Chapter 3. The Gamble

The cold floor of my apartment wasn't any colder than I felt right now. I let the last of the rain drip from my soaking-wet hair.

A hot shower didn't help. I still couldn't sleep. Damn it.

Every time I closed my eyes, only one thing came to mind—the black card.

"Let's get married."

Crazy.

If this were the me of the past, I would've immediately said "I do" without thinking and hugged him, smiled like an idiot.

The luckiest woman in the world.

What a joke.

Reality hit me harder. I'd already died once at his hands—I can still clearly remember the feel of his bullet.

That blood was real. That betrayal was real.

I stared at the steamed-up mirror. My eyes were red and swollen. I should be afraid, but all that remained was pain and rage that felt like it was about to burst.

My logic was in shambles.

I thought... Skyden was Black Lotus. And in the future, they would ally with The Raven.

But now he says… The Raven is his target.

A lie?

Or am I just not seeing the whole picture yet?

It's four in the morning and I still can't sleep; I checked my phone—Elliot hadn't sent another message. Damn, did he get caught?

I clench my phone tightly. If I report him to the Commander now, I'm the one who would be finished. There's no evidence. At the office, we were "Golden Partners." Everyone knows how close I am to him, how often we've got each other's backs in the field. If I say Skyden's a traitor, they would just laugh and think I'm under a lot of stress.

If I had a choice… I'd wish this was all just a dream.

But the reality is… I'm alone again.

After thinking things through, an idea crossed my mind.

Marriage… is the easiest way to get into Echelon Nine.

I should've known that's what Skyden meant too. It's just… why me? He has that woman—the one standing behind him when I died. He could marry her to infiltrate the place.

But… if Echelon Nine is the only way to drag him to hell, then I'll accept his offer. I'll get in there, wear his ring, and make sure he pays for everything.

***

That morning, the desk next to mine was empty.

There was no scent of black coffee wafting through the air at eight in the morning as usual. There was no cheerful greeting that always managed to lighten the team's gloomy atmosphere. Skyden Wolfe had taken a sudden leave of absence, citing "family matters."

Family matters, my ass.

I could only stare at his desk with my fists clenched beneath the table. Senior Marcus had asked why I looked so pale, and I could only blame it on lack of sleep. I couldn't possibly say, "Skyden is a traitor who will kill me in the future." I needed proof. Physical evidence that no one could dispute.

At exactly nine o'clock at night, I was already standing at The Hollow Clock. This old clock tower was silent, with only the creaking of rusty iron in the night breeze.

This was the place where we used to stop for a moment—to rest, catch our breath, before returning to being the police officers we were supposed to be.

This was where we usually waited for each other.

Now, I wasn't here as a partner. And he… was clearly not the same person.

I had to be firm. I didn't wait for him to greet me. As soon as I caught a glimpse of his silhouette behind the massive pillar, I charged straight at him.

Bugh!

My attack was clumsy. Skyden dodged it with a movement that almost looked like dancing. I spun around, launching a roundhouse kick powerful enough to break an ordinary person's ribs, but he caught my leg and pulled me closer.

In one swift motion, he flipped me over, pinned both my arms behind my back, and pressed me against the cold stone wall. He frisked me quickly—feeling my waist, ankles, and the collar of my jacket—to make sure there were no bugs or trackers on me.

"Clean," he whispered right into my ear.

He released me with a hearty laugh, as if we'd just finished a routine sparring session. His face was the same—the cheerful, smiling, laid-back Skyden. But to me, that smile now looked like an utterly repulsive mask.

"You know, Linora? You're too predictable," he said, straightening his slightly rumpled jacket. "How many years have we been partners? I can anticipate every breath you take before you strike."

I turned, glaring at him with hatred I no longer hid. "Don't put on an act in front of me, Skyden. I know you offered me a way into Echelon Nine not because you wanted to help me."

Skyden raised an eyebrow, his smile widening. "Oh? So you've figured it out? Smart." He stepped forward, closing the distance. "Of course. Echelon Nine is the only place where the law can't touch us. The perfect place for a den of crime… or a place to kill each other."

"I accept your offer."

My voice was calm—too calm for someone selling herself to the enemy. "But don't get the wrong idea. I agreed because I need access to investigate The Raven. And while we're there, I'll make sure I find proof of your betrayal and drag you to hell."

Skyden laughed loudly, his laughter echoing through the silent tower. "There you go! This is the Linora Vance I like. Straightforward, crude, and fearless." He folded his arms across his chest, staring at me defiantly. "Go ahead. Look for all the evidence you want. I'll even give you plenty of chances to kill me there. No laws, no witnesses. You can try to kill me whenever you want."

I fell silent. My heart was pounding.

Kill him? My mind wavered. As a cop, I wanted to handcuff him. But as someone who'd once died by his hand—I wanted to make sure he never breathed again.

If his words were true, The Raven was our shared target. But the endgame was different. He wanted to slaughter them all, while I wanted to capture them. If this mission ended, I knew we'd have to kill each other again to determine the winner.

This is a gamble, in a place where no state laws apply; it wasn't just me who had the chance to kill him—Skyden has the same opportunity.

"Maybe I would die again," I thought to myself, staring into his clear, deceitful eyes. "But this time, I'll take him to hell with me."

"Linora?"

Skyden's voice broke my inner monologue. He held out a small black velvet box. He opened it, revealing a ring with a dark gemstone like frozen ink—elegant yet unsettling.

The ring glowed dimly under the moonlight.

A symbol of a bond.

Or… a more beautiful pair of handcuffs.

"Do you want to put it on yourself, or do you need me to do it?"