𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋
{•𝑩𝒍𝒖𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑯𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒔•}
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞: 𝑰'𝒍𝒍 𝑳𝒆𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑩𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝑯𝒆𝒓.
ʙʏ ʙᴀʀʙɪᴇʟʟᴇ
-ʟᴜᴄᴋ ɪs ᴀɴ ɪʟʟᴜsɪᴏɴ-
♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤
“That damn woman!” Corazon groaned, sweeping a hand through her hair and straightening her skirt.
“Corazon, is there a problem?” Anthony asked, appearing at her side with a quiet, practiced concern.
“She knows?” Corazon snapped. “I’m talking about Iris.”
“Knows what?” Anthony asked, folding his arms as if about to settle an argument.
“That Morgan is your daughter?” Corazon’s voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.
Anthony’s expression didn’t change.
“It happened long ago. It was Estelle who told her. You know how close my wife was with Iris before she died.”
“And?” Corazon pushed, searching his face for a reaction.
“Estelle told Iris during the time we had an argument. Iris confronted me. It’s been years and she didn’t say a word. Let it remain that way.” Anthony squeezed Corazon’s hand.
Corazon’s jaw tightened. “And you’re okay with that?”
Anthony’s eyes went cold for a beat, then steadied.
“Yes. Besides, I’m not planning on letting Morgan think Gael is her father forever. The timing will come. Maybe by then—” He paused, voice low.
“We can get rid of Gael and claim what’s left of his wealth that you and Morgan will benefit.”
Corazon rolled her eyes but didn’t look surprised. Anthony stepped closer and nudged her playfully,.
“C’mon, don’t be mad.”
“Fine,” she said, the edge not quite gone.
“Smile. C’mon—smile for me.” He reached forward and tickled her ribs.
Corazon’s lips twitched, then a real, small smile broke through.
-----
★ 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐬'𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐟𝐢𝐚 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐧 ★
The room smelled of old leather and expensive cologne.
Behind the table, Marco lounged in a high-backed chair, a crystal glass turning slowly in his fingers.
“Boss.” Banjo stepped inside and closed the door, voice respectful but quick.
“How did the transaction go?” Marco asked without looking up.
“It went well,” Banjo replied crisply. “The clients paid in cash and we delivered the goods.”
Marco’s mouth curved into a pleased, almost predatory smile.
“Good, Banjo. That’s why you’re my favorite , you always get the job done.”
“Thank you so much, boss.” Banjo inclined his head.
Marco set his glass down and steepled his fingers.
“I called Iris today,” He said, voice softening into something that could almost be mistaken for tenderness. “She didn’t sound happy.”
“So we’re seriously pushing on with the plan?” Banjo asked, watching him carefully.
“Of course we are,” Marco said, rising to pace a slow circuit. “I’ve waited too long for this moment.”
Banjo hesitated. “But are you sure...she was too… fond of you once. Are you certain she doesn’t feel anything for you?”
Marco laughed, a dry, dangerous sound.
“It doesn’t matter if she feels anything for me or not. I’m going to get her back. She won’t be able to do anything about it.”
He swirled the drink in his glass as if the motion steadied him.
“Our plan remains the same. We start by ruining Robert’s legacy as president — shake his government, make his life miserable until he begs for me to kill hi.” His eyes glittered at the thought.
“So when do we execute phase one?” Banjo asked.
“The annual conference,” Marco said. “Foreign guests, high visibility — the perfect stage. More than that, it’s my chance to meet him.”
“You mean Robert and Iris’s son?” Banjo confirmed.
“Yes.” Marco’s jaw tightened.
“Hades. MIA is surely going to send their Aces on an outside mission if the foreign guests go missing. My target is Hades.”
“Should I kill him?” Banjo asked bluntly.
“No.” Marco’s voice snapped with cold amusement. “Give him a brutal injury , something that leaves a mark, something unforgettable. But do not kill him.”
“Why do you hate him so much? He’s just a kid. He isn’t important to the plan.”Banjo tilted his head, puzzled.
Marco’s gaze went hard, personal.
“He is important. Every time I remember him, I see the fruit of my enemy’s love — the man who took everything from me. He’s the reminder of that betrayal. Hades doesn’t deserve to exist. One day I will kill him.”
