Suddenly, my phone buzzed with a call from an unknown number. I stared at the screen for a moment, debating whether to answer, before finally pressing accept.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," a cold voice warned.
"What the hell? Are you some kind of stalker?" I snapped, hastily closing the browser on my laptop.
"I've got a proposition for you," the man said smoothly, ignoring my question. "But only if you're willing to keep working for us."
"And if I refuse?" I countered, my voice sharper now.
He chuckled darkly, as though amused by my defiance. "We know all about you, Mr. Cartez—second son of the infamous Cartez family, though you prefer to go by Specter, don't you? You abandoned your privileged life to chase normalcy, but even you know the past doesn't stay buried. It will find you, one way or another. The only question is whether you'll face it on your terms… or ours. We can help you, but only if you agree to help us."
His words sent a chill down my spine. How did he know? I had gone to great lengths to erase every trace of my old life, carefully dismantling any connection to my family and past.
"What's in it for me?" I asked, masking my unease with a veneer of disinterest.
"Your dream school," he replied, his tone smug. "Full admission to AzTech, where your coding skills can flourish. And, of course, we'll erase any lingering dirt on your name. Your slate will be clean."
I narrowed my eyes, suspicion flickering in my mind. "Why do you need me? It's obvious you already have the power to get whatever you want."
"Ah, isn't it clear yet?" He sighed, as if tired of my ignorance. "While we have operatives in the field, they lack your technological finesse. And there's another reason… The Crown Syndicate's princess, the one in charge of our operation, has taken a particular interest in you. She's been keeping an eye on you ever since you set foot in her domain—this city. So, Specter, what do you say? Will you join us?"
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Later that evening...
I stared at the bag on my bed, stuffed with my belongings. Tomorrow, I'd be moving into AzTech's campus apartments. Before I could linger too long on the implications of my choice, the doorbell rang. I descended the stairs and opened the door.
"Marl?" I blurted in surprise.
She greeted me with a small wave, glancing over her shoulder suspiciously before stepping inside as though being followed. I shut the door behind her and studied her expression. "Are you alright?" I asked.
She exhaled in relief, peeking through the window before nodding. "I thought my bodyguard was tailing me," she explained, finally revealing a bottle of red wine she had been hiding behind her back.
"What's that for?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at the wine.
"For movie night, silly," she replied with a playful grin. "I thought we could watch something together."
I sighed, resigned to her whims. "Strange timing, but fine. Make yourself at home."
I retrieved two glasses from the kitchen as Marlena made herself comfortable on the couch. She poured the wine, handed me a cup, and started a movie on the TV. But as soon as the film began, my mind wandered.
I stared at the untouched wine in my hand, thoughts swirling. Had I made a mistake accepting the mystery man's offer? Was I plunging back into a darkness I had tried so hard to escape? Would it have been better to start over somewhere far away?
The weight of my past pressed down on me like an iron shackle. Memories of the lives I'd destroyed to feed my greed rose unbidden, and I muttered under my breath, "Never again. Never will I take another life."
"What did you say?" Marlena's soft voice cut through my thoughts. She was leaning against my shoulder, her eyes curious.
"N-nothing," I stammered. "Forget it."
But as I looked at her, I couldn't help but notice the way her features seemed to glow in the dim light. Her lips shimmered like candy, and her oversized T-shirt hung loosely, framing her in a way that made her seem both vulnerable and unguarded. The delicate necklace I had given her rested between her collarbones, glinting faintly.
Why did she feel safe enough to lower her guard around me? If she knew the truth—what I'd done, what I was capable of—would she still be sitting here, so close?
I shook my head, banishing the thought. Some answers were better left unspoken.