Arthur's voice, cold but steady, from the car that morning.
"I'm your sensei.
You don't have to be nervous."
Nnenna's spine straightened.
"That's right," she whispered under her breath. "I can do this."
Her name was called, alongside Nicholas's.
Cheers rippled through the audience.
"She made it this far? I didn't think she would survive the top six."
"Nicholas will finish it here."
"Don't be so sure. Did you see what she did to Adam?"
"She's like a cute assassin. You never see it coming."
As she turned toward the stage, Nnenna's gaze briefly flicked to the judges' platform, and froze.
Arthur's eyes were already on her. They softened, not with surprise, not with confusion, but with something reassuring.
Belief.
He didn't nod or smile, but he didn't need to. Nnenna understood him now.
She was about to turn away when the sound of shifting feet and surprised gasps swept across the arena. Heads turned toward the entrance.
More figures were entering.
