I left the house that once sheltered me but now only held haunting memories. With a worn-out hoodie and a black mask covering my face, I hid myself from the world's gaze.
An irony, really, because deep down, I knew—Laura was dead. The world no longer needed to know me. All that remained was a faint shadow named revenge.
I clutched the brown envelope tightly, as if holding onto a burning coal that slowly consumed me. Inside was money—compensation, supposedly, for the dignity that had been ripped away. But to me, that money was fuel. Not for continuing life, but for destroying those who had obliterated me.
My steps halted in front of a small rented house. There was nothing special about it. The walls were dull, the paint peeling, and the windows looked as fragile as their soon-to-be owner. But this was the perfect place for me now—a hiding spot far from the world's view yet close to Harrow Elite International High School, the nest of those who would soon pay for their sweet words.
I contacted the owner and rented the house immediately. The money from the brown envelope slipped away so easily, feeling filthy in my hands, but I didn't care. This house was the first step in my plan. I didn't even allow myself to dwell on the shame of spending it. Dignity? That had been buried along with the foolish Laura.
With what remained, I bought a laptop and a small telescope. Nothing fancy or expensive, but they were enough for the work I needed to do.
That night, on the cold, empty living room floor, illuminated only by the dim laptop screen, I began my work. In this place, with the biting cold air and unfamiliar walls, I opened the door to another world—a world where, under my new name, I would take control.
My fingers danced over the keyboard, recalling everything I had secretly learned in the school's computer lab. Ironic, isn't it? Harrow Elite International High School had unknowingly equipped me with this skill.
Years spent in the library and lab had given me knowledge about technology and hacking, building the foundation I now used to destroy them.
That night, I launched my first move—hacking into the school's system, creating a false identity so perfect that even the principal wouldn't suspect a thing.
I created a new identity. Abby, a transfer student and an outstanding scholarship recipient. I carefully embedded the data into Harrow Elite's system, making sure not to leave any trace. Hours of work later, I observed the results with a cold smile.
"Welcome back, Laura—oops, I mean, Abby," I whispered to my reflection on the screen. A small step toward a much greater revenge.
But I didn't stop there. I took things further and stumbled upon a dark organization's website—The Dark Game. My fingers kept moving, peeling back layers of their code. I found names, faces, and those involved in this filthy network—teachers, and even some of my schoolmates.
With unwavering focus, I scanned through the members, transaction records, and detailed activity logs. Most names were unfamiliar, but one or two made my stomach churn. These people were within Harrow Elite. Every click felt like adding more fuel to the fire burning inside me.
As dawn began to break, I closed my laptop. My body was exhausted, but my mind kept racing. In this tiny room, I was rebuilding myself. Laura was dead, and Abby had just been born.
The days ahead were mine. And they—
They had no idea what was coming.
But then, reality caught up with me.
Morning arrived like an uninvited guest, bringing with it a problem I couldn't ignore. Hunger.
I unwrapped a small piece of bread lying near my laptop and poured instant white coffee into a plastic cup. The little food I had managed to buy last night. The aroma of coffee didn't help. It only made my situation feel even more pathetic.
I stared at the remaining cash on the table—not much, barely enough for a day or two. The weight of helplessness hit me hard.
I used to be Laura, someone who held onto her dignity, surviving on scholarship aid. But now, I was Abby, someone who had to count every crumb just to stay alive.
I felt foolish. At this point, wouldn't it be better to just die? Ending it all in my own home for the sake of dignity seemed far better than starving to death in a tiny house.
Tch! Who cares about my life anyway? Even death felt too easy for me. I wanted more. I wanted them—the people who did this to me—to experience the same destruction.
That thought was interrupted by a notification sound from my laptop. I opened the message and found something intriguing.
Someone had placed an order through The Dark Game. The location—Hotel Azure, tonight. The system had already assigned someone for the job.
Tania. My old schoolmate.
A bitter smile crept onto my lips as I read her name. Tania—the girl who always looked perfect, who always looked down on others. And yet, she was one of them—not a victim like me, but a willing participant.
I knew this was my chance.
That night, clad in my trusty black hoodie, I entered the hotel lobby. Before coming, I had used my last bit of cash to buy a small bottle of chloroform online—an illegal item I had shipped to a hidden address to avoid suspicion.
I waited in the restroom until Tania walked in, her steps as arrogant as ever. I called out to her from inside a stall, pretending to be hotel staff. She didn't suspect a thing as she approached.
In a matter of seconds, I pressed the chloroform-soaked cloth to her nose. Her body went limp, collapsing to the floor with a soft thud.
I swapped clothes with her, putting on the elegant evening dress she had prepared for her client.
I glanced at my reflection in the restroom mirror. A girl with cold eyes and a face filled with vengeance stared back.
That was Laura. Not Abby.
I walked toward the client's room, steadying my racing breath.
When I knocked, someone opened the door.
The room reeked of expensive cologne, its dim atmosphere making me nauseous. Trauma crashed into me like a tidal wave. I remembered that night—
The smirk of a strange man haunting my mind,
His cruel laughter ringing in my ears,
His filthy touch making me want to throw up.
But I couldn't afford to waver. I forced my body to move forward, masking my fear behind a small smile.
The man stood there, eyeing me like prey.
I played my role, whispering sweet nothings.
The moment he let his guard down, I stepped closer and, in a swift motion, pressed the chloroform-soaked cloth to his face.
He collapsed hard, unconscious.
I ransacked his belongings—
Expensive watches, a thick wallet, a smartphone—everything was mine now.
I slipped out of the room quickly, ensuring no one saw me.
As I walked away, I felt two things.
First—relief. I had stained The Dark Game's name. This incident would tarnish their reputation, reducing them to nothing more than scammers under the guise of prostitution.
