The applause faded.
But the tension didn't.
Aarav stood still, the empty glass still in his hand.
Alive.
But not safe.
Because now—
Everyone knew him.
"Congratulations," the voice in his ear finally returned.
Cold.
Measured.
"You passed."
Aarav clenched his jaw.
"You disappeared."
A pause.
Then—
"Because you needed to think alone."
Aarav almost snapped.
"Yeah? Next time I die, I'll make sure to think harder."
No reply.
The crowd slowly returned to normal.
Music resumed.
Laughter came back.
Glasses clinked.
But Aarav saw through it now.
This wasn't normal.
This wasn't a party.
This was a cage full of predators.
"Focus," the voice said."You still have one objective."
Aarav's eyes sharpened.
Find the hidden player.
He took a slow breath.
"Alright… let's hunt."
This time—
He didn't look nervous.
He looked dangerous.
Aarav started walking through the crowd again.
But now, he wasn't observing wealth.
He was reading behavior.
Who avoided eye contact?
Who watched too closely?
Who didn't belong?
His mind replayed the earlier moment.
The test.
The poison.
"That man wanted to expose me," Aarav thought.
"But not kill me…"
A pause.
"…yet."
Aarav's eyes moved carefully across the room.
Then—
He noticed something.
A woman.
Standing alone near the balcony.
Black dress.
Elegant.
Calm.
Too calm.
While everyone reacted to the test…
She didn't.
Not even slightly.
No surprise.
No curiosity.
No fear.
Nothing.
Aarav narrowed his eyes.
"That's not normal…"
"Describe her," the voice said immediately.
Aarav smirked faintly.
"So now you're interested?"
"Describe. Her."
"Black dress. Standing alone. Not reacting to anything."
A pause.
Then—
"Stay away."
Aarav's smile grew.
"Yeah… that confirms it."
"What are you doing?" the voice asked sharply.
Aarav picked up another drink.
Calm.
Confident.
"Completing the mission."
And he started walking toward her.
Each step felt heavier.
Not from fear.
From instinct.
Something about her…
Was wrong.
Dangerously wrong.
He stopped beside her.
Close enough to speak.
Far enough to escape.
"Enjoying the party?" Aarav asked casually.
No response.
For a second, he thought she ignored him.
Then—
Without looking at him—
She spoke.
"You shouldn't have come here."
Aarav's heartbeat slowed.
Not faster.
Slower.
Because now—
He was certain.
"I didn't have a choice," he replied.
She turned her head slightly.
Her eyes met his.
And for the first time—
Aarav felt real danger.
Not loud.
Not chaotic.
Silent.
Precise.
Deadly.
"Neither did I," she said softly.
A pause.
Then—
"How long do you think you'll survive?"
Aarav smirked.
"Long enough."
She studied him.
Carefully.
"You passed the test," she said.
Not impressed.
Not surprised.
Just stating a fact.
"That doesn't mean you understand the game."
Aarav tilted his head slightly.
"Then explain it to me."
She smiled faintly.
But it wasn't kind.
"People like you…"
A pause.
"…don't get explanations."
Before Aarav could respond—
BANG!
A gunshot exploded inside the hall.
Chaos erupted instantly.
Screams.
Glass shattering.
People running.
Aarav ducked instinctively.
"WHAT THE—?!"
"Sniper," the voice in his ear shouted.
"GET DOWN!"
Another shot.
Closer.
A chandelier shattered.
The lights flickered.
Darkness and panic spread.
Aarav turned—
The woman was gone.
"…what?"
No footsteps.
No trace.
Just gone.
Aarav's chest tightened.
"Target locked," the voice said urgently.
"They're aiming for YOU!"
Aarav's eyes widened.
"Why me?!"
"Because you're new. Weak. Replaceable."
Another shot—
WHIZZ!
A bullet grazed Aarav's shoulder.
"AHH—!"
Pain exploded through his body.
"MOVE!" the voice shouted.
Aarav ran.
Not thinking.
Just moving.
Tables flipped.
People screamed.
Security rushed in.
But it wasn't enough.
Because this wasn't a random attack.
This was planned.
For him.
Aarav ducked behind a pillar, breathing heavily.
Blood slowly stained his sleeve.
"I'm going to die…" he whispered.
"No," the voice said.
A pause.
Then—
"Not if you learn fast."
Another shot.
Closer.
Aarav clenched his teeth.
Fear…
Turning into something else again.
Focus.
He looked around quickly.
Analyzing.
Where is the sniper?
Where is the angle?
Then—
He saw it.
A reflection.
In the glass window.
A building across the street.
A faint glint.
Scope.
"Found you…" Aarav whispered.
"Location?" the voice demanded.
"3 o'clock. Opposite building. Top floor."
"Good."
A pause.
Then—
"Now survive."
Aarav frowned.
"That's your plan?!"
No response.
Of course.
He exhaled slowly.
"Fine…"
Aarav grabbed a metal tray from a fallen table.
Held it up like a shield.
And stepped out.
BANG!
The bullet hit the tray.
The impact nearly knocked him back.
"Damn!"
But it worked.
He moved.
Fast.
Smart.
Unpredictable.
Not like prey anymore.
Like someone learning to fight.
Another shot.
Missed.
Aarav reached the exit corridor.
Safe—
For now.
He leaned against the wall, breathing heavily.
Alive.
Again.
But now—
Everything was clear.
This wasn't a game.
This was war.
And he was just getting started.
As he looked back toward the chaos—
One thought echoed in his mind—
"Someone here wants me dead."
And worse—
"They're very, very close."