Banjo nodded slowly, the questions suppressed for now. Marco sat back, that soft smile returning, the calm of a man with a long game in motion.
“I will make Robert pay.”
-----
★𝐌𝐈𝐀- 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐫𝐦- 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐲'𝐬 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐦★
The door shut with a soft click behind them, muffling the distant hum of the dorm.
Bluey lay on the bed in a tangle of sheets and bruises, her knees and palms bandaged but still bleeding through in thin, dark threads.
Tears kept coming, hot and useless. After making her kneel on glass, she had to run errands for them, with her knees.
Nia sat on the floor beside her, careful and steady, dabbing at a scrape on Bluey’s palm with antiseptic.
Her face was a mask of worry; the gentle way she worked made the room feel less like a cell.
“Hold still,” Nia murmured, pressing gauze in place. “You should have gone to the nurse.”
“They’d just lecture me and send me back. It’s their school. They make the rules.” She tried to sit up and winced, hissing as pain flared in her knees.
“How did it even get this bad? I obeyed them. I stayed away from Hades like Morgan told me to. I did everything they asked.”
Nia’s fingers trembled, but she kept steady. “You did what you could, Don't blame yourself..”
“What did I do to deserve this?” Her voice rose, raw.
“I get it, I’m the maid’s daughter. My dad drives for them, my mum cleans for them and now I get dragged on the floor like trash so their titled little princess can get a laugh. I obeyed! I stayed away from him, I kept my head down… and still—” She broke off, shoulders shaking.
“You didn’t do anything,” Natalie said softly from the doorway. She came in quietly, eyes rimmed with fatigue. Loci stood behind her.
Bluey pressed her face into the pillow.
“ I’m supposed to be grateful my tuition is paid, like that makes up for everything. Like I should kneel and say thank you for being spared.” She spat the words.
"I hate her so much."
Zayne sat on the edge of the bed, his voice low and soft as he spoke.
“Sorry I couldn’t do anything.” He reached out, his hand brushing gently over Bluey’s hair, his thumb smoothing down a loose strand that stuck to her damp cheek.
She shifted slightly on the bed, wincing when her knee grazed the sheets.
“It’s not your fault,” She murmured, her voice cracked from crying. “You couldn’t have done anything. It just… hurts.”
He looked at her like the world had stopped moving. The way his eyes lingered, dark with guilt, heavy with something that looked too much like tenderness—made the air thick.
“Do you want anything?” He asked quietly. “Food? Water? I’ll get you whatever you need.”
She reached for his hand before he could stand. Her fingers trembled when they wrapped around his, small and cold.
“I’m fine. Thanks, okay? For taking care of me and… always worrying about me.”
His throat bobbed. For a moment, he didn’t answer, just looked at their joined hands like he wasn’t sure whether to pull away or hold on tighter.
Then, gently, he turned his palm and held hers properly, his thumb brushing over her knuckles in slow, absent circles.
“It’s no big deal,” He said, smiling faintly, but the softness in his eyes betrayed the words. “I’ll do my best in any way I can.”
He tucked the blanket higher over her shoulders, adjusted the pillow behind her head, even fixed the corner of her bandage where it had come loose.
And when she finally drifted off to sleep, Zayne didn’t move. He just sat there, watching the rise and fall of her chest in the dim light, his hand still resting over hers.
"Let's go, she needs to rest."Loci said walking out first before they all followed.
-----
★𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐨'𝐬 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐦★
Sergio heard his doorbell beep and opened it, surprised to see Hyce standing there.
“Hyce?” Sergio asked.
“Are you busy?” Hyce’s voice was low, almost hesitant.
“No… I—”
Before Sergio could finish, Hyce barged past him, slipping into the room as Sergio shut the door behind him.
“You’re here. I’m surprised,” Sergio said, leaning against the doorframe.
“I just needed company. My friends are being dickheads right now,” Hyce muttered, slumping onto Sergio’s bed and kicking off his sneakers.
“So… what do you want to do? Movie?” Sergio shrugged, peeling off his shirt.
Hyce’s eyes flicked up, his throat tight as he took in Sergio’s bare chest and defined muscles. It never failed to make him weak in the knees.
Unable to resist, Hyce slid off the bed and walked up behind Sergio, wrapping his arms around him in a tight hug.
