The ink-black night draped the streets of City Z like a shroud as Lily slipped through the door of her apartment, the weight of her decision pressing heavy on her chest. She leaned against the door, taking a deep breath as if that alone could steady her nerves. But it couldn't. The whispers of what she'd just agreed to clung to her like a second skin.
She was in. And there was no way out.
Her phone buzzed, the sharp vibration making her jump. She fumbled to unlock it, her hands still trembling.
Unknown Number:
"Your first assignment will arrive soon. Don't disappoint."
She tightened her grip on the phone. Every nerve in her body was telling her to walk away, run, if she had to. But then there was Tristan's voice, lingering in the back of her mind: *"They'll come for you. And you won't be able to run."*
Her instincts screamed at her to stay alert, but her body demanded sleep. She stumbled into her bedroom, her mind still racing. But the moment her head hit the pillow, sleep swallowed her whole, dark, dreamless, and heavy.
---
A sharp knock on her door jerked her awake.
Lily bolted upright, disoriented, the room bathed in faint moonlight. She grabbed her phone. 2:38 a.m. Who would come to her door at this hour?
Another knock, louder this time.
Her heart thudded in her chest. Slowly, she slid off the bed and crept toward the front door, every muscle tensed. Peering through the peephole, she saw nothing but darkness.
*Don't open it.* Her instincts flared.
Just as she turned away, the knock came again, this time a rhythmic pattern, slow and deliberate. The sound was eerily familiar. She stood frozen for a moment, every hair on her body standing on edge.
Tristan.
She hesitated, fingers hovering over the lock. Was this another test? Or something worse?
The silence stretched, thick and suffocating. And then-
A small slip of paper slid through the door.
Lily waited, barely breathing, until she heard the distant echo of footsteps fading down the hallway.
She bent down and picked up the paper, her pulse hammering in her ears. It was folded once, with neat handwriting scrawled across the surface.
"Room 609. The Ambassador Hotel. 30 minutes. Don't be late."
---
Twenty-five minutes later, Lily found herself standing in front of the sleek revolving doors of The Ambassador Hotel, her breath fogging in the cool night air. She'd thrown on the first clothes she could find, black jeans, boots, and a jacket, but the chill that settled over her had little to do with the temperature outside.
The hotel lobby was eerily quiet as she slipped through the doors, her boots tapping softly on the polished marble floor. The front desk clerk didn't even look up. She glanced around the opulent space, every nerve on high alert.
With a deep breath, she headed for the elevator, her heartbeat thundering louder with each step. The doors slid shut behind her with a soft hiss, and she pressed the glowing button for the sixth floor.
As the elevator ascended, the walls seemed to close in around her. Her reflection in the mirror-lined walls looked pale and uncertain, a stark contrast to the woman who'd thrown herself into Tristan's world just hours ago.
What am I doing?
But it was too late to turn back now.
---
Ding.
The elevator doors slid open, and Lily stepped into the dimly lit corridor of the sixth floor. The carpet beneath her feet muffled her footsteps as she made her way toward room 609, the numbers on the doors flashing by like a countdown to something inevitable.
When she reached the door, she paused, her hand hovering over the doorknob. Her heart pounded so loudly she was sure it would give her away.
And then she saw it, the door was slightly ajar.
A cold wave of dread washed over her. She pushed the door open slowly, the hinges groaning in protest, and peered inside.
The room was dark, save for the faint glow from the city skyline filtering through the windows. At first glance, it seemed empty. But then she noticed it, a figure slumped over in the corner, bathed in shadow.
Her breath hitched.
Is that... blood?*
A metallic scent lingered in the air, sharp and unmistakable. Lily's throat tightened as her gaze locked onto the figure. A man, unmoving, face obscured by darkness. She took a cautious step forward, her pulse hammering in her ears.
And that's when she saw it.
Tristan's black coat, folded neatly on the bed.
Panic clawed at her chest. What the hell was this? Where was Tristan?
Before she could react, a phone buzzed from the bedside table. The screen lit up with a message:
Unknown Number:
"You're running out of time, Lily. Decide fast."
The man in the corner groaned, alive, but barely. Lily's instincts screamed at her to run, but something held her there. Tristan's warning echoed in her mind: "There's no turning back."
She knew this was it. Her first test. Her initiation.
She edged closer to the man, her breath shallow and uneven. His face came into view, a stranger, his forehead slick with sweat, his breath ragged. His hands were bound, a gag stuffed in his mouth.
Her heart pounded against her ribs. What was she supposed to do? Free him? Leave him? Was this part of the game Tristan spoke of?
And then she saw it, a small, silver key glinting on the table next to the phone.
Another message buzzed in.
Unknown Number:
"The key or the knife. Choose wisely."
Lily's blood ran cold as her eyes darted to the nightstand. Beside the key lay a small, sharp knife, its blade catching the moonlight.
Her mind spun with possibilities, each one more terrifying than the last. Was this a test of mercy? Or ruthlessness?
The key or the knife.
The seconds ticked by, each one dragging her deeper into the abyss. She knew, without a doubt, that whatever choice she made tonight would change everything.
Her fingers trembled as she reached for-
---
A sound behind her.
Lily whipped around, heart in her throat, and found herself face-to-face with Tristan, his expression cool and unreadable.
"Good," he murmured, his voice like silk. "You made it just in time."
Lily's breath caught. "What the hell is this?"
"This," Tristan said softly, "is your first move, Lily. Now, let's see if you play it right."
And with that, he stepped back, folding his arms as if settling in to watch a performance.
Lily's heart raced as she looked back at the key and the knife.
She was out of time.
And the game had truly begun.