Nyx stood in front of her closet, arms crossed, eyes scanning every hanger.
"One hour," she murmured.
Lyra would be here soon.
She pushed aside soft colors, casual outfits, dresses that didn't belong to tonight.
Nothing felt right.
Then—
Her fingers stopped.
Black.
Gothic.
Structured like the 90's.
Her lips curved slightly.
"That'll do."
She slipped into the dress, zipped it up, pulled on black boots—carefully hiding the knife strapped to her thigh. No gun tonight. Too risky.
Red choker.
Hair styled just messy enough to look effortless.
She stared at herself.
Cold.
Elegant.
Dangerous.
Perfect.
Exactly at 6 PM, Lyra knocked.
The venue was already alive.
Paparazzi everywhere. Cameras flashing like lightning. VIP cars pulling in one after another.
Lyra grabbed Nyx's arm.
"Okay, mysterious lady—brace yourself."
They walked inside.
Their group noticed immediately.
Amara gasped.
"Holy—Nyx."
Isha whispered, "You look like you walked out of a dark fantasy novel."
Lucien stood nearby in a gothic suit—sharp cuts, dark elegance.
Nyx narrowed her eyes at Lyra.
Lyra smiled sweetly.
"What? I just suggested the theme."
Lucien smirked.
"So? Don't I look hot?"
Nyx looked him up and down.
"Don't fish for compliments."
Then added quietly,
"…but yeah."
Lucien chuckled.
"And you look lethal."
Nyx replied flatly,
"I always do."
Paparazzi started clicking harder.
Nyx stood beside Lucien.
He leaned in.
"Why does it feel like every girl here is staring at me?"
Nyx scanned the room.
"They are."
Lucien blinked.
"…I did not sign up for this."
Adam suddenly appeared.
Ella stared.
"Oh my god, Adam… you look ridiculously handsome."
Adam laughed.
"Guess I should start charging for appearances."
Then he looked around.
"Our group is literally serving model energy tonight."
Everyone laughed.
The mayor entered.
Applause roared.
Nyx instantly went alert.
Her eyes moved instinctively.
Lucien and Elias caught her expression.
James stood near the wall.
Nyx gave him a subtle nod.
The mayor began his speech.
Clapping echoed like an award ceremony.
Then—
Nyx felt it.
That familiar pressure in her chest.
Her gaze snapped upward.
Corner window.
Black silhouette.
Gun barrel.
Her jaw tightened.
"Oh shit."
She leaned toward Lucien.
"Sniper. Top right."
Lucien barely moved.
He followed her line of sight.
"He won't shoot yet," he whispered calmly. "Minister's blocking the mayor."
Nyx exhaled slowly.
"Enemy move. Waiting for chaos."
Lucien nodded.
"We wait for the dance floor."
Music rose.
People flooded the hall.
Adam stood and offered Ella his hand.
"May I escort you?"
Ella blinked.
"I thought you weren't a dancer."
Adam grinned.
"I practiced for you."
She flushed.
They moved gracefully onto the floor.
Nyx leaned into Lucien.
"Now."
They slipped into the deserted hallway.
Nyx spoke fast.
"Lucien—sniper's yours."
Elias frowned.
"And me?"
"You stay with James. Watch for reinforcements."
Lucien squeezed Nyx's shoulder once.
"Don't do anything reckless."
She smirked.
"No promises."
Lucien vs the Sniper
Lucien climbed silently.
The sniper turned—
Lucien kicked the rifle away.
The man punched.
Lucien blocked, slammed an elbow into his ribs.
The sniper pulled a knife.
Lucien twisted his wrist.
Knife dropped.
The man tried to flee.
Lucien grabbed his collar and smashed him into the wall.
Blood spilled.
Lucien leaned close.
"You picked the wrong party."
Snap.
The body collapsed.
Lucien didn't even look back.
Nyx vs Fifteen
Nyx stepped into the back hallway.
She stopped.
"Come out."
Silence.
Then movement.
Five left.
Five front.
Five right.
Nyx smiled.
She placed her phone on a shelf.
Five-minute timer.
"That's generous."
They rushed her.
She moved.
Knee to throat.
Arm snapped.
Head slammed into concrete.
Two came from behind—she flipped one, kicked the other.
Three attacked together.
She slid, swept, elbowed.
A blade cut her arm.
Blood appeared.
Nyx didn't react.
She grabbed the attacker's wrist.
Twisted.
Crack.
He screamed.
She dropped him.
Bodies fell one after another.
Cold efficiency.
No wasted motion.
Final man crawled away.
Nyx stepped on his back.
He went still.
Timer beeped.
Nyx turned it off.
"Right on schedule."
Lucien, Elias, and James arrived.
James stared.
"…That's a battlefield."
Nyx shrugged.
"James. Elias. Clean this."
They nodded instantly.
Lucien walked beside her.
"Did you get hurt?"
Nyx clenched her fist.
"No."
Lucien didn't see the blood.
He muttered,
"The mayor doesn't care his son's dead?"
Nyx answered coldly,
"He only cares about money."
Elias joined them.
"No phones. Perfectly planned."
Nyx nodded.
"We'll trace it."
Lyra appeared.
"Elias! Where did you disappear?"
Elias smiled casually.
"Restroom."
Lyra laughed.
"Come dance."
They left.
Lucien turned to Nyx and extended his hand.
"Care to pretend we're normal students?"
Nyx placed her hand in his.
"For tonight."
The Dance
Ella laughed as Adam spun her.
"You're actually good!"
Adam smirked.
"Told you."
Lyra jumped into Elias's arms.
Meanwhile—
Lucien pulled Nyx closer.
The world faded.
His hand steady on her waist.
Her fingers rested on his shoulder.
Lucien murmured,
"For someone dangerous, you dance softly."
Nyx replied,
"For someone cold, you hold warmly."
Their eyes locked.
Then Lucien brushed her arm.
Nyx flinched.
"Ouch."
Lucien froze.
"What?"
He rolled up her sleeve.
Blood.
His jaw tightened.
"You lied."
Nyx looked away.
"It's nothing."
Lucien grabbed her hand and pulled her to the washroom.
He cleaned the wound carefully.
Applied ointment.
Wrapped it gently.
His voice was low.
"You don't always have to be strong."
Nyx watched him.
Her voice barely carried.
"I don't know how not to be."
He finished bandaging.
Looked up.
Their faces inches apart.
"You can learn."
Her heart skipped.
She whispered,
"Lucien…"
He didn't move.
Neither did she.
For a moment, the world disappeared.