Melly's grip on her phone tightened as she read the message again.
"You're not done yet. The real game is just beginning."
Her pulse quickened. Who was behind this? And how did they know about her every move?
Arkins noticed the shift in her expression and leaned in, scanning the screen. His jaw clenched. "Someone's watching us."
Melly exhaled sharply, shoving the phone into her pocket. "No kidding." She pushed herself off the couch, pacing the dimly lit living room. "We need to figure out who sent this before they make their next move."
Arkins nodded, his gaze flickering toward the flash drive in his hand. "We should check what's on here first. It might tell us who else is playing in this game."
Melly grabbed her laptop and plugged in the flash drive. The screen flickered as folders loaded—encrypted files, video footage, and classified documents marked "PROJECT REBIRTH".
Her stomach twisted. "Project Rebirth?" She glanced at Arkins. "What the hell is that?"
Arkins' expression darkened. "Something tells me we're about to find out."
She clicked on the first file. A video popped up—a grainy security recording from years ago.
A lab. Scientists in white coats. And at the center of the screen... a child strapped to a table.
Melly's breath caught in her throat. The child had golden markings running down their arms—runes of magic.
Her magic.
The camera panned, revealing a man standing over the child.
Nabi's father.
And then... another figure stepped into the frame.
Melly's blood ran cold.
It was her grandmother.
The world tilted. Her hands trembled on the keyboard.
"No," she whispered.
Arkins' eyes widened. "That's…"
Melly shook her head, backing away from the screen. "This has to be fake. It has to be."
But the footage continued.
Nabi's father spoke, his voice calm. "The bloodline is stronger than we thought. If we perfect the process, she'll be the first of her kind."
Her grandmother nodded. "Then we begin the next phase."
The video cut to black.
Silence.
Melly's breath came in short, sharp gasps. "No. This isn't real."
But deep down, she knew the truth.
She had been experimented on as a child.
And her own grandmother was part of it.
Arkins reached for her hand, grounding her. "Melly…"
She jerked away. "No. Don't. I—I need to think."
But before she could process the betrayal, the lights in the house flickered.
Then, a whisper slithered through the air.
"You finally see the truth, little witch."
A shadowy figure stepped out from the darkness, their face hidden under a hood.
Arkins immediately moved in front of Melly, fangs flashing. "Who the hell are you?"
The figure chuckled. "A friend. And an enemy. That depends on your next move."
Melly steadied herself, forcing her emotions down. "What do you want?"
The figure tilted their head. "To help you. But first... you need to die."
Before either of them could react, the shadow lunged.
And the room exploded into chaos.
Melly stood frozen, the weight of the revelation pressing down on her like a mountain. The people who raised her… they never loved her. They never saw her as family.
They saw her as a weapon.
A pawn in their twisted experiment.
Arkins watched her closely, concern etched into his features. "Melly, talk to me."
She shook her head, gripping the edge of the table to steady herself. "They knew." Her voice was barely a whisper. "They knew who I was before they even adopted me."
Arkins frowned. "What?"
Melly clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palm. "They weren't just some kind family who took me in out of pity. They planned everything. They needed me. They wanted to raise me, mold me, make me trust them… so that when I grew up, I'd do exactly what they wanted."
Her stomach churned. It all made sense now. The way they always watched her. The rules. The punishments when she disobeyed. The subtle ways they tried to control her power, to keep her from realizing what she was truly capable of.
Arkins cursed under his breath. "So all this time, you were living with the enemy."
Melly exhaled shakily. "Not just living with them. They were preparing me." She turned to Arkins, her eyes blazing with fury. "They wanted to use me for something bigger, and when they realized I was after revenge instead, they saw me as a threat."
Arkins' jaw tightened. "That's why they're trying to stop you now."
Melly nodded. "Because they finally understand I'm stronger than them."
Silence stretched between them. The air felt heavier, charged with something dark, something dangerous.
Then, Melly turned to Arkins, her expression unreadable. "You need to stay out of this."
Arkins stiffened. "Excuse me?"
"This is my fight," Melly said firmly. "It always has been. And now that I know the truth, I won't stop until I burn them to the ground."
Arkins scoffed. "And you think I'm just going to step aside and let you do this alone?"
"Arkins—"
"No." His voice was sharp, cutting through the room like a blade. "I'm not letting you push me away."
Melly swallowed. "It's going to get dangerous."
He stepped closer, eyes locking onto hers. "It's already dangerous."
Melly shook her head. "This isn't just some reckless mission. This is… war. I don't know if we'll survive this."
Arkins smirked. "Then we die together."
Melly's breath hitched.
"We've already dropped out of school," Arkins continued. "We've already given up everything for this. There's nothing left but revenge."
Melly stared at him, a thousand emotions swirling inside her. Fear. Anger. And something else—something stronger than both.
Loyalty.
Arkins wasn't just fighting with her. He was fighting for her.
She exhaled, nodding slowly. "Then we do this together."
Arkins took her hand, squeezing it tightly. "Always."
A slow, dangerous smile spread across Melly's lips.
If they wanted a monster, she would give them one.
And this time, there would be no mercy.