Sergio froze for a heartbeat—and then realized that Hyce was bare-chested too.
“Hyce… what are you up to?” Sergio asked, voice low, a mixture of amusement and caution.
Hyce’s lips brushed the side of Sergio’s neck.
“We didn’t get to finish last time… let’s continue from where we stopped,” He murmured.
Sergio smirked, leaning back slightly, eyes darkening with desire.
“No.” He gently twisted out of Hyce’s arms and stepped away, trying to maintain control.
“C’mon,” Hyce said, his voice pleading now, every inch of his body pressed with need. “I thought you liked me… why are you acting this way?”
Sergio’s grin widened, a teasing glint in his eyes. “I do… I like this version of you. I'm not the one begging you now.”
Hyce groaned, frustration and longing mingling, his hands clenching at his sides. “Stop playing games. I need you. I can’t keep waiting.”
Sergio’s gaze softened for a fraction, but his pride and playfulness held him back.
“Then prove it,” He said.
Hyce stepped closer, so close that Sergio could feel his warmth, his chest brushing lightly against his own.
Hyce’s hands trailed over Sergio’s arms, lingering just long enough to make him shiver.
Without warning, Hyce pushed Sergio lightly onto the bed, his body pressing against him for a heartbeat too long.
"I'm going crazy right now. I can't believe I'm the one chasing after you," Hyce muttered, his voice low and desperate.
He leaned in, lips hovering, trying to claim a kiss, but Sergio’s hands gripped the back of his neck, holding him just enough to stop him.
"Not so fast," Sergio said, eyes dark with a mixture of warning and desire.
Hyce pressed just a little closer again, letting his forehead brush against Sergio’s, breath mingling, his hands still tracing lightly along his arms.
"You can’t make this easy for me, can you?" Hyce whispered, voice thick with need.
In one swift move, Sergio flipped them over, and now Hyce was pinned gently on the bed, his bare chest exposed under the dim light.
Sergio’s lips trailed over Hyce’s collarbone, down his chest, and Hyce’s eyes squeezed shut, a soft moan escaping him.
“God…Sergio…” Hyce murmured, dipping a hand into Sergio’s hair, holding him close.
Sergio looked up, his gaze locking with Hyce’s. Hyce bit his lips, his chest rising with every shaky breath.
“Get dressed, let's go out.” Sergio said, his voice husky.
He leaned off the bed heading to his bathroom. Hyce heaved a sigh of relief and buried his face in the pillow.
"What have I done? Did I just.... Tell him I want him?"Hyce groaned.
"I really need to calm down.”
-----
★𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞★
The door clicked shut behind her. Iris let out a deep sigh, the kind that came from wearing heels, smiles, and diplomacy all day.
She kicked her shoes aside, unbuttoned her blouse, and loosened the zipper of her skirt before walking toward the bathroom barefoot.
The mirror caught her reflection and for a moment, she almost didn’t recognize the woman staring back.
Forty-one, yet she still looked like the kind of woman men couldn’t forget. Her body had kept its shape, soft in the right places, firm where it mattered.
She tied her hair up and let the shower run. Steam filled the room as water hit her bare shoulders, tracing down her back in tiny rivers.
**
Iris stepped out of the bathroom, steam still clinging to her skin, a towel wrapped neatly around her chest.
Her hair was damp, the ends brushing against her shoulders.
“Darling,” Robert said, his grin instant and familiar as he crossed the room in a few strides.
Before she could react, his arms were already around her. He smelled faintly of cologne.
“You’re drenched,” she whispered, half laughing as he held her tighter.
“I don’t care.” His voice dropped low, rough with emotion. “I’ve missed you all day.”
“You saw me this morning,” she teased softly.
“That wasn’t enough.” He tilted his head, his eyes tracing her face like he was memorizing it for the thousandth time. “It’s never enough with you, Iris.”
“You sound like a man still freshly in love.”
She smiled, a little flustered, a little moved.
“I am.” His thumb brushed her jaw, his gaze steady, possessive but tender. “I always will be.”
“Marco called me today,” Iris said, voice casual as she dried her hair with the towel.
Robert’s smile slid off his face like someone had pulled a curtain.
“What does he want?” he asked, the calm in his voice suddenly thin.
