"What's going on?" I said, stopping in my tracks.
"You heard him right, go back and freshen up. You're not needed here." Lexie said it with a smile so bright it almost blinded me.
The kind of smile that looked harmless but felt sharp.
I slowly turned to Raisem, confusion tightening my chest. Before I could speak, he grabbed my wrist and gently pulled me to the side, away from her.
"Would you explain what's going on and who's she?" I asked, my voice low but tense.
"I can't explain anything now. I'll call Marcus to pick you up." Raisem said, avoiding my eyes.
My heart dropped.
"So you're going to leave me here alone and go with her?" I snapped. "I don't understand this anymore. Last night you were acting all caring and tender towards me. We kissed and almost did it, and now you're just going to ditch me for her?"
"Ditch you?" he repeated, clearly taken aback.
"Yes," I said, frustration spilling out. "You want to ditch me for her. Why can't I go with you and her go with Marcus? I signed the contract, not her. And isn't she some annoying thing who sends intimate pictures and texts?"
The words slipped out before I could stop myself. Oh God.
"So you did see something on my phone."
Raisem raised his brows slowly, his tone calm but sharp.
Embarrassment hit me hard.
"Just call Marcus," I muttered, already turning away. "You can go with her."
I walked out of his presence, my steps heavy, my chest tight.
Back in the room, I shut the door harder than I meant to. I was pissed—no, furious. The truth hit me painfully, I was jealous. Seeing her had triggered something ugly and natural inside me.
And why was I even jealous? We had only signed a contract. I wasn't entitled to him. He didn't own me, and I didn't own him.
What was I thinking? Sure, he could be a pain in the ass, but I was only forgiving him because he was handsome. Nothing more.
Honestly, I decided, I wouldn't even speak to him again. So annoying.
I rolled my eyes and sat on the bed, arms crossed, waiting for time to pass.
Before I knew it, Marcus arrived with another car. I stepped outside, and he greeted me with a small bow. I returned it automatically before getting in.
The drive was quiet but I'm good at ruining that.
"Marcus?" I finally called.
"Yes, Miss Henderson," he replied, alert.
"Do you know anything about Lexie?" I asked carefully.
His grip tightened on the steering wheel.
"I'm sorry, miss. I can't share anything about boss' personal life. He'll have to be the one to tell you that."
I sighed internally. Loyal to him. Then he spoke again.
"Miss Lexie is nothing to worry about. If boss wanted her, he would have chosen her. Not you, Miss Henderson."
"Thank you," I said, forcing a smile that didn't reach my eyes.
The journey felt endless. By the time we reached the apartment, I ran out of the car. I rushed into my room and shut the door tight, locking myself inside.
Raisem wasn't back yet. He's probably having some fun. I rolled my eyes.
I laid on the bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind filling with countless what-ifs. I told myself it wasn't my business.
I tried not to think about Lexie or Raisem, or whatever bond they shared. But my thoughts refused to cooperate.
Then suddenly, the same telephone rang. The one close to my bed.
I jolted upright. My heart skipped as I walked toward it and picked it up.
"Hello, Ara."
My blood ran cold. That same voice and that same words.
"What do you want from me?" I screamed into the phone.
"I want us to have a deal," the voice said calmly.
"What deal?"
"Let's meet tonight. Ain't you curious about my face?"
He laughed, loud, hysterical and I knew something was wrong.
I clenched my jaw. This had to be Raisem. After ditching me, he still had the nerve to prank-call me.
Fine. I would accept the offer.
"Okay," I said. "Where do you propose?"
My little phone beeped. A text message flashed on the screen, an address.
"9pm tonight. Alone, and watch your back, Ara." the voice warned, then the line went dead.
I was going. If it was Raisem and his stupid test, I was going to beat the hell out of him.
I've heard enough of all the bullshit.
******
At 8pm, I left the apartment. Raisem still wasn't back. I dressed quickly and took a taxi.
The taxi drove off, leaving me alone at the roadside. That was when the uneasiness hit.
Ahead of me stood an abandoned amusement park. The tall metal gate leaned crookedly, rust eating into it like a disease.
Broken rides stood frozen in place, their paint peeling, chains dangling, creaking faintly as the wind passed through.
