My gaze moved between them, cool and unreadable. "New friends of yours?" I asked, addressing Nicole, keeping my tone casual, as though I wasn't already sizing them all up for any misstep.
Nicole was about to speak before Nadia, almost too quickly, interrupted with a laugh that sounded rehearsed. "We work together! Small world, huh?" She shrugged, as if she were trying to pretend we were all just old friends running into each other by accident.
No one was buying it.
The tension between us hung thick in the air. Nicole shifted again, though I knew she was doing her best to stay calm. But there was no hiding the unease in her body, not with these two standing here.
I felt my hand move closer to the knife handle hidden inside my jacket. Just in case. The last thing I needed was for this situation to escalate in front of a crowd. I wasn't a fool; there were too many witnesses, and if I did attack anyone, my family and I would have to leave.
Nicole, noticing my movement, shot me a warning glance and shifted to a defensive stance. Her gaze was subtle, almost imperceptible to anyone else, but I understood. Don't act, or I will have to bring you down. That was what her eyes were telling me. I got the hint, scoffing lowly. I must be getting rusty for her to think she could take me out. Well, she had never seen me get serious, so I could understand her misunderstanding.
I relaxed my hand, easing up on the grip I had on the knife. Outwardly, at least.
Nadia spoke up, her voice still dripping sweetness. She knew. She'd seen the slight shift of my hand—the tightening grip on the knife hidden beneath the table. But she wasn't rattled. Not even close.
"I wouldn't do that," Nadia said, her tone light, almost playful. But there was a hidden threat buried deep in her words. She gestured to Sol and Martin in line for ice cream. "Your son's so close to the exit... be a shame if something happened before he got his ice cream."
Her smile didn't falter. It was a masterful play, too smooth, too perfect. She wasn't making a direct threat, but the implication was enough. The weight of her words hit me like a sucker punch.
I turned my gaze toward Sol, who was still nearby, blissfully unaware of the tension mounting around him. But his location was no accident. He was positioned just close enough to the exit.
My breath didn't hitch, but my heart raced. The thought of Sol in danger sent an icy chill down my spine.
Nicole, too, reacted swiftly. Her head snapped toward Nadia, her voice coming out sharp, full of defiance.
"Sol has nothing to do with this," Nicole snapped, her tone firm, protective.
Nadia only shrugged, the picture of innocence. "Just stating facts. We wouldn't want a stray shot in a crowded mall, would we?"
Her words carried a weight that turned the air even colder. My fingers flexed, still gripping the knife handle. If it came to it, I wouldn't hesitate. But I had to be smart. I had to keep Sol safe.
"I don't appreciate threats, and you all haven't said what you want from me," I said, my voice low and menacing. Nadia just smiled sweetly, not saying a word.
Jasper seemed to notice the tension between us and shot a glance at Nicole, probably expecting her to smooth things over. But she just ignored him. She stood there, silent, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. She was going to stop this, especially if there was a chance Sol would get hurt.
I don't know who Jasper, Nadia, and even Nicole worked for but I assume Interpol. I just don't understand why they decided to do this here. In a mall with hundreds of people, it was honestly stupid, especially if I just didn't care anymore, going on a killing rampage.
Seeing Nicole not moving, Jasper couldn't wait any longer. His patience snapped. He'd been holding back for Ortega's sake, but this was his moment. If he could catch the great Medusa, he would be promoted, famous, and the money would sky rocket him to power.
Jasper stepped forward, and his movements were deliberate. His hand hovered near his weapon, just enough to make it clear he was ready to escalate. His voice rang out, sharp and loud enough to turn a few heads in the food court.
"Enough playing house. Jasmine West, you're under arrest. Don't make this harder than it has to be."
His words were heavy with arrogance. He thought he was in control, but all I felt was a calm, calculating stillness. He was trying to intimidate me, but I wasn't about to flinch—not in front of an audience.
I didn't react, keeping my gaze locked on him, unreadable. He wanted a show? He was about to get one, but first, I needed to get Sol to safety.
My heart was steady—no panic, just cold calculation.
"If you make me draw this knife, people will die."
I kept the calm front, but every part of me was ready to act. I wasn't about to let Jasper or anyone else take this situation beyond my control.
They all might think that they had it handled, but this wasn't their game. They didn't know how far I was willing to go to protect my family.
I wasn't going to just sit here and let things spiral out of control. Not when Sol was still in danger. I needed him out of the line of fire.
