phones. "You're now part of the game."

As Jasmine's world spun out of control, Anthony vanished into thin air.

Left alone, Jasmine's phone buzzed once more:

"The game has just begun. Your move, Jasmine. - Your past self"

And with that, everything went black.

......

......