“Apparently,” Iris said, a small, amused curl at the corner of her mouth, “...the jerk is still in love with me.”
Robert’s jaw tightened. He shrugged his shirt off and stalked to the mirror, the movement all coiled intensity. Iris watched him, warmth and mischief in her eyes.
“You look pissed. Are you jealous?” she teased, voice soft.
Robert didn’t turn from the glass.
“I’m not,” he said clippedly. Then, quieter, more dangerous: “I just don’t want him near you.”
“That sounds like jealousy,” Iris said, amused and gentle. She pulled off her towel and set the towel over the back of a chair and stepped close, fingers finding his hip.
“Don’t worry. You know I love you.”
He turned at that, the steel in his face easing into something like relief.
He reached up, fingers finding the nape of her neck, thumb brushing her cheek.
“I know,” He said, but there was a promise underneath it — low, absolute. “It’s him I don’t trust. I don’t care what his goal is. If he touches you, I will kill him.”
Iris let out a soft laugh and folded her arms around his waist, hugging him from behind.
“Hmm. I know. And I love you so much,” she whispered against his back.
Robert’s hands went over hers, squeezing once.
"Are you trying to tease me right now? What are you doing?"Robert asked and she chuckled.
"Nothing, just trying to run a strip show for my husband. Is that wrong?"Iris winked st him and he grabbed her waist, setting her on the dresser table.
"Really? You're tryyto awake the beast in me right? You know I always score when I play a game."He teased her and kissed her lips.
"Then you should know when to pull out, your son doesn't want a sibling."Iris teased him back.
"Do we still have to listen to him?"Robert asked.
"I want a girl."Iris said.
"Me too, should we make one?"Robert asked, kissing her neck. His hand found her boobs and he cupped it.
"Robert....!!"Iris m0@ned out.
-----
★𝐌𝐈𝐀★
Hyce and Sergio stepped through the massive iron gates of MIA, the crisp evening air brushing against their faces as the heavy clang of the gate closing echoed behind them.
Students’ cars were parked in neat rows outside the academy walls, headlights occasionally flickering as a few others left for their allotted hour of freedom.
They approached the security booth where two guards sat watching monitors. Hyce removed his sleek black bracelet and placed it on the counter, followed by Sergio.
The small scanner beeped twice.
“Two hour max,” One of the guards reminded.
“Okay,” Hyce replied with a small smile.
The moment they were cleared, Hyce reached for Sergio’s hand — fingers intertwining naturally.
It made Sergio glance down with a faint smirk tugging at his lips. Hyce just gave him that soft side glance that meant don’t tease me about it.
They crossed the gravel path toward Sergio’s black car. The low hum of the city beyond the walls was a strange reminder that life existed outside MIA’s chaos.
From a distance, someone watched.
Leaning against a lamppost by the far corner of the parking lot, Gomez stood with his hands shoved deep in his pockets.
His eyes locked on their joined hands, jaw tightening until his teeth ached. When Sergio opened the passenger door for Hyce.
Under his breath, he muttered, “So that’s how it is now, huh?”
He turned away, eyes dark, fury simmering just below the surface.
*****
The late afternoon sun bathed Lakeside Garden in warm gold, the water rippling softly as a breeze brushed past the field of white tulips bordering the lake.
Sergio parked the car beneath a large willow tree, the air scented with honeysuckle and fresh grass.
Hyce stepped out, eyes wide with quiet awe.
“It’s beautiful here,” He said, his tone softer than usual.
The lake reflected the orange-pink sky like melted glass, and the garden stretched endlessly around them.
Sergio smirked as he pulled a folded picnic blanket from the backseat.
“Of course it is. I'm glad you love it here.”
They set up beneath the willow, the blanket spread across the grass, a basket between them.
Hyce sat cross-legged, still gazing out at the lake. The sunlight caught his blonde hair, and a few loose strands fell over his forehead.
Sergio reached over instinctively, brushing them back with a gentleness that made Hyce freeze.
“Don’t hide your face,” Sergio murmured. “I like seeing it.”
Hyce’s lips parted slightly. For a second, neither spoke, just the soft sounds of water and the rustle of leaves.
Then, impulsively, Hyce leaned forward. His eyes flicked down to Sergio’s lips as he moved closer only for Sergio to shift back, rising to his feet with an easy laugh.