Sol was looking in my direction concerned on his face. I subtly tapped the edge of the table, a signal just for him. My eyes met his for a split second, and I saw him nod, understanding the unspoken command.
"Don't forget to get me two scoops of chocolate, baby," I said, my tone calm, almost gentle.
It was code. I was sending him to Mitch's group. I needed him to get ready to move, to get into position. The plan had to stay in motion.
Sol didn't hesitate. He moved toward them, making his way over to Mitch. Mitch, always aware, caught Sol's eye immediately. He nodded, no words exchanged, just a quiet understanding between them. It was a sign that things were about to get chaotic. The delinquents started subtly shifting, positioning themselves to act.
Nicole stepped forward with a quiet authority, her gaze scanning the room with practiced efficiency. Her movements were deliberate, every step a testament to her training.
"This isn't the time or place," she said, her voice calm but firm. "We were told to wait until she was isolated. Ortega's orders."
Her words should've been enough to stall any further escalation, but they weren't. Not with Jasper's temper.
He snarled, his jaw tightening, clearly beyond listening. "I'm not waiting while she walks out of here!" His tone dripped with frustration. "This is our shot."
Nicole didn't back down. She remained calm, her voice steady. "You're making it messy. You want Ortega on your ass?"
Jasper hesitated. I saw it—the flicker of doubt, just long enough for Nicole to make her point clear. He wasn't stupid. He knew the consequences of going against whoever Ortega was.
Suddenly the air in the mall seemed to grow colder, heavier. For a moment, everything stood still, as if the world itself was holding its breath. The usual hum of the food court, the chatter of people in line, the clinking of trays, all of it fell away. I felt it in my bones—the weight of something looming.
Then, without warning, the screens around us flickered. The TVs in the food court, the digital menus overhead, even the phones people were holding—all of them blinked to white static before resolving into something unnatural.
Everyone was looking around confused, and I slowly stood up.
Jasper snapped at me in anger. "Is this your doing? Trying to distract me, no way!"
We all looked at him like he was stupid.
"How would I have been able to do this? I just got here." I said, annoyed, trying to walk towards Sol, but Nadia blocked me. Jasper was about to spout out some more bullshit until the screens stopped flickering.
A featureless humanoid figure, composed of shifting light and shadow, stood before us on the screens. It was unsettling in its simplicity, it had no facial features.
The voice that followed was not a person's voice, but something far colder. It was like a verdict, unyielding and final.
"People of Earth. Your world has been judged unworthy of ascension."
I froze in confusion, and the words fell into the stunned silence around us.
"For too long, you have squandered your potential, waged senseless wars, and let greed, apathy, and cruelty rule your kind. You have polluted your lands, slaughtered your own, and proven yourselves unworthy of higher existence."
I shifted my gaze—Jasper, Nadia, Nicole. They were also confused but Jasper looked more annoyed while Nadia was trying to call someone. I suppose she was trying to find out what was happening and if this was a prank.
"Thus, the cleansing has begun."
The word "cleansing" hung in the air before some kids behind us started mocking the figure.
"However, redemption is possible. Prove yourselves capable of surviving this new world, and you may yet ascend. Fail, and you shall be forgotten."
This should have been a joke, but for some reason, it felt real. I felt it in my gut—the reality of what was being said, what was about to begin. No one was prepared for this. The whole world was about to be changed in ways we couldn't even fathom.
"Your first trial begins now: The Tutorial Dungeons."
A heavy pause followed, as the reality of what they meant sank in.
"All public locations of significant population density have been converted into Tutorial Dungeons."
The words echoed in my mind—tutorial dungeons? The mall. We were trapped in one now. Everyone was. I felt the panic start to rise within me, and murmurs spread through the crowd.
"All exits are sealed. Escape is impossible. You will either pass... or perish."
"For the next five minutes, your bodies and minds will adapt."
There was a strange pulsing energy that filled the air, like electricity crackling in the space around us. Something shifted—subtle, but undeniable. The world was warping.
"Access your Status Windows."
My heart raced. This wasn't some game. This was a trial for survival. The sudden realization hit: we were being turned into players in some sick, twisted version of reality. What the hell did this "Status Window" even mean?
"Learn. Understand. Prepare."
Survive, and you may yet earn the right to exist.
"The Tutorial Dungeon will begin in five minutes."