A rough hand clamped around my arm, yanking me back. I screamed, thrashing against the iron grip.
A cloth pressed against my face. The sickly-sweet scent of chloroform invaded my senses.
"No—!" My plea faded as the world around me dissolved into black.
---
When consciousness returned, I was slumped in a cold metal chair, my wrists bound behind me. A dim light flickered above, casting eerie shadows on the cracked concrete walls.
A figure stepped forward, their silhouette hauntingly familiar.
"You should’ve stayed dead."
A low, sinister laugh resonated from the darkness, making my skin prickle. That voice—it was unmistakable, slicing through the fog clouding my thoughts like a razor.
I blinked, my vision adjusting to the flickering light above as a shadowy figure stepped closer. My breath caught in my throat.
Calvin.
The same Calvin who once stood by my side—the one I had trusted without question. His eyes, dark and calculating, glinted beneath the mask as he crouched in front of me, his expression unreadable.
I struggled against the ropes cutting into my wrists, my pulse pounding. “W-What’s happening, Calvin? Why are you wearing that mask? What is this?”
He hesitated briefly, scanning the room with a keen gaze. “A deception,” he said flatly. “I can’t let you interfere.”
His words sent a jolt of fear through me. “What do you mean?” I demanded, my voice shaking.
The old wooden door groaned as it swung open. Calvin straightened abruptly, his posture stiff. He glanced at me, his expression unreadable. “Don’t speak,” he ordered.
I had no choice but to obey. The masked intruder stepped in, moving with slow, deliberate precision, surveying the dimly lit space as if searching for something—or someone. Calvin remained at the room’s edge, seamlessly blending into the darkness, mirroring the man’s rigid stance.
With a subtle nod, Calvin spoke, his voice unnervingly steady. “Nothing to report.” It was detached, practiced—like he had rehearsed this moment countless times before.
The intruder offered no response, lingering for a moment before finally turning and exiting the room.
The second the door clicked shut, Calvin rushed to my side, slicing through the restraints with practiced efficiency. “We don’t have much time. We need to leave,” he urged, gripping my arm and hauling me upright.