“Did you just… turn my kiss down?”Hyce blinked.
Sergio glanced over his shoulder with a teasing grin, hands tucked into his pockets. “Maybe I did.”
“Are you serious right now?” Hyce stood up, half-annoyed, half-flustered.
“I’m serious.” Sergio said, nodding toward the lake.
Sergio dropped his shirt carelessly onto the blanket, the fabric landing beside the basket.
His body glistened slightly in the sunlight — lean muscle and sun-bronzed skin that flexed naturally as he moved.
He kicked off his trousers next, leaving only his dark swim shorts.
“Let’s swim,” He said, grinning, the kind of grin that dared you to say no.
Hyce’s eyes widened slightly.
“Um… no. I’ll just watch you.” His voice faltered, betraying his nerves.
“Watch me? That’s boring.”Sergio arched a brow.
“I don’t mind boring,” Hyce replied, crossing his arms. “Boring’s safe.”
“Safe,” Sergio repeated with a laugh, stepping into the lake.
The cool water reached his calves, then his waist. “You know, you don’t strike me as the type who likes ‘safe.’”
“I’m full of surprises,” Hyce shot back.
Sergio dove under, his body slicing through the water, and resurfaced with a playful shake of his hair, droplets catching the light like diamonds.
“Come on, Hyce! The water’s perfect.”
“No way,” Hyce said, scooting back a little. “I’ll drown.”
“You won’t,” Sergio teased, splashing water in his direction. “I’ll save you.”
“That’s not funny!” Hyce yelped, dodging the spray.
Sergio chuckled and waded toward the shore. As he stepped out, the water rolled down his chest in shimmering lines, his hair slicked back,.
Hyce swallowed hard, gaze flicking away.
Sergio stopped in front of him, so close that Hyce could smell the faint scent of lake water and his skin.
He reached out, brushing Hyce’s cheek gently with his wet palm, his thumb grazing the corner of Hyce’s jaw.
“Are you scared of water,” Sergio murmured. “.....or you can’t swim?”
Hyce’s breath hitched. He bit his lower lip, eyes darting to the ground
“Both,” he mumbled quietly.
Sergio’s fingers find the buttons at Hyce’s collar with a casual, practiced motion and he peels the shirt open, the fabric falling away to reveal pale shoulders.
“C’mon,I’ll teach you.” He says, voice soft but insistent.
“No, Sergio, don’t....”Hyce’s protest is fast and high, a flurry of nerves.
Sergio laughs, low and warm, and before Hyce can step back he scoops him up in a single, easy motion jerking him up to his waist.
Hyce’s arms wind around Sergio’s neck, legs bumping against the his hip.
Up close, he can feel the steady cadence of Sergio’s heartbeat.
“Put me down!” Hyce huffs. “I’ll kill you, put me down!”
“Okay,” Sergio says, amused and utterly unruffled.
He doesn’t set Hyce down, he carries him toward the water and then, with a fluid, confident motion, dives in.
Cold hits them both; Hyce yelps, the sound muffled by the splash. For a second the world narrows to the slap of water and the rush of air.
Sergio rights them both quickly, holding Hyce close so his face is above water. He steadies them with a hand pressed to Hyce’s back and the other under his knees.
Hyce clings to him, breath quick, eyes wide.
“Don’t let go of me, please,” He says, voice small and urgent.
“I won’t.” Sergio answers, voice a private promise.
His grip is firm but careful, fingers warm and sure against Hyce’s spine. He guides Hyce to float, supports his weight so Hyce can feel the water carry him without sinking.
Hyce blinked water from his lashes, a small smile tugging at his lips.
“The water isn’t so bad,” He admitted softly, though he didn’t loosen his arms from around Sergio’s neck.
His body still sought the warmth and safety pressed against him.
“See?” Sergio murmured, his tone threaded with quiet satisfaction. “Not so bad.”
The lake rippled around them, sunlight glinting off its surface. Everything else, wind, sound, time, seemed to still.
Hyce looked up, and their eyes locked.
There was something electric in the air, something unspoken but heavy between them.
Sergio’s gaze lingered on Hyce’s parted lips, then rose again to meet his eyes, as if silently asking for permission.
