The night air felt thick with tension as the criminal masquerade event loomed on the horizon.
Every student at the university was required to attend—though the reason for the event wasn't listed on the agenda. It was a ritual. A way for the higher-ups to observe who was rising, who was falling, and who was ready to be discarded.
I adjusted my mask in the mirror, carefully hiding my face as I applied a bold swipe of red lipstick. Tonight, the game was different. I wasn't just a spy in training. I was a player.
"Vane, you look stunning."
I turned sharply to see Ryker standing in the doorway, dressed in a sleek black tuxedo, his mask matching the darkness in his eyes.
"Charming as always, Crimson," I said, nonchalantly adjusting my own mask, the edges sharp like a predator's grin.
"You think that's going to hide your identity?" he smirked, stepping closer.
I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "Does it really matter?"
His eyes flickered, a silent challenge hanging between us. "Maybe. Let's see if we both survive this game tonight."
---
The ballroom was an intoxicating mix of luxury and danger. Gold chandeliers hung like twisted stars, casting a dim glow over the sea of masked faces. The music pulsed, deep and throbbing, as students and high-ranking criminals mingled, their identities hidden beneath opulent disguises.
"I bet you ten thousand credits I'll find the target first," Ryker murmured, leaning down as if sharing a secret.
I didn't respond immediately. "Why are you betting on me?" I asked, studying him carefully.
"Maybe I'm just fascinated by the chaos in your eyes," he said with a sly grin, his fingers brushing lightly against my wrist as he moved past me.
---
The first hour passed in a blur. The masks, the laughter, the subtle threats beneath every smile. I moved through the crowd with a practiced ease, keeping my instincts sharp, my heart locked away.
But then I saw him.
Professor Vale.
He stood at the far end of the room, leaning against a marble column, his mask a perfect contrast to his dark, brooding persona. He was observing, as always, but tonight his eyes weren't just scanning the crowd—they were locked on me.
---
"Hey, beautiful."
I turned to face Lucian, his ever-present smirk lighting up his face as he offered me a glass of champagne.
"You look like a million bucks," he teased, his voice laced with flirtation.
"I'm more interested in why you're here," I replied, eyes narrowing as I took the glass from him.
"Business, of course. But also, I don't mind a little pleasure on the side," he said, his tone playful but dangerous.
Before I could respond, a figure in the crowd caught my attention. Blaze—his fiery red mask and sharp features made him stand out, even in a room full of criminals. He was talking to a tall man in a sharp black suit, his posture tense.
I wasn't the only one watching him.
I could feel it—the tension. The eyes watching. The game had started.
---
Ryker suddenly appeared beside me, his voice low. "The game's about to begin. You'll want to be ready."
Before I could respond, a loud click echoed through the ballroom. Everyone turned to look.
The president of the university, a hidden figure known only by his codename The King, stepped onto the raised stage, his mask a jagged, crown-like design that glinted in the dim lighting.
"Tonight," he announced, "marks the beginning of a new selection. The game will not be the same."
The room went silent. Every person in the ballroom knew the significance of his words.
---
The King continued, his voice cold and commanding. "There is a traitor in our midst. One of you will betray us. And we will find you."
His eyes swept the room. It felt like a challenge. A warning. And somehow, I felt like it was aimed at me.
"You will each be given a key," he continued. "Find the target. Bring them to me. But know this: if you fail, your future here is over."
The room buzzed with quiet conversation as the King descended from the stage, leaving us to scramble for our keys.
---
I turned to find Ryker already in motion, a smirk playing at the edge of his lips.
"You know who the target is, don't you?" I asked, stepping in line beside him.
"You're the only one I trust in this game," he replied, his voice low. "Let's make sure we both come out on top."
---
But then I saw something that made my blood run cold.
A hidden figure in the corner of the room—masked, shadowed, but unmistakable.
Vale.
It didn't take long to figure it out. The target wasn't someone from the crowd. The target was us.
---
The room suddenly erupted in chaos. People began to move, grabbing keys, running to hide, while others turned against one another.
I grabbed Ryker's wrist. "We need to move. Now."
Without another word, he followed me into the maze of corridors that led to the back of the ballroom.
We weren't running from the target. We were running toward the truth.
---
End of Chapter 21