Inside Hotel Room 4003…
Mr. Wirya's rage was reaching its peak as he stared at Brenda's limp body. He had witnessed firsthand the effects of Laura's actions on his special students.
"Should we call the police?" asked the hotel staff who had helped carry Brenda, placing her on the bed.
But Mr. Wirya and Mrs. Marni immediately put on warm, reassuring smiles.
"Oh, that won't be necessary. Our daughter often sneaks out at night. She was probably drunk and threw up in the lobby restroom," Mrs. Marni quickly fabricated an explanation.
"Yes, everything is fine. I'm sure she'll regain consciousness soon," Mr. Wirya added, though his face was flushed red, his jaw clenched tight.
"Alright then, we'll take our leave," the hotel staff said, completely unsuspecting, before exiting the room.
The moment the door shut, Mr. Wirya slammed the chair in front of him. The loud noise made Mrs. Marni flinch.
"Laura!" he growled, seething with hatred. "That means she was here earlier… and she already knows our plan! She's one step ahead!"
He strode toward the window, glaring at the darkness of the night with boiling anger. "We were too slow."
"Maybe if we had involved more people earlier, we could have caught Laura, sir," Mrs. Marni suggested cautiously.
"What do you mean, Marni?"
"Perhaps we should have called in a few police officers who regularly use our services. They could have stationed themselves in the lobby, in the elevator, and near the room. That way, they could have ambushed Laura the moment she appeared."
"Fool!" Mr. Wirya's furious roar sent a chill down Mrs. Marni's spine. His piercing gaze broke through her defenses, making her tremble with regret for even speaking. "Those officers are only interested in indulging themselves. They wouldn't risk their reputations by getting involved in a ridiculous trap like this! The fact that we can keep them silent about our organization is already a big help! Do you understand?"
Mrs. Marni lowered her head, too afraid to respond. But her eyes widened when she heard Mr. Wirya's next words:
"But you're right, Marni. We've underestimated that girl! We need help! I must find bodyguards. All for the safety of our organization… and our clients. We can't afford any more slip-ups. And as for Mr. Calvin—do whatever it takes to get him to join us. He and his expertise are valuable assets. The Dark Game will be unstoppable with him on our side."
.
.
Click!
The sound of Laura's front door unlocking shattered the silence. Calvin stepped inside, carrying two paper bags—one filled with food, the other containing a change of clothes for himself.
His face was weary, but his resolve was firm. He had already decided to spend the rest of the night at Laura's house. He had no intention of leaving her alone, especially after everything that had happened tonight.
However, his brow furrowed the moment he found the living room empty. His gaze swept across the space, searching for any sign of Laura—but she was nowhere to be found.
"Damn it! Where did she go this time?" he muttered, frustration laced with worry.
Calvin strode over to the table and opened Laura's laptop, hoping for a clue. But there was nothing—no hint of where she had gone. His eyes shifted to the tote bag still lying on the floor.
The sight of it gave him slight reassurance. At the very least, it meant she hadn't gone off on one of her dangerous stunts. But how did she leave? And where?
As the thought crossed his mind, something caught his attention—the curtains, swaying ever so slightly in the night breeze.
His steps quickened toward the window. Opening it, he peered out into the dark sky. In an instant, he could picture how Laura had left—scaling the backyard fence with ease. Calvin shook his head, a mix of frustration and reluctant admiration for the girl's audacity.
His eyes returned to the table. There was another laptop he hadn't checked. He flipped it open, and the screen flickered to life, displaying CCTV footage from Harrow Elite International High School. But something was off—the image was completely frozen.
"Shield…" Calvin murmured under his breath. He recognized this technology—a device capable of freezing or blocking CCTV recordings.
Without hesitation, he grabbed a small pair of binoculars from the table and aimed them out the window. And sure enough, there she was.
Laura, dressed in a black hoodie and mask, moving swiftly as she exited the school gates.
"Oh, for God's sake… What is she up to this time?" Calvin sighed. Yet, his voice wasn't entirely laced with worry. The girl had planned everything down to the last detail.
Moments later…
Tap!
Laura's feet landed lightly on the floor as she slipped back in through the very same window she had escaped from. She pulled off her hoodie and mask, her breath coming in short gasps—even though no one had been chasing her.
But time came to an abrupt halt.
Because the one chasing her tonight was standing right there.
Calvin.
At the center of the room, his sharp gaze was locked onto her. Arms crossed over his chest. He said nothing, yet his very presence pressed down on Laura, demanding an explanation.
"Uh… Umm, I just went out to buy some food, sir," Laura stammered, holding up a black plastic bag, as if to prove she wasn't lying. She had bought the food—after selling Brenda's reset smartphone.
Calvin said nothing. He just stared at her. Laura knew that look—it wasn't just a question. It was the question. But she dared not say more. She could already tell that she had irritated him.
On the other hand, Calvin chose not to push further. He knew she hadn't gone out just to buy food. Letting out a heavy sigh, he turned away without a word, heading toward the bathroom to freshen up.
But then—
Thud!
A sudden embrace from behind froze him in place.
Laura's arms wrapped tightly around his waist, as if trying to keep him from stepping any further away.
Calvin wanted to turn his head, but her hold was too firm. He could only shift slightly, just enough to glance to the side—but not enough to fully see the girl pressing her face against his back.
Eyes closed, Laura took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of his familiar cologne.
For the first time in a long time… she felt warm. She felt not alone.
"Thank you for saving me tonight, Mr. Calvin…" she whispered, her voice trembling with unspoken gratitude.
A faint smile ghosted across Calvin's lips, though he said nothing. He simply stood there, letting her pour her emotions into the embrace.
Tonight, silence spoke louder than words, wrapping them both in an undeniable sense of comfort.
That hug—so powerful, so grounding—it made them feel as though they could weather any storm.
---
(To be continued)