Why would Raisem bring me here? I was confused and a bit worried.
"I'm so going to skin the man alive," I muttered, forcing myself forward.
I pushed the gate open slowly. It screeched loudly, the sound echoing through the empty park. My chest tightened. I turned on my flashlight.
"Raisem," I called.
My voice bounced back at me, thin, weak and swallowed by the space.
Suddenly, all the lights came on at once. The entire park lit up.
My heart jumped, but the brightness didn't bring relief. It only revealed more horror, rides standing in eerie stillness, pools of still water collected around broken machines, reflections twisting unnaturally on the ground.
I took a step and felt my shoe sink into one of the puddles. Splash, the sound was too loud.
Then a telephone rang.
I froze. The ringing came from a nearby booth. I was surprised it was even working.
Slowly, I walked toward it, every instinct screaming at me to turn back but I refused. I entered inside and lifted the telephone.
"Hello, Ara."
My grip tightened.
"Where are you?" I asked, forcing confidence into my voice.
"Behind you." the voice replied.
The word slammed into my chest and I turned sharply. A figure stood a few feet away. Tall and still like a statue.
His face was covered by a mirror mask—smooth and reflective, like a normal mirror, except the surface was slightly warped.
The metal bent whatever it reflected, stretching faces too long, crushing features too wide, turning familiar shapes ugly and uneasy.
My reflection stared back at me, but it wasn't me. My head looked unnaturally long, my eyes misplaced, my fear pulled out of shape by the curve of the mask.
There was no mouth opening, no eye slits cut into the metal, just the mirror mask.
In his hand was an axe. The heavy blade caught the light, dull and threatening, grounding the distortion in something very real.
A chill raced through my body. But I knew it was Raisem and his stupid tests.
"Nice job, Raisem," I said, laughing nervously.
I stepped back slightly, eyes fixed on him.
"Nice costume, Raisem. Now you want to be Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers?" I added, forcing another laugh.
He didn't move. The silence between us stretched and he just kept staring at me.
"Raisem," I said again, firmer now. "I know it's you. Quit the act. This has to stop."
Nothing, not a sound. Not even a shift. Fear crept in, slow and cold.
The phone crackled in my hand.
"You want to know something?" the voice said.
"Okay," I replied, my fingers shaking around the telephone.
"Do you watch horror movies?"
"Yes."
"Then you should know the rule, never stay alone in the dark." the voice laughed, loud, sharp and hysterical.
My stomach dropped.
"I think I need to leave." I dropped the phone and turned to leave then the man threw the axe at me. It came flying toward me.
I screamed. Pain burned across my face as the blade sliced my cheeks before crashing into the metal side of a nearby ride with a loud clang.
I staggered back, shock freezing my body for half a second. Then he ran towards me with full speed, I've never seem before
I was scared. I turned and ran, my feet slipping as I crashed into one of the still water pools. Cold water soaked my legs, slowing me down. I scrambled up just as I heard metal scrape behind me.
The man tried to yank the axe free from the ride but it was unsuccessful, then suddenly he tossed it aside.
My heart pounded harder. He reached into his coat and pulled out a butcher knife—long, sharp, gleaming under the park lights.
"I'm finished," I whispered.
Would Raisem really go this far?
He lunged towards me and I screamed as he attacked, swinging wildly. I tried to block him, my hands shaking, my body screaming at me to survive. The knife drove straight through my palm due to the struggle.
The pain was blinding. I screamed, the sound tearing out of my throat, and kicked him as hard as I could between the legs. He groaned and stumbled backward, falling into the water with a splash.
I didn't wait. I ran. My face burned where the axe had cut me. My hand throbbed, blood dripping down my wrist.
I ducked behind a broken ride, crouching low, breathing hard and choking on fear.
I don't think that was Raisem. This man wanted me dead. His footsteps splashed closer.
Heavy, wet and determined. I bolted from my hiding spot and ran blindly trying to find the exit.
Suddenly, someone grabbed me from behind and dragged me into a corner, clamping a hand over my mouth. I struggled violently, then I saw his face.
Raisem.
Wait a minute. If Raisem was here with me.
Then who was the man in the mirror mask?