PTE

a historical drama. Ivy curled around the stone walls, and golden light glowed behind towe

h his usual cool, unreadable air. A second

sita

t... too dangerous, it wa

inst the cobbled driveway. My eyes flicked up t

t the place.

stopping in front of a heavy oak do

ediately,

behind her ears, bold eyeliner, and a cream silk blouse that looked like it cost more than my monthly rent. But

u look exa

leared hi

ou

enti

led, and turned to

, Sutton," he sai

Oh..." she said quickly, ste

he kind of quiet that felt staged. The entryway was wide, elegant in an old-fashioned way-white marble

how out of place I looked, still clutchin

ut I looked like someone. But who? Has sh

d, her heels clicking s

to answer. Just turne

er my skin. Upstairs, she led me down a hallway that smelled faintly

a soft dove gray. A king-sized bed sat perfectly made in the center, the headboard

nodding toward the walk-in

. The closet was massive-mirrored walls, rows of dresses, organized shoes, and sof

blue dress. Silk.

eckline dipped in a way that made me feel seen. A matching sapphire necklace lay

by the mirror. She turned when she heard

ust like her." Her eyes were f

furrowed

raightened almost

ck. Too clean. She

and pulled out the chair.

demand answers. But I didn't. I watched her instead-watched the way h

ing wa

e pretending

ke? Why was I pic

questions and not ne

e wors

king straight into someth

t myself in the mirror, barely recognizing the person looking

nt of me and pulled it open. Sh

I said softly, running my fingers throug

eone else now - a new identity, a new name: Caroline Fisher. Everything about her has to be different from you. You

were longer than my natural hair, which was already pretty

you're ready," Sutton

-

hour

lost in thought when it suddenly

n's voice came thr

ow in disbelief. "Wait... the maf

erine," the voic

still not used to hearing hi

que," I muttered

ar. Now," the voi

out. The car sped off immediately, leavi

the soft creak loud in the silenc

om, and my hand tightened into a fist. The

voice said behind me. "Beau

d, fear rising

asked, my voice ba

added, eyes darti

d smoothly. "But rig

rrowed in

ce," he explained. "It lets me see ev

the necklace, an uneasy ch

ree floors up. Go insid

it-an elevator with an Out of Ord

order," I said,

me,"

ard it. It was strange to trust a m

n," he said as I step

r-two green and one red. Without thinking m

to move upward, smo

rackled in

beneath the panel and

ath the control panel. My fingers found a small, al

s do?" I asked, my eye

fferent-thicker, ro

explained calmly. "A new identity f

eally had gadgets like this? "How...?" I

ds," the voice explained softly. "Jus

i

room. It was like stepping inside a fire - the walls glowed deep crimson, casting lon

. This was an underground mafia summit

space, any one of them capab

range like it belonged to someone else. I fel

ante," the voice whispe

hard, my eyes scann

me the answer. Gre

immediately

teal?" I asked, hoping t

said. "But first... You have t

d, untouchable. He was in his late thirties,

reath and pushed

oice sliced throug

That voic

he here? Alaric's secretary at a

and I prayed my d

, she wa

rned to run - and crashed s

ed up.

lena had just waved

came rushing over, his voice u

d, ready to