Conrad leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on the table as his predatory smile deepened. "Because, my dear, my senses tell me we're not alone. Hunters are lurking just outside the hotel—watching, waiting. Perhaps even now, they've set their sights on the two of you."
Hunters. The word sent a chill down my spine.
I stiffened, trying to keep my expression neutral, but my pulse betrayed me, quickening just enough for Conrad to notice. "Hunters?"
Conrad nodded, his gaze calm yet piercing. "Yes. And not the kind you're used to dealing with, Kyon. These are specialists, well-trained and relentless. They've likely caught wind of your presence in the hotel and are lying in wait to strike the moment you step outside."
Sia's jaw tightened as she stepped forward, fists clenched. "Convenient timing, isn't it?" she said, her tone sharp. "How do we know you're not making this up to keep us here?"
Conrad chuckled softly, the sound like velvet over steel. "Oh, Sia, you wound me with your distrust. But if you require proof, you need only listen."
He tilted his head slightly, as if tuning in to a sound only he could hear. His voice softened, dripping with confidence. "The heartbeat patterns outside are erratic. Nervous energy mixed with the steady rhythm of professionals. There's more than one, I assure you."
I exchanged a glance with Sia. Her expression betrayed nothing, but her posture was tense, her body coiled as if ready for a fight.
"Observation Flux," she whispered, her voice so low only I could hear. I gave her a subtle nod.
Closing my eyes, I let my senses expand outward, reaching for the threads of Flux in the air. The energy flickered and swirled, revealing faint echoes of life just beyond the hotel walls. My focus sharpened, and suddenly I felt them—thirty distinct presences, each one steady and deliberate.
When I opened my eyes, Sia's gaze met mine, her lips pressed into a thin line. She'd sensed them too. Thirty hunters. Conrad wasn't lying.
"Even if they're out there," I said, my voice steady despite the storm brewing in my chest, "why should I believe you care whether I live or die?"
Conrad's smile softened, his tone taking on a patronizing edge. "Because, Kyon, your survival benefits me. You're a diamond in the rough, full of untapped potential. And while you may not see it yet, you need someone like me to help you navigate this world. Without guidance, you'll fall victim to the very forces that fear your existence."
My hands curled into fists at my sides. "I don't need your help."
"Don't you?" Conrad's voice was maddeningly calm, as if he'd already won. "Tell me, Kyon, how long do you think you'll last against thirty hunters? Do you truly believe you can walk out of here unscathed?"
I didn't respond, my jaw tightening as I weighed my options. He wasn't wrong—thirty hunters were a force to be reckoned with, even with Sia by my side. And while I hated to admit it, Conrad's presence offered a kind of safety, however twisted.
"And what's your solution?" Sia cut in, her voice laced with suspicion. "We stay here indefinitely? Play house with a murderer while the hunters close in?"
Conrad spread his hands, feigning innocence. "I offer sanctuary, nothing more. The choice, as always, is yours. But know this—once you leave, you're no longer under my protection. And the hunters won't hesitate to exploit that vulnerability."
I glanced at Sia, searching her face for a sign, a cue—anything to tell me what to do. Her eyes, however, remained unreadable, though the tension in her shoulders spoke volumes.
"We need to think," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.
Sia hesitated before giving a reluctant nod. "Fine. But we're not staying here any longer than necessary."
Conrad's smile returned, triumphant but subtle. "A wise decision. You'll find your room more than accommodating, I assure you."
As we turned to leave, I could feel his gaze on my back, heavy and suffocating. It wasn't just a reminder of the danger outside—it was a warning that this game was far from over.
The room Conrad had given us was luxurious, but the air inside felt stifling. Shadows stretched across the walls, twisting and writhing in the dim light, and the weight of Conrad's words lingered like a dark cloud.
I leaned against the window, staring at the city lights below. They sparkled, vibrant and full of life, yet I couldn't shake the feeling of being caged.
"Do you believe him?" I asked, breaking the silence.
Sia paced the room, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "About the hunters? Maybe. But that doesn't mean we should trust him."
"He wants something," I said, my voice heavy with frustration. "Everything he does, every word he says—it's all calculated."
"Exactly," Sia replied, stopping to face me. "Which means we have to be smarter. If there are hunters outside, we need to figure out their positions, their numbers, everything. And we need to do it without relying on him."
I nodded, her words solidifying the plan forming in my mind. "Agreed. But if he's right about them, we can't just walk out there unprepared."
Sia resumed her pacing, her footsteps almost soundless on the plush carpet. "Then we wait. Just long enough to figure out our next move."
I hesitated, my hand brushing the phone in my pocket. Lawrence. He was my ace, the one person who might be able to tip the scales in our favor. But calling him now could complicate things—Conrad would sense it immediately, and the hunters might escalate their attack if reinforcements arrived.
For now, I kept the phone where it was.
"We'll give it a few hours," I said finally. "But if nothing changes, we leave. With or without Conrad's 'protection.'"
Sia nodded, her expression resolute. "Agreed."
As the minutes dragged on, the weight of unseen eyes bore down on me. Not the hunters outside—but Conrad. His presence lingered, woven into the very air of this place.
I clenched the windowsill, resolve surging through me. This wasn't over. Not yet.