Rosevale High
The staffs were in a meeting with the school's administrators to deliberate on the activities that'll be taking place the next month,so the students had the entire day to themselves.
Violet suggested a game of mystery tag to pass time.
Laughter echoed down the marble tiled hallway as Akira, Violet, Luna, Leo, Elsie and and Eli raced through the senior wing, breathless with excitement.
"Violet's totally the spy!" Leo yelled, cutting a corner.
"I am not!" Violet shot back, dodging him and skidding around a sharp turn, her curls bouncing wildly.
They'd started the game of "Mystery Tag" out of boredom, a self-invented hybrid of tag and detective work. The rules were simple: catch the "spy" before time ran out. The twist? The spy could lie, run, or hide.
"I swear it's Elsie!" Akira shouted, laughing as she sprinted after Violet.
The chase carried them farther than they realized past the gym, beyond the music room, until they burst into a quiet, velvet-carpeted corridor none of them had entered before.
"Wait... where are we?" Eli panted, slowing down.
"I think this is the VIP lounge hallway," Luna said, eyes wide.
"Oops," Violet whispered right before the door behind her gave way.
She stumbled backward into the elegant space with glittery Chandeliers overhead. And at the center of the room, perched on a marble pedestal, was a tall, sleek crystal Egyptian style vase glowing softly under the light.
"Violet, don't!"
Too late.
Her heel caught the rug. She spun, tried to steady herself and her elbow clipped the vase.
The crash was deafening. Shards flew across the room like glass confetti.
Silence.
Leo's mouth fell open. Elsie gasped. Akira clutched her head.
"Oh my God..." Violet breathed, frozen.
"That... that is Elliott's lounge," Luna said slowly, eyes darting toward the door. "And that was his prize vase. The one from the national music awards."
Heavy footsteps approached from down the hallway.
"Run?" Eli asked.
"Run." Akira replied.
But it was already too late.
The door swung open before they even got close.
Stop right there! Don you f**king move an inch said an angry Elliott.
They froze.
Elliott stood leaning against the marble column, his usual lazy smirk wiped clean. His sharp eyes trailed down to the glittering shards still stuck to Violet's shoe.
"Well, well," he said voice low and menacing. " Looks like rats snuck into my private quarters and destroyed a national award. How bold."
"No one was supposed to be there," Akira said, stepping slightly in front of Violet. "We didn't know"
"I don't care what you knew," Elliott cut in. "That vase was irreplaceable. And now, someone's going to pay."
His gaze moved between the group until it landed on Violet.
"You broke it," he said simply. "Didn't you?"
Violet swallowed hard, then nodded. "Yes. I did. Let them go. It was me."
Elliott's expression didn't change, but something cruel flickered in his eyes. "Fine. Since you're such a noble little hero... you'll work it off."
"W-Work it off?" Violet asked.
He stepped closer, voice colder. "You're mine now. A personal errand girl. Clean my equipment, carry my things, do what I say until I say you're done."
"No," Akira's voice rang out, firm.
Elliott turned to her slowly. "Excuse me?"
"She didn't mean to. It was an accident. If someone has to pay, let it be me."
He raised a brow. "So now the hoodie girl wants to play martyr?"
Akira met his gaze without flinching. "I broke your ego last week. This is about that, isn't it?"
Silence. Tension. Even Violet looked shocked.
Elliott's jaw clenched.
"Fine," he said slowly. "You want to take her place? Then you're mine now, Hoodie Girl. And I don't go easy on people I hate."
Akira's fists tightened, but she nodded.
"I'm not afraid of you."
Elliott smirked darkly.
"We'll see."
Y'all can get lost now. He yelled at the rest of the group. Except you Akira.
The group stiffened, exchanging hesitant glances.
But....Violet began, stepping forward again, eyes locked on Akira.
I said leave! Elliott barked, his tone dangerous.
Violet froze. Her fists clenched at her sides, torn between anger and helplessness.
Akira turned to her calmly, her voice steady. "It's okay, Vi. Just go. Call me later, alright?"
But....
Please.
That single word, soft but sure, was enough.
Violet's throat bobbed as she swallowed back everything she wanted to say. She gave Elliott one last venomous glare before turning to go.
One by one, the others trailed behind her, each casting worried glances back.
Elliott didn't say a word until the last of them had disappeared.
Then he turned to her, his eyes gleaming with something unreadable.
