𝑻𝑶 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑶𝑵𝑬𝑺 𝑾𝑬 𝑶𝑵𝑪𝑬 𝑳𝑶𝑽𝑬𝑫 || 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐒 (ON HIATUS)

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟼

Y/N'S POV

I ran as fast as my legs would carry me, the soft rustle of my gown echoing down the empty corridors of the palace. My heart hammered in my chest, and the sound of clashing metal faded behind me, but I couldn't shake the dread that crawled up my spine. The images of Five and the assassin-Matthias-locked in a deadly fight flashed in my mind.

I could still hear his voice. "Go! Run!"

But I was already regretting it. Every step away from him felt like a betrayal. He had saved me-dragged me from the ballroom, protected me, and now he was fighting a battle I had no part in. Yet, here I was, fleeing like a coward, leaving him to deal with the danger alone.

I slowed my pace, breathless, my chest tightening with guilt. This wasn't right. I couldn't just leave him. He was fighting to protect me, risking his life for a girl he barely knew. A girl who had only just learned his name.

My feet faltered, coming to a stop at the end of a corridor. My breath came in ragged gasps as I leaned against the cool stone wall, trying to think clearly through the haze of fear. I was useless in a fight. I wasn't strong or skilled, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I couldn't just abandon him either.

But what could I do? I didn't even know the full truth about who he was, or why this Matthias was hunting him down. I'd been thrown into the middle of something I didn't understand. But one thing was clear-Five had been telling the truth all along. There was danger, and now, it was right here, inside the palace.

I had to decide. Keep running and leave him behind, or-

A sound from behind me.

My heart leapt into my throat, and I spun around, expecting to see Matthias, blade gleaming, ready to finish what he had started. But instead, I saw Alex-storming toward me, sword in hand, his expression dark with fury.

"Y/N!" he shouted, his voice sharp, like a whip. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

I blinked, the tension in my body shifting from fear to something else. I hadn't expected to see him here, not like this. His eyes were blazing, his protective instincts in overdrive, but there was something else behind them-betrayal.

"What do you mean?" I stammered, trying to gather my thoughts. "I-"

"You left the ballroom," he cut me off, his tone harsher than I'd ever heard it. "With him."

Alex's gaze darted around, as if searching for Five, the anger in his voice growing with every second. "Do you even realize what's happening? Who he is? He's dangerous, Y/N! He's not one of us."

"I know that," I snapped back, my own frustration boiling over. "But you don't understand. He was trying to protect me-"

"Protect you?" Alex's voice dripped with disbelief. "He's the danger, Y/N! He's not some noble with an interest in court politics. He's a killer. An assassin."

I flinched at the word, but I didn't back down. "I know he's not who he says he is, Alex, but you didn't see what I saw. There's another assassin-Matthias-he was after us, and Five was fighting him. If I hadn't listened to him, I'd probably be dead by now."

Alex's face softened for a brief moment, but the anger quickly returned. "And you think running off with him is the answer? I've been trying to keep you safe, Y/N. You don't need someone like him in your life."

He didn't get it. He didn't know what I'd seen-the danger Five had risked himself to protect me from. I opened my mouth to argue, but before I could speak, another sound echoed down the hallway-footsteps.