Lily's hand hovered over the key and the knife, her mind racing. Every instinct screamed at her to take the key and release the man in the corner, but doubt gnawed at her. What if that wasn't the right choice? What if it was a trap?
She could feel Tristan's gaze on her, sharp and expectant. His calm demeanor was unnerving, as if he already knew what choice she would make.
The man in the corner let out another muffled groan, jerking against his restraints. Sweat dripped from his forehead, his eyes glassy with fear. Time was slipping through her fingers, and the weight of the decision pressed harder with every passing second.
Lily clenched her fists, forcing herself to focus. There was no room for hesitation. Whatever she chose, it would define her role in Tristan's world.
Key or knife. Mercy or ruthlessness.
She took a deep breath, and grabbed the key.
The cold metal bit into her palm as she rushed toward the man. She fumbled with the lock on his handcuffs, her hands trembling, but finally, the restraints snapped open. The man sagged with relief, gasping through the gag as she ripped it from his mouth.
"Thank you," he rasped, his voice hoarse and weak.
Lily barely had time to register the relief in his eyes when she heard slow clapping from behind her.
"Well done," Tristan said, stepping forward with a sly grin. "You chose... mercy."
Her pulse pounded in her ears. "What happens now?"
Tristan tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "Now? We see what mercy costs you."
Before she could process his words, the man she'd just freed lunged at her.
---
Lily's instincts kicked in, and she stumbled backward, narrowly avoiding his grasp. The man's expression had twisted into something feral, his gratitude gone as if it had never existed. He moved with surprising speed, slamming her against the wall.
She gasped, the impact knocking the air from her lungs. She struggled, kicking wildly, but his grip was iron-tight.
"You shouldn't have helped me," he snarled, his voice dripping with malice. "Big mistake."
Her mind spun, panic flooding her system. She fought against him, clawing at his arms, but he was too strong.
Just as she thought she was out of options, a sharp click echoed through the room.
The man froze, his body tensing as the cold muzzle of a gun pressed against the back of his head.
"Not so fast," Tristan murmured, his voice smooth as silk.
The man released Lily instantly, raising his hands in surrender. She collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath, her heart hammering in her chest.
"Here's a lesson for you, Lily," Tristan said, his tone almost gentle. "Mercy is a dangerous game. People will take advantage of it every chance they get."
Lily coughed, struggling to steady herself. "What... what the hell was that?"
Tristan smiled, his gun still trained on the man. "Your first test."
He gestured for the man to stand. "Get out," Tristan said coolly. "You've served your purpose."
The man scrambled to his feet, shooting Lily a glare as he staggered toward the door. She watched in stunned silence as he disappeared into the hallway, her heart still racing.
Tristan tucked the gun into his coat and turned to face her, his expression unreadable.
"You passed," he said softly. "Barely."
Lily's chest tightened with a mix of anger and fear. "What kind of twisted game are you playing?"
Tristan crouched in front of her, his dark eyes locking onto hers. "The only kind that matters in this world," he whispered. "The kind where survival isn't just a matter of strength, it's about knowing when to show kindness and when to strike."
Lily swallowed hard, trying to make sense of what had just happened. The weight of the moment pressed down on her, suffocating and real.
"I didn't sign up for this," she muttered, more to herself than to Tristan.
"But you did," he said smoothly, standing to his full height. "And now you're in. This is only the beginning, Lily."
---
The walk back through the hotel was a blur, every step heavy with the realization that her life was no longer her own. Tristan led her in silence, his hands tucked casually into his pockets as if the night's events were nothing more than a routine exercise.
When they reached the lobby, he stopped and turned to her, a sly grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Congratulations," he said. "You survived your first night. Not everyone does."
Lily stared at him, her mind spinning with questions. "What would've happened if I'd chosen the knife?"
Tristan's smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. "Then I would've known you were ready for the next level."
Her stomach churned. "So this was all just a test?"
"Every move in this game is a test," Tristan replied. "The question is, how long can you keep up?"
Before she could respond, his phone buzzed. He pulled it from his pocket, glancing at the screen. Whatever he saw made his expression darken, the playful glint in his eyes vanishing instantly.
"We need to go," he said abruptly, turning on his heel.
"Go where?" Lily asked, struggling to keep up as he strode toward the hotel's side exit.
"To meet someone," Tristan said, his tone clipped. "Someone you'll want to impress."
Her pulse quickened. "Who?"
Tristan glanced over his shoulder, a dangerous smile curving his lips.
"Let's just say... they're the ones pulling the strings. And if you thought tonight was tense..." He gave a low chuckle. "You're in for quite the ride."
---
They slipped into the waiting black car, and the driver pulled away without a word. The city lights blurred past the windows as they drove through the quiet streets, the hum of the engine the only sound.
Lily leaned back in the seat, her mind racing. She had stepped into a world she didn't understand, and every move felt like a step deeper into quicksand.
Tristan sat beside her, relaxed and unreadable, as if the chaos of the night had been nothing more than a game to him.
And maybe it was.
But for Lily, it was real. Too real. And with every passing second, the stakes grew higher.
She glanced at Tristan, her stomach twisting with unease.
"Who are we meeting?" she asked again, her voice barely above a whisper.
Tristan's smile was razor-sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade.
"Someone who decides whether you get to stay in the game," he said softly. "Or whether you become another loose end."
Lily's blood ran cold. There was no turning back now.
The game wasn't just beginning. It was about to explode.