Now… let's begin.
Pick up every shard of the broken vase. Not a single piece should be left on the floor.
Akira had no choice to obey or he'll target violet.
Uh uh! With your bare hands he said when she made to pick up the broom and the dustpan at the far end of the room.
Do you want me to get injured?
What else are you here to do if not suffer? You can bleéd to death,I don't care, now pick up those shards or I'll have your scardy cat of a friend do it. With her mouth. In front of the whole school.
Akira's Pov
Eiish! He was honestly getting under my skin.
But I had no choice to do as he said.I can't let anything happen to Violet.
He thinks he has me where he wants? hehehe.
I'm going to deal with him but for now,I have to comply.
Akira spent the whole day as Elliott's errand girl. Doing ridiculous things ordered by Elliott.
Back At The Classroom.
Akira's friends sat quietly their minds occupied with the disturbing thoughts of Akira being used by Elliott.
It's all my fault, I shouldn't have forced her to play when she didn't want to Violet sniffed.
Calm down Vee. Don't cry. We need to think of a way to free Akira Elsie said.
And how are we going to do that....
Awww. I see you finally came to your senses and dumped that weirdo, Kiana cut Violet off mid speech.
To bad her stench still lingers around you.
I'll focus on failing in a less embarrassing way if I were you Kiana, and stay out of people's business. Violet snapped making Kiana flushed.
Excuse me?!
You heard her. Go mind your little fashion store and quit butting in in conversations that doesn't concern you, Elsie responded.
Kiana stomped off knocking down anyone in her way.
If there's anything she hated, it's her brand being called little.
Kiana's POV
Arghhhhh!
How dare she belittle me! She screamed knocking down her vanity table.
I'll show them. I'll prove them wrong.
And I won't hesitate to get rid of anyone or anything standing in my way.
She then breathes in an out and places the phone on her right ear waiting for the person at the other end.
Elliott's Private Quarters
Akira stood motionless by the door, arms limp by her sides. Her legs ached, but her expression remained unreadable.
Across the room, Elliott paced like a caged animal, frustration tightening his jaw. He glanced at the clock, then at her, scowling at her calm demeanor.
"You're not even mad?" he snapped, voice rough.
Akira blinked slowly, unfazed.
He scoffed, turned away, and tossed himself onto a leather couch. His phone buzzed on the coffee table. The screen lit up: KIANA.
He answered. "Yes?"
(Pause.)
"A favor?" His tone dipped into irritation.
(Longer pause.)
"I do not owe you, dammit. I helped you set up a fashion brand with my own"
A deep breath. His nostrils flared.
"What are you looking at?!"
Akira tilted her head, voice cool and dry. "Someone who clearly can't handle pressure."
"Dammit!" he exploded, slamming the phone into the wall. It shattered. He turned slowly toward Akira.
His eyes darkened, lips curling in fury, but he didn't speak. He turned on his heel and stormed out, slamming the heavy door behind him.
Back At Kiana's Home
She stood frozen beside her vanity, one manicured hand still clutching her backup phone. Her eyes narrowed.
"That voice..." she hissed.
A beat passed.
"That was a girl."
She flung her compact across the room, fury bubbling to the surface. "He's keeping another girl around?"
Her reflection caught her eye in the mirror lips pressed, eyes gleaming.
"She'll regret ever breathing near him."
Back in the quiet room, Akira sank slowly onto the edge of a long velvet chaise, rubbing her ankles. As she shifted, her fingers brushed against a thick manila folder wedged beneath the cushion.
Curious, she pulled it out, flipped it open and froze.
Inside were photos, shipping manifests, coded transactions, and emails detailing trafficking routes, drug movement disguised as art shipments, and
Her eyes narrowed at one line:
Target: A.D. Heiress to the Daniels Empire.
A post-it note on the side:
Get her to fall. Then use her. Break her.
Akira's breath hitched.
So this was Elliott's game.
She could leave now. Expose him. She had enough evidence to bring down his family's empire.
But then she heard his voice returning outside the door. Muffled, but chillingly clear.
"I'll make her fall. Once she's mine, the Daniels network is ours. She won't know, she'll think she's funding her father's old trade routes."
Akira stiffened, heart pounding. She slid the folder back into place, her decision made.
She wouldn't run.
She'd stay.
Because monsters like Elliott always fell hardest when they never saw it coming.