The night felt heavier than usual.
Riven lay on the cold floor, staring at the cracked ceiling.
Sleep wouldn't come.
The room was small.
Too small.
Three people in a place meant for one.
The air felt heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Temporary.
Riven stared at the ceiling.
"…So this is what we've come to…"
Every time he closed his eyes—
He saw it.
Their house.
Broken.
Shattered.
Gone.
"…Power attracts danger."
His father's words echoed in his mind.
Riven clenched his jaw.
"…Then what am I supposed to do?"
He turned to the side.
His mother was asleep… or at least pretending to be.
One hand rested gently over her stomach.
A small, silent reminder.
A new life.
Riven's chest tightened.
"…I can't protect anyone like this."
His fingers curled into a fist.
Weak.
That word kept repeating.
The bullies.
The loan sharks.
That name—
The organization behind it all.
And him?
He couldn't even understand what he did.
"…Fear Factor…"
He whispered it like it didn't belong to him.
"…You are either a miracle… or a disaster."
Her voice.
That girl.
Riven shut his eyes.
"…Then I'll decide what I am."
He stood and quietly stepped
outside, careful not to wake anyone.
"Riven."
He froze.
His father was awake.
Sitting in the corner, eyes fixed on him.
"…Where are you going?"
Riven hesitated.
For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
"…Outside."
"…At this hour?"
Silence stretched.
His father stood up slowly and walked closer.
"…This isn't like you."
Riven looked away.
"…Things aren't the same anymore."
A pause.
"…Is this about yesterday?"
Riven clenched his jaw.
"…Everything is about yesterday."
His father studied him carefully.
"…You're thinking of doing something reckless."
"…No."
Riven shook his head.
"…I'm thinking of doing something necessary."
Silence.
For a moment—
Neither of them spoke.
"…You're still a kid."
Riven's expression hardened.
"…Not anymore."
That hit.
Hard.
His father exhaled slowly.
"…If you walk out that door…"
"…things will change."
Riven met his gaze.
"…They already have."
Another long silence.
Then—
His father stepped aside.
"…Come back alive."
Riven paused at the door.
For a moment, his hand tightened on the handle.
"…When did things get this bad?"
He remembered the old house.
The quiet mornings.
His mother's smile.
And then—
He walked out.
The night air was cold.
Still.
Too still.
The city felt different now.
Or maybe it was just him.
Still.
Almost suffocating.
Riven walked forward.
No direction.
Just thoughts pulling him.
"…People like you don't live very long."
"…Yeah?"
He muttered.
"Then I'll just have to prove that wrong."
"…Good."
Riven froze.
That voice.
He turned sharply—
"…You again."
She stood there.
Calm as ever.
Like she had always been there.
Riven frowned.
"…Wait."
"…Are you a stalker or something?"
A pause.
"…How do you even know I'm here?"
Silence.
She blinked once.
"…You're not that hard to find."
"…That doesn't answer my question."
"…It doesn't need to."
Riven stared at her.
"…That's exactly what a stalker would say."
For a brief moment—
She looked… mildly annoyed.
"…If I were a stalker…"
She stepped slightly closer.
"…you wouldn't notice me at all."
Riven paused.
"…Okay that's actually worse."
"You took your time."
Riven exhaled slowly.
"…I was thinking."
"…And?"
Silence.
Then—
"…I'll do it."
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
"…I'll join that academy."
A pause.
The wind moved softly between them.
"…On one condition."
She raised an eyebrow.
"My family."
"…They come first."
"…They'll be safe."
She answered instantly.
"…And the house?"
"…Handled."
Riven stared at her.
"…Why are you helping me?"
For the first time—
She hesitated.
Just slightly.
"…Because my father is interested in you."
"…My father can get you into the academy."
Riven's expression changed.
"…Your father?"
"…He has influence."
"…What academy?"
"…A place that trains Fear Factor users."
Riven looked down slightly.
"…People like me…"
"…Why would he help me?"
"…Because you're valuable."
Riven frowned.
"…I'm not some tool."
Her gaze didn't change.
"…That's not for you to decide."
That word felt heavy.
"…And the cost?"
"…After you graduate…"
"…you work for him."
That didn't sound comforting.
"…And you?"
Riven asked.
A small pause.
"…I'm curious."
Silence returned.
"…Then what now?"
She turned.
"…Now?"
"…Your life changes."
The air around them felt different.
Heavier.
"…The academy isn't a school."
"…It's where people like you either become weapons…"
"…or die trying."
Riven didn't flinch.
"…Good."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"…Follow me."
She started walking.
Riven took one last look behind him.
At what was left of his life.
Then—
He followed.
Riven frowned.
"…To the academy?"
A slight pause.
"…No."
She glanced back at him.
"…To meet my father."
Silence.
Riven's expression hardened slightly.
"…The one who wants to 'invest' in me?"
"…Yes."
The air felt heavier.
"…And if he doesn't like me?"
She looked at him calmly.
"…Then none of this matters."
Riven stepped closer.
"…And what kind of man is your father?"
A small pause.
"…The kind you don't want as an enemy."
To be continued..