**Still in Luxury's Apartment**
For a moment, darkness swallowed the room as a whole—thick, quiet, and unnerving.
"Relax!" Nik said, his voice cutting through the pitch black room. "Probably a fuse issue. Not every blackout means death, princess."
Luxury's fingers twitched near her gun anyway. "You talk too much!" she hissed and used her hand to on the flashlight on her phone.
A knock was heard on the door and Luxury walked carefully to get the door but Nik pulled her back and did the 'shh!' sign.
He opened the door partly and met a young man. "And you are?" he asked with creased brows. He kept only his head out of the door while his body remained inside the room.
Luxury came towards the door to have a look but Nik used his other hand to push her back behind him.
"Sorry for the inconveniences, but there was a power interruption done by someone intentionally but we will fix it soon!" the young man said apologetically and bowed.
Nik just nodded his head and muttered a 'thanks' —shutting the door in the process.
Nik turned to Luxury and glared at her. "Can't you stay in one place?" he asked.
Luxury glared back at him.
Minutes later, the dim light returned flickering weakly at first before coming in full. The air felt heavier as if the darkness had left something behind.
**The Next Morning – Eagles University **
Luxury pulled up into the university with her powerbike, her hood pulled low as the soft morning air brushed against her face. Students laughed, chattered, and complained about morning classes.
Her mind was still replaying last night's blackout, the young man's words echoing—someone tampered with the wires.
She brushed it off— that's what she told herself, but her eyes kept scanning every reflection, every glance.
"Yo! Mystery boy!" Elmira's voice snapped her out of thought as she jogged up beside her with her usual morning energy.
Luxury raised her eyebrows giving a 'do I know you look?'
"I guess you can't recognize me again! I am Elmira!" she introduced herself and Luxury just gave a nod.
"You always look like you didn't sleep," Elmira teased, brushing her hair behind her ear.
Luxury gave a dry chuckle. "Maybe I didn't."
"Ugh, exams preparation?"
"Something like that!" she muttered.
They walked together toward the lecture hall.
The second they stepped in, her eyes caught Mikhail Orlov seated at the back alone, detached—leaning lazily while scrolling his phone.
Her heartbeat skipped—not out of attraction, but out of instinct.
"Why did it suddenly feel like our worlds are getting too close?"
Elmira nudged her. "You're staring. Crush or fear?"
Luxury smiled faintly. "Neither of them. Just recognition." she said and adjusted her hoodie before taking her seat.
-----
~~ Flashback (Two Years Ago – St. Petersburg) ~~
Rain poured like bullets against the old warehouse roof.
Luxury—back then still Zhenya—ran through the narrow corridors, clutching a metal briefcase to her chest.
"Zhenya, hurry up!" Nik's voice shouted from behind as gunfire thundered continuously.
It was the guards.
"I am hurrying, idiot!" she yelled back and slipped through past a half-broken door.
Her boots splashed through dirty puddles as the cold night bit into her bones.
They stopped behind an old cargo crate. Nik's breath was sharp and unsteady. "Do you even know what's in that file you're risking your life for?"
"No," she admitted, locking the briefcase shut with trembling hands. "But someone's willing to kill for it—so it's better in our hands."
"You mean your hands," Nik hissed. "You think I don't see what you're doing?"
Before she could answer— BOOM!! An explosion ripped the floor beneath them apart.
The rest of the memory blurred—the gunfire sounding so distant.
When she woke up the next morning, she was alone— dirty and muddy.
Nik was gone. The Dumb File was still with her.
"Nik! Dominik!" she shouted his name but only the echo of her voice as a response.
She looked around her and saw the whole place was disorganized and things destroyed. The explosion that occurred gave the ground a large hole.
She held tight to the briefcase and used one of her hands to arrange her disheveled hair before walking out of the place with her hands tightly clutched on her gun.
-----
~~ Present Time – Eagles University~~
Luxury snapped back to reality when the lecturer slammed a book on the table.
Her pen rolled off the desk. She bent and picked it up.
She felt someone stare on her and instinctively turn back to look but her eyes locked with Mikhail's own after she picked it.
"Was he looking at me all this time?" she thought inwardly and looked away out of instinct.
The lecture was over and everyone began packing up to leave when Jade came to the front of the class.
"Hold up everyone! Tonight, there is going to be a party at Haven Frat house. The theme is Blackout— all black outfit and aesthetics." he announced and everybody gave an excited scream with a clapping ovation.
Jade signaled with his hands for them to wait and keep it down which was successfully done.
" I know everyone is excited, so dress in your best outfit because there is going to be the best dressers of the night! Time is by 8pm! Good luck!"
Immediately he was done, the hall became noisy again. Excited screams, chattering and giggles filled the air.
Luxury just rolled her eyes unbothered about anything that had happened.
She packed her bags and was about to leave her seat but Jade blocked the way!
"Yo! Lux, what's up?" he asked and she just nodded before mouthing 'fine'.
Jade narrowed his eyes. "You don't seem excited for the party, why?"
Luxury looked at him and gave a smirk. "It is because I am not coming!"
"C'mon, you have to! It is gonna be lit, trust me!" he tried convincing but she remained unbothered.
After so many pleads and convinces, she finally agreed earning a happy exclamation from Jade.
"See you later in the night, Lux!" he said and gave a pat on her head before leaving.
Luxury gave a small side smile before leaving!
Mikhail who had been watching from the back gave a scoff with an eye roll.
As she walked out, she didn't noticed Mikhail eyes following her —sharp and unreadable.
It was beginning!