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I woke up earlier than usual, not because I had to… but because I couldn't sleep.
Excitement.
It sat in my chest like something alive, fluttering, restless, almost too big for me to hold in.
Today was different.
Today felt like change.
I got dressed carefully, smoothing out every crease, adjusting my outfit twice, then three times. When I finally looked up, my reflection stared back at me, hopeful… almost unfamiliar.
For a moment, I just stood there.
Then I turned. My eyes fell on my mom, still asleep on the bed. Her breathing was soft, steady… peaceful in a way that made my chest tighten.
I didn't wake her. Instead, I grabbed a small piece of paper and scribbled quickly:
"Stepped out for a bit. I'll be back soon. Love you."
I placed it beside her and hesitated for just a second longer… before turning and walking out.
The car was already waiting. Black. Tinted. Too… perfect.
I slowed down as I approached it, a strange feeling creeping into my chest. This wasn't what I expected.
"Please, ma'am," the driver's voice was polite, controlled. He stepped out and opened the back door for me.
I paused. Was this really the ride Kelvin booked? It looked… expensive. Not just expensive, intentional. Like something out of a life I had never stepped into before.
I swallowed my unease and got in. The door shut softly behind me. Too softly.
I scanned the interior immediately, black leather seats, spotless… the faint scent of something expensive lingering in the air. Everything about the car felt calculated.
Silent.
The driver got back in without a word. And then we moved.
The drive was strange. We weren't speeding. But somehow… it still felt like we were in a hurry. Like time itself was being chased.
I watched the streets blur past, my fingers tightening slightly against my bag. Something didn't feel right. But I ignored it.
This was Kelvin. The same boy I knew. Right?
When the car finally stopped, my breath caught. Slowly… I stepped out.
And then I saw it.
The mansion.
It stood like something out of a nightmare, massive, towering, its dark stone exterior swallowing the morning light instead of reflecting it. Tall, narrow windows stretched up the walls like watchful eyes, their tinted glass revealing nothing from within.
The gates behind us shut with a heavy, final sound. And suddenly… it felt like I had just walked into something I couldn't walk out of.
The building itself was surrounded by perfectly trimmed hedges that looked almost too sharp… too precise. Black iron sculptures lined the pathway, abstract and unsettling, like twisted figures frozen mid-scream.
My throat went dry.
"When did kelvin become this rich…?" I whispered under my breath.
Back in high school, there were always rumors. Whispers about his father. Money. Power. But this? No one ever said it was this.
Men dressed in black stood at different corners of the compound, still, alert, watching everything. Watching me.
I felt it. Every step I took toward the entrance felt heavier than the last.
One of them approached.
"Ma'am."
He didn't smile. Didn't blink much either. He simply gestured forward and took over from the driver, guiding me toward the house.
The doors opened before we even reached them. Gigantic. Dark wood, carved with intricate patterns that looked ancient… almost ominous.
I stepped inside. And froze.
The interior was worse. Or maybe… more beautiful in a way that made it worse.
The ceiling stretched impossibly high above me, crowned with a chandelier that didn't sparkle, it glowed faintly, dim and golden, casting shadows that moved when I wasn't looking directly at them.
The walls were lined with massive portraits. Old. Unsettling. The kind where the eyes seemed to follow you.
Everything was black, gold, or deep red. Rich. Heavy. Suffocating. I felt small.
"Please, ma'am," the voice snapped me out of it. I blinked, realizing I had stopped walking. He gestured again, and I followed, my heartbeat louder now, echoing in my ears.
We walked down a long hallway, our footsteps the only sound. Then he stopped in front of a door. Knocked once. And opened it.
"Go in."
I stepped inside.
And there he was. Kelvin.
Seated behind a large desk. But this… this wasn't the Kelvin I knew. Not the one from the other day. Not the one from high school. This version of him was… different. Sharper. Colder. Dangerous.
He looked up slowly, his eyes meeting mine, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe.
"Hi, Ayra."
His smile followed. But it didn't reach his eyes.
I forced one back. "Hi…"
"Have a seat," he said, gesturing to the chair in front of him.
I sat. Carefully.
"Can I get you anything?" he asked.
"No… I'm fine."
His gaze lingered. "You're sure?"
"Yeah."
A pause. Then he nodded slightly.
"Okay."
His fingers tapped lightly against the desk once… twice… before he leaned back in his chair.
"Let's get right into it then."
Relief flickered through me. "Yes… the job," I said quickly.
His eyes locked onto mine. Sharp. Unblinking.
"Yeah…" he repeated slowly. Then he paused. Something shifted in the air.
"The job."
The way he said it made my stomach tighten. I leaned back slightly, my fingers gripping the armrest without realizing it.
He leaned forward now. Closer. Closer than necessary. His voice dropped. Lower. Controlled. Intentional.
"Let me tell you about your mission."