Hyce didn’t move away. He didn’t need to say anything. The look he gave back was answer enough.
Sergio leaned in slowly, closing the distance inch by inch until his breath mingled with Hyce’s.
The first touch of his lips was tentative, soft, testing—but the moment Hyce responded, it deepened.
Sergio’s hand slid up the back of Hyce’s neck, fingers tangling gently in his wet hair, pulling him closer.
Hyce’s lips trembled, then moved with his, uncertain at first but soon melting into the kiss.
The taste of water, heat, and adrenaline filled the space between them. Sergio tilted his head, his mouth moving over Hyce’s with growing intensity—slow, savoring, almost reverent.
His other arm tightened around Hyce’s waist, drawing him flush against his chest until there was no space left between them.
When they finally broke apart, their breaths came unevenly. Hyce’s eyes fluttered open, meeting Sergio’s again, this time softer, dazed, and entirely undone.
Sergio’s thumb brushed against his cheek, voice barely above a whisper.
Hyce looked down, his heart pounding so loud it almost drowned out the sound of the waves.
“I… like you,” Hyce said quietly, voice trembling just enough to give him away.
Sergio smirked, eyes gleaming with mischief. “It’s obvious. I didn’t need you to tell me.”
Hyce frowned, his lips curving into a pout. “Proud jerk,” he muttered, cheeks burning.
Sergio leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low, teasing murmur. “So, will you be my baby?”
“Baby?”Hyce blinked.
“Yes,” Sergio said, brushing a damp strand of hair from Hyce’s forehead. “Because you are my baby. You’re so damn cute too.”
“Are you trying to say I'm going to be the baby in the relationship?” Hyce asked.
“You are, there's no negotiating. So, will you.... be my baby?”Sergio asked again.
Hyce bit his lip, his face turning a deep shade of red as he buried it in Sergio’s neck, hiding his smile.
“…Yes,” He mumbled softly.
Sergio chuckled, the sound deep and warm. “Baby,” He called again, his tone playful.
“Yes, boo.”Hyce looked up, shy but glowing.
“Fuck, you’re so damn cute.”Sergio grinned, biting his lip as he stared at him.
He leaned in, capturing Hyce’s lips in a slow kiss.
When they pulled apart, Hyce’s voice came out small but full of worry.
“You won’t be like Gomez, right? You won’t… you won’t f+k girls, or cheat, or break my heart?”
Sergio’s expression softened instantly. He cupped Hyce’s face with both hands, his thumb brushing his cheek.
“Never,” he whispered. “I love you. So, so much.”
"I love you too."Hyce smiled faintly.
-----
★𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐫𝐦- 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞★
“Morgan… you ready?” Trevor called, standing in the middle of the living room.
They were supposed to head out soon to invigilate the Jacks and Pawns’ training session with the other three Aces, but the suite was quiet.
No reply.
“Babe!” he called again, louder this time.
The soft sound of heels echoed down the stairs. Trevor turned and froze, a slow grin spreading across his face.
Morgan descended gracefully, her hair flowing down her shoulders, skin glowing like she’d stepped out of a commercial.
The sleeveless crop top she wore caught the light, showing just enough of her toned stomach to make his breath hitch.
She reached the last step and tilted her head, a small smirk forming. “Hi.”
“Hey…” Trevor’s voice dropped an octave. “You’re so pretty.”
“I know,” Morgan said, teasingly proud. “Thank you.”
He laughed, shaking his head.
Trevor caught her wrist gently, stopping her.
“Wait. Before we go…” He pulled something from his pocket — a small black velvet box.
Morgan arched a brow, her lips curving in a knowing smirk. “A gift?”
Trevor nodded eagerly, grinning as he pulled a small black box from his pocket.
“Yeah. You’ve been stressed lately, and I thought you deserved something nice.”
She folded her arms, watching him with teasing suspicion. “Hmm… what are you trying to bribe me for this time?”
“Nothing!” he said quickly, opening the box to reveal a sleek silver bracelet with a single sapphire embedded in the center. “Just thought it would look good on you.”
“It’s beautiful,” She admitted, brushing her thumb over the stone before looking back up at him. “Put it on me.”
Trevor stepped closer, his fingers brushing lightly against her skin as he clasped the bracelet around her wrist.
“Perfect,” He murmured. “Almost as shiny as you.”
