At Luxford Academy, the elite boarding school for the ultra-rich, Adriana and Nicholas have been bitter rivals since childhood. Forced to live in the same dorm, their once-friendly pranks have escalated into daily clashes-sharp insults, constant bic...
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I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at my phone, re-reading Sasha's text. Her message was casual, like nothing had happened. "Can we meet? Last time was weird. I don't want things to be awkward between us." It was hard to believe how easy it was for her to slip back into this normalcy, as if Dio's tears and everything we found out could just be washed away by one meet-up. But I knew Sasha. If I approached this carefully, I could get her to reveal exactly what she was hiding. I needed the truth—the whole truth—and this time, I wasn't going to let her get away with anything.
I didn't tell the group about this plan. Nick had always been protective of me, and if he knew what I was about to do, he'd never let me go alone. But I had to do this on my own. I needed to confront Sasha, to see the truth in her eyes, to understand how the sister I once adored had become the monster haunting Dio's nightmares.
"Yeah, let's meet," I replied, my fingers trembling slightly. "How about the park near your place?"
She agreed, and I tucked my phone into my pocket, a sense of steely determination settling over me. This wasn't just about Dio. This was about all of us—about making sure Sasha couldn't hurt anyone else.
When I arrived at the park, the sun was just starting to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the pathways. Sasha was already there, leaning against a bench, her expression bright and inviting like always. But I saw it now—the calculation behind her smile, the way her eyes never fully met mine.
"Hey, Adri," Sasha greeted, pulling me into a quick hug. Her touch felt different now—cold, calculating. "I'm glad you reached out. I've been wanting to talk."
"Yeah," I replied, forcing a smile. "I thought it'd be good to clear the air. Last time was... weird."
Sasha nodded, her expression softening into what seemed like genuine concern. "It's been a lot, hasn't it? Reconnecting and all. It's almost like old times."
I nodded, keeping my steps measured and my expression neutral as we began to walk down the park's winding paths. The trees cast long shadows on the ground, and I made sure to keep us in the quieter areas where fewer people lingered. I had to keep her talking, had to draw out the truth without her realizing what I was doing.
"Sasha, do you remember when we used to sneak out of the house in Russia?" I asked, injecting a lightness into my tone. "Those late-night walks when we thought we were invincible?"
My tone was very casual as I slid my hand into my pocket, my fingers finding my phone. I glanced down, pretending to check a message, but instead, I dialed 911, keeping the call muted and discreet, just listening as Sasha rambled on.
She laughed, a nostalgic sound that momentarily softened her features. "Yeah, we were such troublemakers. You, me, and—well, you mostly," she teased. "Always dragging me into your schemes."
I chuckled, but my mind was racing. I had to ease her into this, get her comfortable enough to let her guard down. "Yeah, those were the days. But, you know, people change. Sometimes in ways we don't expect."