Second—I had secured a means to survive, even if only temporarily.
But most importantly, I had found a glimmer of hope.
I knew this was just the beginning.
In my quest to destroy them, I was also searching for him.
That old stranger who shattered me that night.
His name wasn't in The Dark Game's database, but I was certain he was connected. And I would find him.
No matter what it takes.
That was how I lived.
By night, I was Laura—the survivor.
By day, I was Abby—the hunter.
***
My first day at school with my new identity went according to plan—smooth, without a hitch. My hair was always neatly tied up, large round-framed glasses covered nearly half my face, and my uniform was perfectly arranged, without a single flaw. Abby was a shadow, someone invisible in the crowd, an ordinary girl with no appeal. That had to be my role, at least for now.
I walked down the crowded hallway, the chatter and footsteps echoing around me. I could no longer see this place the same way. Harrow Elite International High School now felt different. Some teachers and students whose names I had seen in the database of the forbidden organization now looked as if they were wearing masks.
Hmm, how are they any different from me now?
My heart pounded faster than usual, even though I had reassured myself that no one here knew Laura. I was Abby—the transfer student, a scholarship recipient, a new face, the nerd no one would care about. Not even the principal or Ms. Marni would spare a glance at my utterly unremarkable appearance.
And yet, somehow, every accidental glance that landed on me made me want to shrink further into my own shadow.
Until suddenly…
Thud! I bumped into someone.
My body jolted backward, nearly losing balance. The laptop in my hands wobbled, almost slipping before I tightened my grip on it.
"Sorry," I mumbled quickly, my voice small and cautious. I didn't even dare to look up to see whom I had run into. My only intention was to leave as fast as possible.
"Are you okay?"
That voice stopped me in my tracks. A deep, calm voice—but there was something in it that made my shoulders tense. Slowly, I lifted my head.
He stood there, tall and firm, with sharp eyes like an eagle's. The new IT teacher—Calvin Zachary.
His gaze was piercing, as if trying to read every secret I was hiding. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked, his tone unchanged, yet enough to put me on high alert.
But, undeniably, he was the first person to ask about my well-being since that cruel night. Was I okay? A part of me wanted to scream, no!
"Y-yeah, I'm fine," I finally answered flatly.
I hastily avoided his gaze. His outstretched hand, meant to help, was gently yet firmly pushed away. Hugging my laptop tightly like my last shield, I took hurried steps to get away.
I walked fast, almost running. My heart was still pounding—not just from the fear of my disguise being exposed. There was something in Mr. Calvin's gaze, something I couldn't understand. I felt… threatened, yet at the same time, safe. Strange, wasn't it?
As soon as I reached the restroom, I slipped into the nearest stall and locked the door. My hands trembled as I opened my laptop. I knew I couldn't ignore this.
My fingers danced across the keyboard, accessing the database system I had personally enhanced. Carefully, I typed Calvin Zachary's name, ensuring no details were overlooked. Whatever I found would determine my next move.
Seconds passed. Five minutes. Ten minutes. My breath caught when the full information finally appeared on the screen.
No connections. No records. No suspicious traces. Calvin Zachary was clean. At least, according to the data I had found.
I let out a relieved sigh—but that relief was fleeting. This was a world where what you saw was rarely the truth. Mr. Calvin might not be connected to The Dark Game, but that didn't mean he wasn't dangerous.
I stared at my reflection on the laptop screen. Abby might look plain, but behind these oversized glasses, behind this perfectly neat uniform… I was still me. Laura.
I didn't have time to be fascinated by him. Calvin Zachary.
.
.
_______________________
_______________________
"I'm not involved, Laura…"
Calvin let out a deep sigh, his fingers gripping the steering wheel tightly. His voice was low, weary, yet filled with sincerity. His eyes remained fixed ahead, focused on the city streets under the night's dim glow.
The car, which had been idling in the hotel basement, now moved slowly, passing through roads illuminated by scattered streetlights.
In the stillness of the night, only the soft hum of the engine served as the background melody of their journey. Laura sat beside him, leaning against the window, her gaze empty as it pierced through the glass. The small rented house she called home was now visible in the distance—simple and nearly unnoticeable.
The car came to a halt right in front of its gate. Calvin turned off the engine, allowing silence to take over. Laura swiftly unfastened her seatbelt.
"Hmm, well, we'll see about that, Sir," she replied, as skeptical as ever. Her hand moved quickly to open the car door. But before she could, Calvin grabbed her wrist in a swift motion.
"Laura, wait."
Before she could protest, Calvin pulled her close, and his lips met hers.
A kiss—brief, yet enough to freeze time for a moment. Its warmth was a stark contrast to the cold night outside.
When it ended, Laura stared at him, her eyes wide in shock. Her heart pounded erratically.
"W-what are you doing?" her voice trembled, more with surprise than anger.
Calvin offered a faint smile, his eyes filled with an emotion too complex to define.
"I know you don't trust the world anymore, Laura. But make an exception for me. Please. I'm not like the world that has broken you. If necessary, I'll create a new world for us. Just for us."
His words lingered in the air, leaving Laura in a dilemma.
A part of her wanted to believe, wanted to give this man a chance. Wanted to believe that the world wasn't as cruel as she had come to think.
But another part of her remained skeptical, full of doubt. This very world had taught her not to trust sweet words—no matter how beautiful they sounded.
Laura took a deep breath, forcing herself to regain composure.
"I'm going to forget that kiss ever happened, Sir," she said, her tone attempting to be indifferent. "Or just think of it as a thank you—for listening to my story tonight."
Without waiting for a response, Laura opened the car door and stepped out. The cold night air greeted her, yet she felt warmer than ever.
She walked toward her rented house without looking back, leaving Calvin still seated in the car, watching her departure with an unreadable expression.
.
.
(To be continued…)