“I'm going to reward you tonight.”Morgan smirked.
“You promise? Don't play with me Morgan, I'm going to hold you to your word.”Trevor said, holding her waist.
“I promise.” She tapped his chest with one manicured finger and turned toward the door.
“Let’s go. The others are waiting, and I don’t want to hear anyone whining about us being late again.”
Trevor followed, his gaze lingering on her.
“You know,” He said under his breath, “If you keep looking this good every day, I’m going to forget how to focus.”
Morgan glanced at him over her shoulder, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
----
★ 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐰𝐧𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐚 ★
The jacks and pawns filed in single file. Each student stepped into a numbered room; the doors sealed behind them with a mechanical click.
The rooms were all the same — metal walls, metal ceiling, a single table in the center. On each table sat something that made the air go thin: a compact device with three cables coiling from its side.
🔊 “Welcome, players of different levels. Today’s assessment: defuse a device specially made for this exam by the five Aces.”
A time‑triggered device sat in front of each player, its three visible conduits braided in red, blue, and yellow. “You must neutralize the device before the timer runs out,” the voice continued.
“Are these people crazy?” Bluey muttered from her cell.
🔊 “Your time starts now.”
Immediately the devices in every room flickered to life.
Bluey edged forward on unsteady legs, the cold metal floor numbing through her thin soles.
She crouched over the device, fingers fumbling for the small scissor‑like tool on the table.
Her hands were slick with sweat; the bracelet at her wrist pulsed a frantic blue.
“Which wire do I cut?” She whispered, voice shaking. “How come no one told us this…” Her breath came in quick, ragged pulls.
Her mouth went dry. The tool slid in her grip as her whole body trembled.
“I thought they said three wires? How come mine has five? Where did black and green come from?” Her words tumbled out, panic threading them.
She rocked forward, knuckles white, jaw clenched. The trembling in her limbs turned into a violent shiver; the scissors rattled once in her hands as she tried to steady them.
---
In the control room above, the five Aces watched the bank of feeds, glassy screens throwing pale light over their faces.
Each monitor tracked a different room; each timer ticked down at a pace only the designer knew.
“These students are really slow, to be honest,” Hyce said, leaning back, an airy comment that hid irritation.
“Yeah, right — it’s obvious which one to cut. The red one in the middle,” Hugo said with a sneer, casual and cruel.
Trevor’s eyes never left his own feed.
“I made mine deactivation blue,” He said simply, like he’d announced the weather.
Morgan’s lips curved.
“As for me, I’m just waiting for one person,” She added.
Her gaze slid to a particular screen; her smile sharpened when the camera revealed Bluey, crouched and trembling under the task.
Hades stood apart from the banter, watching the grid with his usual, stone‑still focus.
He noticed Morgan’s attention flick to Bluey and the way her smile sharpened; for a tiny, almost invisible second his fist tightened.
-----
🔊Player 041 Passed.
🔊Player 077 Passed.
A loud sound echoed from an explosion.
🔊Player 022 Eliminated.
Bluey flinched, tears welling in her eyes.
"Eliminated? What happened? What was that sound?" she whispered, shaking violently.
She cut the red wire, but the timer on her bomb kept ticking.
🔊Player 054 Passed.
That was Zayne.
🔊Player 051 Passed.
That was Loci.
🔊Player 052 Passed.
That was Nia.
🔊Player 053 Passed.
That was Natalie.
Bluey smiled briefly, then frowned as she cut the black wire, still nothing.
"I'm so dead," she muttered, fear gripping her chest.
🔊Player 030 Eliminated.
A violent explosion rocked the metal walls, sending a shockwave through the room.
🔊Player 045 Eliminated.
A deafening boom rattled the arena, causing her to press herself against the table.
🔊Player 059 Eliminated.
A sharp, metallic crack echoed, dust falling from the ceiling.
🔊Player 073 Eliminated.
A blinding flash with a booming bang made her knees weaken.
🔊Player 117 Eliminated.
A piercing detonation reverberated, the sound almost deafening.
Bluey’s timer flashed: 00:10.
Her hands were trembling violently, palms slick with sweat. Tears streaked her cheeks as her heart thumped painfully against her ribs.
