The chapel smelled of dust, rot, and forgotten prayers.
Moonlight cut through the broken stained glass, spilling fractured colors across the cracked altar. The wind rattled the warped wooden doors as Liora stepped inside, her heels clicking softly against the stone.
She clutched the keycard in her palm.
[System Countdown: 29 Hours Remaining.]
[Objective: Deliver Keycard to Agent M.]
The air shifted behind her.
"You're late," a voice said.
She turned to find Agent M emerging from the shadows dressed in black, leather gloves on, the faint glint of a concealed pistol under his jacket. His face was calm, but his eyes burned with something sharper than duty.
"Traffic, she replied dryly.
He didn't smile. "Do you have it?
Liora pulled the keycard from her pocket and held it up between two fingers. "Before I hand this over, I want to know what's in Nikolai's safe.
"You don't get to ask questions, he said.
"I do if I'm the one risking my neck.
That made him pause. Then he stepped closer, lowering his voice. "The safe contains transaction ledgers, offshore account details, and evidence linking Nikolai to twelve murders across three continents.
Her stomach tightened. "You're sure?
I'm sure," he said, voice tightening. "And I'm not just after the evidence.
Liora frowned. "Then what
I'm going to kill him.
The words landed like a gunshot in her chest. "That wasn't part of the deal.
"It's my deal," he said flatly. "Your job is to hand me the keycard and walk away.
She stepped back, shaking her head. "The FBI doesn't do assassinations.
"I'm not here as the FBI," he said coldly. "I'm here because he took someone from me. My brother. Six years ago. You think the Bureau cares about one missing body? I care.
The silence stretched, heavy.
"So what?" she said finally. "You're going to use me to get close enough to kill him?
He didn't deny it.
Her pulse roared in her ears. "If I give you this, he's dead within a week.
"That's the point," Agent M said. "You're not in love with him, are you?
She swallowed hard, forcing her voice to stay steady. "Love doesn't matter in my line of work.
He studied her for a long moment. "Good. Then do your job.
She walked out of the chapel with the keycard still in her pocket.
The System's voice came immediately:
[Warning: Objective Incomplete.]
[Deviation Detected – Liora has withheld target evidence.]
[Risk: If target survives without betrayal, System Penalty Will Trigger.]
She ignored it.
Because for the first time in both worlds, she wasn't afraid of the penalty. She was afraid of losing someone she wasn't supposed to keep.
When she returned to the mansion, Nikolai was waiting in his office. The firelight painted his face in gold and shadow.
"Where were you?" he asked, his voice calm but edged.
Liora stepped forward, forcing a smile. "Walking. Thinking.
He leaned back in his chair, watching her. "Thinking about what?
"How to survive in your world without losing myself.
That earned a faint smirk. "And?
She hesitated. "And maybe… I can't. Maybe I don't want to.
He stood then, closing the space between them. His hand slid under her chin, tilting her face up. "If you want out, you say it now. Because once you're mine, there's no leaving alive.
Her chest tightened. "And if I stay?
"Then I'll kill anyone who tries to take you from me.
[Affection Level: 57%. Trust: 41%. Emotional Bond Strengthening.]
That night, she lay awake in his bed, staring at the ceiling as his breathing deepened beside her.
She had two choices.
Give Agent M the keycard and watch Nikolai die.
Or protect Nikolai and face the System's wrath.
And the terrifying part?
She already knew which choice she was leaning toward.