A small one.
For now.
Ava Carter had no idea.
No idea that just being noticed—
had already made her a problem.
She kept walking, her grip tight on her bag.
Her thoughts were no longer scattered.
They were focused.
[QUEST 1: PROVE YOUR EXISTENCE]
Objective: Make 3 different people remember your name before sunset
Time Limit: 6 Hours
Reward: ₦10,000
Penalty: ₦10,000 Debt
"…Three people," Ava murmured.
She exhaled slowly.
"Focus."
Her eyes scanned the area until she spotted a boy sitting alone.
Easy.
Safe.
She walked up to him.
"…Hi."
The boy looked up.
"Uh… hi?"
"My name is Ava Carter," she said.
The boy blinked.
"…Okay?"
"Just remember it."
He shrugged slightly.
"Yeah, sure. Ava Carter."
[PROGRESS UPDATED: 1/3]
Ava turned away quickly.
Her heart raced.
But she didn't stop.
"…One down," she whispered.
Then—
she felt it.
A gaze.
Ava turned.
And her breath caught.
Ethan Carter.
Still watching her.
Not casually.
Not briefly.
Directly.
"…Why?" she whispered.
Before she could think—
he started walking toward her.
Ava froze.
He stopped right in front of her.
"…You."
"…Me?" Ava asked.
"Yes."
A short silence.
"What's your name?"
This time, she didn't hesitate.
"Ava Carter."
Ethan repeated it quietly.
"Ava Carter…"
[PROGRESS UPDATED: 2/3]
Two.
Ava felt her heartbeat spike.
"You're different," Ethan said.
Ava frowned.
"How?"
But Ethan didn't answer.
"…Forget it."
He turned and walked away.
Ava stood there, still processing.
"…That was Ethan Carter…"
She exhaled slowly.
Two people.
Just one more.
But then—
she felt something else.
Not curiosity.
Something sharper.
Ava turned slightly.
Serena Blake stood not too far away.
This time—
she was looking at Ava.
Not calmly.
Not indifferently.
Her gaze was cold.
And irritated.
"…So that's her," Serena said quietly.
Aria blinked.
"Who?"
"The girl Ethan just talked to."
Mina glanced between them.
"…It's Ava."
Serena's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Ava," she repeated.
The name didn't sit well with her.
Not because of who Ava was—
But because of what just happened.
Ethan Carter—
spoke to her.
That alone was enough.
"…She's nothing special," Aria said lightly. "Why does it matter?"
Serena didn't answer immediately.
Her gaze stayed on Ava.
Sharp.
Unpleasant.
"…Because Ethan noticed her," Serena said calmly.
But her tone—
was not calm.
It carried annoyance.
Something close to anger.
"And he doesn't do that," she added quietly.
Mina said nothing.
But she understood.
Serena didn't like changes.
Especially not ones she didn't control.
And Ava Carter—
was one of them.
Ava felt it clearly now.
That look.
That pressure.
"…She's staring at me," Ava whispered.
[WARNING: SOCIAL THREAT DETECTED]
Ava's breath caught.
"…Threat?"
She didn't need an explanation.
Serena's gaze alone said enough.
Cold.
Annoyed.
Unwelcoming.
Ava tightened her grip.
"…One more," she said quietly.
She couldn't fail.
Not with ₦10,000 on the line.
Not with something worse waiting if she lost.
And definitely not—
with someone like Serena already watching her.