𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦 - 𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘱𝘯

𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘟𝘟𝘟𝘝𝘐𝘐

𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐂

𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘 𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍
___________

As you slowly open your eyes, the weight of your eyelids makes them feel like they're stuck together. You roll onto your side, expecting to find Norman's warm body beside you, but your hand brushes against empty sheets instead.

Confusion creases your forehead as you lift your head, scanning the room with bleary eyes.

Norman must have gotten up earlier, leaving you to wake up alone.

With a deep sigh, you sit up, letting the sheets slide down to your waist. You rub your eyes, trying to shake off the haze of sleep, and yawn, feeling the stiffness in your neck and shoulders.

You toss the sheets aside and swing your legs over the side of the bed, planting your feet firmly on the ground. You walk over to the wooden desk, the soft creak of the floorboards beneath your feet the only sound breaking the silence.

You settle into the chair and reach for the folder you'd set aside earlier.

Your fingers wrap around it, pulling it closer as you lift the cover and slide out the papers inside. Today's plans stare back at you, the words and details blurring together as your mind fixates on the ultimate goal: revenge.

Your eyes narrow, focus sharpening as you begin to review the documents.

_

Your eyes scan the chessboard, analyzing the layout of the pieces. You pause, thinking several moves ahead, before speaking in a low, deliberate tone, "We'll leave once everyone is busy eating dinner."

As you speak, your fingers move with precision, rearranging the chess pieces to reflect your strategy.

Your gaze then shifts to Rebecca, your eyes locking onto hers, waiting her response to your carefully crafted plan.

Jess sinks into the couch, her gaze drifting upward to the clock on the wall. "Seven more hours," she exhales, her voice laced with frustration, as she lets her head fall back into the cushion's softness. Her eyes flutter closed. "Can't we just go now?" she asks, her tone tinged with desperation.

Steven's snicker breaks the silence, and she opens her eyes to find him shaking his head. "Not a chance," he says, his voice low and even. "The entrance is probably swarming with guards right now. But during dinner, security is low, and that's our chance to slip out unnoticed."

Rebecca's chuckles as she realizes her defeat. "You win again." she says, shaking her head in mock disbelief.

You feel a twinge of guilt and your hands instinctively tighten around the armchair's edges. "I'm sorry we had to leave you out of the plan." you admit, trying to reassure her, your voice laced with a hint of regret.

Rebecca waves off your apology with a graceful flick of her wrist, her fingers closing around a pawn as she begins to gather the chess pieces. "No need to apologize. I'm just glad I could help strategize the plan."

Her gaze meets yours, her expression softening. "Besides, I'm not exactly built for sneaking around, am I?" She smiles wryly, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

You release your grip on the chair. "I just don't want to see you get hurt." you say, your voice low and even, as you join her in collecting the pieces. "I do appreciate your help."

You rise from the chair and walk over to the coffee table, where the plan and details are spread out. Your eyes scan the layout.

"And if things go sideways, and we don't make it back," you say, your voice steady, "at least you'll be able to tell everyone what went down." Your gaze meets Rebecca's, your expression serious.