We had a plan.

It was a simple one, basically boiling down to: we couldn’t even think about underestimating Sofie. She could have friends, connections, or whatever that we didn’t know about. So we’d use the help of everyone we could trust, and make it impossible for her to get out of the party.

But we still had to answer the question of who we could trust. I didn’t even trust myself, how was I supposed to pick anyone else?

Ahmed was the first person I thought about, but then I remembered Sofie mentioning Jensen alongside the dean and herself. As if he was in on this whole thing, whatever it was.

I hadn’t even fully processed this at the time with everything that was going on. But if I couldn’t trust him, then there was a chance I couldn’t trust Ahmed, who was handpicked by him to enter the Academy, either.

I hadn’t told Birgit this because there was also a dark voice in my head saying that I couldn’t trust Birgit either. Jensen had been the one to introduce us after all, and she didn’t look like she was having difficulty believing me.

But I pushed those thoughts away.

After everything that happened, I trusted Birgit. She was one of the only positive notes of my life this past year. This mess of a year.

I was probably being paranoid but I couldn’t risk it. So I was only left with one option really.

Which was how I found myself knocking on Ivan’s door one hour before the party.

Not a full minute later, he was back out, dressed in a black shirt over a white dress shirt and black pants, smirking like he always did. “Here to ask me how to dress for the party?” he asked, gesturing to me. I forgot I was still in my training uniform, and I hadn’t even had any time to rest between training and everything that followed.

“What?” I was slow to respond, but I thought it was justified. I’d have to tell him something other than what, but I didn’t know what that would be.

“You either made crazy love with Birgit and you’re still recovering,” he said, smirking even more when I blushed, “or something bad happened.”

“Unfortunately, it’s the second.”

“Well then, speak to your friend.” He swung his arm around me. “Shall we go to the party and forget? Maybe discuss elaborate revenge plans over dinner?”

I took a deep breath. I tried to explain it all as best as I could. About the villain that attacked the school, and how Sofie was related to him. How there was probably more to the situation than it looked like.

I didn’t mention anything relating to Jacob Macquoid or what happened between me–between him–and Sofie. I just-I couldn’t. Not today.

Ivan let go of me. He paced around nervously, taking out a coin and flipping it as he hummed in thought.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“This seems like a lot.”

“I don’t want to hurt her,” I said in an attempt to reassure him. “I just want to get Sofie, to-to get all the evidence we can, all the pieces of information, before going to Kent Smith with this. He’s a professional journalist. He has ties to Alpha Surge. He can-he can help us find the truth.”

“It’s a good thing I’m well fed then.” He flipped the coin one last time before grabbing it in his fist, which then turned to metal.

“Really?”

“Really, I ate like four lunches and-”

“You know what I mean.”

The smirk was back on his face.

“It’s a long story, but you’re the first real friend I’ve made. I saw what that Paragon guy did to you. And taking him down–well, I never backed away from a challenge now, have I? I can only hope I won’t regret this.”

In spite of everything I found myself smiling slightly. Ivan reminded me of Iraklis in a weird way. He had a similar air of confidence and power but–as far as I knew at least–he hadn’t let it go to his head either. I

I shot Birgit a quick text, telling her that Ivan and I would be there in time for the party. I fixed myself up, putting on my burgundy dress shirt with my dad’s dark blue pants. And of course the belt. I hadn’t really done any shopping, so most of my stuff was still my plain clothes from high school.

It was close, but we got there on time. And it was…definitely something.

The whole place seemed to be packed with people. And there were two floors of the damn place. Some were playing beer pong, some were making out and the rest were either dancing like lunatics or talking in groups.

“Hey bros,” said some short guy I didn’t know, coming over to fist bump me and Ivan. “How’s it going? You likin’ the party?”

I nodded. “Very much so. We were delighted to be invited.” Even I cringed at the words coming out of my mouth. I wouldn’t sound more forced if I tried.

Ivan slapped me on the back. “Forgive my friend here.” He chuckled. “He’ll loosen up with a couple of beers. “Hey, have you seen a short red haired chick, has a nose ring? Sofie’s her name?”

“Oh yeah.” The guy’s eyes widened with recognition. He pointed next to the beer pong table, to a red haired girl talking to some guy. It was my own eyes that widened then. That was her. How did I not see her?

Everything else seemed to fade away for a moment and I felt my feet start moving on their own. Whether that was to run from her or to her I didn’t know. And I would never find out because Ivan grabbed my arm, snapping me back into reality.

I smiled reluctantly at the guy, thanking him before we started making our way to her.

Almost on cue, my phone vibrated.

Birgit had sent a message. Apparently, she and Azam–my stomach flipping at the image of them together–had gotten Sofie on the second floor.

I rushed over to the Sofie in front of us. It looked like her hair had started falling off, until it was short and brown. The nose ring just vanished and I was no longer looking at Sofie.

Sofia was standing in front of us, holding a pure black book, with Sadid at her side.

“I take it this is bad,” said Ivan. Both of his fists were now metal and I took off my gloves.

“We don’t have to do this,” said Sadid, stepping in front of Sofia.

“You don’t even know what this is!” I snapped at him.

“I know enough.” And now he was rearing for a fight too.

“I really am sorry it came to this. This wasn’t the plan, but my sister was always…impulsive,” said Sofia. She closed her eyes. And I barely managed to understand what she said next. “Ssalg gnikool eht hguorht.”

And everything was swallowed in darkness.