Iransh clapped his hands.
"Guys, terrace."
Alex grinned. "Perfect timing. The view up there is insane."
Everyone followed him upstairs.
The terrace was wide, open to the night sky. City lights glowed below, cool wind brushing their faces. Alex had already set up cushions in a loose circle.
They settled down.
Isha pulled out an empty bottle.
"Truth and Dare."
Adam rubbed his hands."Oh I live for chaos."
Isha spun.
The bottle slowed… clicked… and stopped at Evan.
Everyone cheered.
"Truth or dare?" Amara asked.
Evan swallowed.
"…Dare."
Iransh handed him a small box.
"Pick."
Evan pulled out a folded chit, read it, and immediately frowned.
He looked up.
"Who made this?"
Isha leaned forward. "What is it?"
Evan read aloud.
"Go to the darkest corner of the house and stay there alone for five minutes."
Evan groaned."Bro, I heard Alex's house is haunted."
Alex burst out laughing.
"Chill man. Think of the ghost as your girlfriend."
Adam stood dramatically.
"I'll go check if he survives."
They both disappeared inside.
Time passed.
Five minutes.
Ten.
Fifteen.
Ella finally asked, "Why are they taking so long?"
Adam and Evan returned, slightly breathless.
Ella looked at Adam.
He caught her smiling at him.
For some reason, his heart fluttered.
Adam scratched his head.
"Oh, Evan literally sh*t his pants."
Everyone burst out laughing.
Evan shoved him.
"Bro! I told you not to tell!"
Adam raised his hands.
"Too late. Trauma shared is trauma halved."
Next round.
The bottle spun.
It slowed.
Stopped.
Pointed at Nyx.
She had been staring at the stars the whole time.
Amara gasped.
"Ohhh. Finally. Truth or dare, mysterious lady?"
Nyx exhaled quietly.
"Truth."
Amara clapped.
"Yes! Adam, ask."
Adam leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands.
"What's one weird habit you have?"
Nyx paused.
Just a second.
She chose carefully.
"When I cry hard… I fall asleep. Like unconscious."
Lyra blinked.
"Oh… I didn't know that."
She tilted her head.
"When was the last time that happened?"
Nyx answered flatly.
"Ten years ago."
Lucien looked up sharply.
His eyes stayed on her.
Adam stared.
"Ten years?! Girl how do you survive without crying? Me? I stub my toe and I start negotiating with God."
Nyx replied calmly.
"That's why I'm nothing like you."
Adam clutched his chest.
"Ouch. That hurt."
Lucien immediately spoke.
"She didn't mean it that way. Don't take it personally."
Nyx glanced at Lucien.
A silent thank you.
The game continued.
Laughter echoed.
Adam kept pulling dumb dares.
At one point he tried balancing a cushion on his head while doing pushups and failed miserably.
Everyone was laughing.
Even Nyx found herself watching him more than she expected.
His humor was effortless.
Natural.
Dangerously charming.
After a while, Nyx quietly stood up and walked to the edge of the terrace.
She leaned on the railing, staring at the stars.
The noise faded behind her.
Lucien joined her.
They stood side by side.
He spoke softly.
"I like watching them."
Nyx nodded.
"They make me relax. That's how they shine."
Lucien glanced at her.
"So… is it true?"
She didn't look at him.
"What?"
"That you cried ten years ago. And never after."
Nyx folded her fists.
"Yes."
Lucien noticed instantly.
He nodded slowly.
But inside—
She's lying.
He knew that habit.
The fists.
If he tells her, she'll change it.
Then he'll never catch her again.
So he said nothing.
Lucien thought:
I'll pretend I don't know.
Nyx finally spoke.
"Let's go back."
Lucien nodded.
She walked ahead.
He followed.
The wind brushed past them.
Above, the stars kept watching.
And somewhere beneath the laughter and soft lights—
everyone was being observed.
Photos were taken. Laughs echoed. Promises of "let's do this again" floated in the air.
One by one, they started leaving.
Ella stood outside Alex's house, scrolling on her phone.
Headlights stopped in front of her.
Her favorite luxury car.
She looked up.
Adam.
He leaned over the steering wheel."As your friend… I can at least drop you. Get in."
Ella hesitated for half a second, then smiled and climbed in.
The car disappeared down the road.
Nyx walked with Lucien and Elias toward their car.
Elias spoke first."We should go to the office. Then track your ex."
Nyx stopped walking.
"It's already ten."
Both of them turned.
"No office," she said calmly. "We're going to the club."
Elias blinked."Which club?"
"The expensive one. Always crowded."
Lucien studied her."You think Richward will be there?"
Nyx nodded."He won't miss a Saturday night."
She continued like she'd already run this scene in her head.
"Back entrance. Elias, you park there with James. Crow and I go inside. I bring him out."
Elias frowned."And how exactly are you planning to do that?"
Nyx turned toward James.
"You got it?"
James sighed and pulled something from his pocket."Yes. And it wasn't easy."
He handed her a syringe.
Lucien stared."What is that?"
Nyx checked the dose.
"Enough to knock out a grown man in seconds."
Lucien's jaw tightened."Nyx. We can talk to him."
She looked up.
"He'll be drunk. Maybe drugged too. His guards will be up."
She slipped the syringe into her sleeve.
"I know him. Talking won't work."
Lucien hesitated."You sure?"
Nyx met his eyes.
"Trust me."
Elias crossed his arms."This place is crowded."
Nyx smirked faintly."I noticed."
Then she walked toward the club.
"I'll have him in two minutes."
Inside, bass shook the floor.
Lights cut through smoke.
Nyx scanned once.
Then again.
There.
Richward.
Surrounded by girls.
She pulled the syringe out.
Lucien murmured,"You see him?"
"Yes."
She pushed through the crowd, grabbed Richward's collar, turned him around.
His eyes widened.
"Nyx?"
She tilted her head.
"Hi. Long time."
Before he could say another word—
She drove the needle into his neck.
Hard.
His body went slack immediately.
Lucien caught him.
Together they dragged him out, acting like he was just another wasted rich kid.
No one cared.
Outside—
"Trunk," Nyx said.
James opened it.
Elias lifted Richward in.
Nyx shut it.
"Basement."
Elias and James drove off.
Nyx turned to Lucien.
"You need a ride? Your car's gone."
Lucien nodded.
"Yeah."
They walked to Nyx's car.
He stopped.
"…Wait. This is yours?"
Nyx glanced at him.
"Problem?"
Lucien shook his head."I just didn't know you were this rich."
She opened the door.
"Seriously?"
Lucien scratched his neck.
"Oh. Right. Liz."
Then he paused.
"…How do you know my nickname?"
Nyx slid into the driver's seat.
"I heard Elias call you Crow."
She started the engine.
"I liked it."
Lucien blinked.
"And Ten?"
She looked at him.
He already knew.
She just nodded.
They drove off into the dark.
Two partners.One mission.Too many secrets.