She had already cut four wires... red, black, blue, and yellow but the countdown showed no mercy. She possibly couldn’t cut them all, plus the wires are thick as hell.
Her breathing came in sharp, panicked gasps as she hovered the scissors over the remaining wires, eyes darting from one to the next.
Every second that ticked felt like an eternity, every tick of the timer a hammer to her chest.
-----
In the control room, Morgan leaned back in her chair, a slow, cruel smirk spreading across her face.
Her eyes flicked toward Bluey on the monitor, glinting with satisfaction.
💭 She still has no idea… Morgan thought, her mind replaying a memory.
Flashback—Aces Training Room:
While everyone was distracted, Morgan had tampered with Bluey’s assessment bomb.
She had modified the circuitry so that no matter which wire Bluey cut, the timer would continue to tick, and the bomb would eventually explode.
💭 Even if she cuts all the wires perfectly, it won’t matter. She’ll panic. She’ll struggle. She’ll fail… just like I want and then boom, she's dead.
-----
Back in the present, Bluey’s fingers shook uncontrollably. 9… 8… 7… Each second screamed closer to doom.
Her eyes filled with hopelessness as she stared down at the bomb that was no longer hers to control.
The metallic room seemed to shrink around her, the air thick and suffocating.
Her chest tightened, and her mind raced—Why is this happening? Why me?
Morgan’s smirk widened as she sipped her drink, completely confident that Bluey’s fear would reach its breaking point before the countdown hit zero.
Bluey’s chest heaved as she accepted her fate. The scissors hovered helplessly above the final wire. Her tears fell freely now, the metallic cold pressing in from all sides.
🔊Time up…
A loud buzzer echoed throughout the building.
🔊Player 030 Eliminated
🔊Player 045 Eliminated
🔊Player 060 Eliminated
🔊Player 075 Eliminated
🔊Player 090 Passed
🔊Player 095 Eliminated
🔊Player 100 Eliminated
Bluey’s eyes widened as she stared at her timer. The screen blinked at her: 00:01.
She had passed.
Her body shook violently as she gasped, staring at the bomb that no longer posed a threat. Relief, disbelief, and exhaustion washed over her all at once.
---
In the control room, Morgan’s smirk faltered, replaced with a sharp glare. She spun toward Hades, Hugo, and Hyce.
“Who tampered with the bomb?!” she demanded, her voice slicing through the room.
Bluey had almost died perfectly. Morgan’s accusation fell on Hades first, but he didn’t even glance back; he walked away as if it were nothing.
Hyce stepped forward, his voice calm but pointed. “It was me.”
“You! How?!”Morgan whipped toward him.
“It’s a time bomb. If it doesn't reached 00:00, it wouldn’t go off, right? I saw what you did back when we were making the bombs and seriously... You stooped too low."Hyce scoffed.
Morgan’s eyes widened in realization, fury boiling inside her.
She lunged toward him, but before she could act, he grabbed her shirt with one hand, shoving her aside effortlessly.
Without another word, he strode out of the control room, leaving Morgan fuming.
------
The masked guards marched through the hallway, the metallic thud of their boots echoing as they carried out the burnt, lifeless bodies of the eliminated students.
The scent of smoke and burnt metal lingered heavily in the air, a chilling reminder of what failure in MIA truly meant.
Inside her cell, Bluey sat frozen, her breaths coming in short, sharp gasps. Her hands trembled uncontrollably, her eyes fixed on the bomb that had nearly ended her life.
The metal doors slid open with a hiss, and Loci, Nia, Zayne, and Natalie burst inside, their faces pale with worry.
“Bluey! Are you okay?” Zayne rushed forward, his voice cracking slightly.
She looked up at them, her pupils dilated, her lips trembling.
“I... I want out,” she whispered. “I can’t deal with MIA anymore...”
Her body swayed as her strength gave out. Zayne caught her just in time, her weight sinking against his chest.
“Bluey!” Natalie gasped, kneeling beside them.
Bluey’s voice was faint, barely a murmur.
“I can’t do this anymore... This place really is... the grounds of hell.”
Her eyes fluttered shut, and she went limp as she passed out in Zayne's arms.
.
.
.
𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝 ✰
Next episode please more grace😍😍
ReplyDeleteBluey 💙😔😔
ReplyDeleteMore please
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