Every day felt like a mask.
Julian put one on, smiled, and played the part of a student. But beneath it, the world was changing, and he was starting to lose control of the game he had unwillingly stepped into.
---
The air felt thick with tension, as if the walls themselves were listening. Julian walked down the corridor, eyes darting around. He knew someone was watching him. Someone always was.
It had been two days since Felix Kade's threat, but Julian couldn't shake the feeling that everything around him was slowly suffocating him.
He passed Lola, who gave him a small nod. Her fiery red hair swayed with the movement, but her eyes were cold, unreadable.
"Everything's fine," she said, her lips curling into a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Julian didn't answer. He didn't trust her, not completely.
Suddenly, a group of students surrounded him, led by none other than Max Kade's ex-girlfriend, Aria, a tall, slender girl with dark eyes and a predatory smile.
"You," Aria said, glaring at Julian. "You think you've won, don't you?"
Julian raised an eyebrow. "Won? I'm not interested in winning, Aria. I'm just… surviving."
She stepped closer, leaning in so that only he could hear her. "You're walking a dangerous path, Rivers. People like you don't get to take down people like Max. Don't make the mistake of thinking you're untouchable."
Julian stared at her, feeling a strange mix of pity and contempt. "I'm not untouchable. But you, Aria… You've already lost."
She smirked. "We'll see."
As she walked away, Julian couldn't help but feel the weight of the situation settling deeper into his chest. He wasn't sure who was more dangerous—Aria or the Kades themselves.
---
The night air was thick with danger as Julian descended into the underground club. The Vault had become his second home, a place where he could shed the mask and embrace the chaos that had taken root inside him.
Inside, people were doing everything from drinking and dancing to gambling and fighting. In the back corner, Felix Kade was leaning against a wall, his arms folded, watching the scene with cold eyes.
Julian approached him.
Felix didn't speak immediately, just watched him with that same chilling grin. Finally, he spoke. "You're still here, huh? Thought you'd be running by now."
"I don't run," Julian replied, his voice steady. "But I'm not here to play your games, Felix."
Felix chuckled, stepping closer. "Oh, I think you are. And you'll play whether you want to or not. This isn't over, Rivers."
Julian felt the familiar twinge of fear, but he forced it down. "You don't scare me."
Felix's smile widened. "Good. Because I'm not here to scare you." He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small envelope, sliding it toward Julian. "I'm here to offer you a choice."
Julian hesitated but picked up the envelope, opening it to find a set of photos—photos of Eva, taken from a distance.
"Stay away from my family," Felix's voice was cold, final. "And this won't be the last time we speak."
The photos burned a hole in his hand.
---
Julian slammed the door shut behind him, heart racing. His apartment was dark, silent, as though the very air was suffocating him. He stood there, staring at the photos, each one a reminder of how dangerous this game was becoming.
He knew what Felix wanted. The Kades were always about control, manipulation. And now, they had their sights on Eva.
His phone buzzed. The screen displayed Eva's name.
"Hello?" Julian's voice was tight, forced.
"Julian," she said, her voice shaky. "What's going on? I'm starting to get worried. I—I saw the news, and I—"
"I know," Julian interrupted, his tone sharper than he intended. "But you don't understand. There are things happening. People who will stop at nothing to bring us down."
"Julian, please… talk to me."
He could hear the fear in her voice. The same fear he'd felt when he looked at those photos.
"I'll handle it," he said, trying to sound reassuring, but it was a lie. The truth was, he didn't know how much longer he could keep pretending everything was fine.
"I just… I just want to be safe," she whispered.
"I know," he replied, his voice cracking for the first time. "But we might not be."
---
Julian moved through the hallways like a ghost, his mind consumed by the events of the past 24 hours. He hadn't slept, barely eaten. All he could think about was Eva, and what Felix might do next.
But there was something else.
The watch.
He could feel it vibrating at his wrist, reminding him that there was always another task, always another goal to achieve.
[New Task: Eliminate the Kade Family's Key Asset. Reward: Unlock the Power to Expose the Dark Truth Behind the Academy.]
Julian clenched his fist. This was no longer about survival.
It was about revenge.
---
Eva was waiting for him when he arrived, eyes wide with concern.
"Julian, what's happening? You look…" She trailed off, unsure of what to say.
He didn't speak immediately, just walked past her into the apartment. The weight of everything pressed down on him. The lies, the threats, the watch… It was all starting to feel like too much.
"Julian," she said softly, coming up behind him. "I'm scared."
Julian turned to face her, his eyes hard, emotionless. "You should be."
Eva gasped, her eyes searching his face. "What do you mean?"
"I'm done running," Julian said, voice low and dangerous. "And I won't let them hurt you."
Her breath hitched. "What are you going to do?"
Julian met her gaze, the darkness in his eyes flickering. "I'm going to take them all down."
---