Chapter 5

Evelyn shook her head, a memory of Vivian being nice to her replaying in her mind. She huffed loudly, muttering, "As if those fools care about me." Her eyes darted to the door as a knock echoed through the room.

"No way!" she muttered, leaping out of bed and rushing to the door. She opened it to find Vivian, her sister, frowning and scanning her up and down. "Oh," Evelyn murmured, disappointment lacing her voice. She gestured for Vivian to come in.

A gust of wind pushed Evelyn backward, stumbling her into Vivian's arms. Vivian hugged her from behind and whispered, "How are you doing?"

Evelyn shrugged, assuring her she was fine. She tried to move away, but Vivian's grip tightened.

"Now that you've seen I'm okay, you can leave," Evelyn said. Instead of letting go, Vivian's arm moved to her neck.

"If you died here right now, how do you think everyone would react?" Vivian questioned, her grip tightening.

Evelyn grabbed Vivian's arm and shrugged. "I honestly don't care... but I'm positive you would become his lab rat in this organization," she replied, despite the constriction.

Vivian's hold loosened, and Evelyn began to breathe heavily as she was released. She turned to Vivian and said, "I overheard a conversation between Victor and Donovan."

"Why would he want me to avenge you with that scumbag?" Vivian barked after listening to what Evelyn had to say.

"Avenge me?" Evelyn exclaimed, her face showing shock. "I'm not dead; I can handle my own problems."

Vivian shook her head. "What can a giftless person like you do?"

"We'll see what I can do after my modifications," Evelyn retorted.

Vivian huffed. "You would really go through with it?"

"What choice do I have?" Evelyn asked. She rubbed her neck and suggested Vivian leave if she had nothing more to say.

Reluctantly, Vivian relayed the news given to her by their father, Victor. "In a week, you and I will be sent to Phantom's Edge." Before Evelyn could ask what it was, Vivian explained, "It's a school that trains assassins and hitmen. I have no idea why he wants me to go with you. You're the giftless one."

"And?" Evelyn prompted.

"In two days, he will unveil a product created from ten years of work, and you will be the first to use it. Despite his efforts to keep it secret, I learned he's been collecting DNA samples from gifted individuals for a decade to develop a pill that grants abilities to those without gifts. Even with this pill and the assassination school, you'll still undergo the usual process," Vivian informed her.

"This old fool wants to take away my humanity," Evelyn thought, nodding to mask her emotions.

"After all that, I think you might have a chance at defeating me," Vivian mocked.

Reaching inside her sheets, Evelyn pulled out a realistic toy pistol and aimed it at Vivian, causing her to back away. "Can you stop the bullet with your ability?" Evelyn asked.

"Stop joking," Vivian stuttered.

A smile appeared on Evelyn's face upon seeing Vivian's expression. She lowered the gun and assured her it was just a toy with plastic pellets.

Vivian's face heated up, grateful Evelyn couldn't see her in the dark. Annoyed, Vivian was about to attack with her wind ability when their surroundings suddenly changed.

Panic was written all over Vivian's face, but Evelyn maintained a poker face with a smile which made her look scary. "What's happening?" she asked, her voice steady despite the chaos around them.

The room seemed to warp, shadows lengthening and the air growing colder. The moonlight that once illuminated Evelyn's room now cast eerie, distorted shapes on the walls. The whispers outside grew louder, almost deafening, as if the very walls were alive and speaking.

"Evelyn, what's going on?" Vivian's voice wavered, her usual confidence shaken.

~~~~~

Evelyn's eyes scanned the walls, her expression calm but her gaze sharp and calculating. The dim light of the room cast long shadows, giving the space an eerie, foreboding atmosphere. "This could be a test," she muttered under her breath, her voice barely above a whisper. The walls, once shifting and fluid, suddenly solidified, revealing their true surroundings. Evelyn recognized the sleek, modern design immediately. "Heroic Heights," she thought, her mind racing.

Evelyn had visited the Hero Association headquarters many times with Victor, so she was familiar with the opulent decor and the high-tech security systems. They were currently on the top floor, in the boss's office—a place few ever got to see.

"Welcome to Phantom's Edge," a deep, masculine voice echoed through the room, its tone smooth yet authoritative.

Evelyn's heart skipped a beat. This was a surprise. Vivian had just informed her that they would be attending the assassin school next week, yet here they were. She glanced at Vivian, searching for any sign that she knew about this sudden change in plans, but Vivian's wide eyes and furrowed brow told her that she was just as shocked.

The voice continued, explaining that they were in an alternate building, a replica of Heroic Heights created with his ability. The room's dark, oppressive atmosphere contrasted sharply with the sleek, modern design of the real Heroic Heights. The tension in the air was palpable, and Evelyn could feel the weight of what was to come pressing down on her.

The man's voice droned on, detailing the test they would face. Apparently, they weren't the only ones brought here. Numerous other participants were scattered throughout the building, and they would all have to battle each other using paintball guns. His tone was clinical, almost bored, as if this deadly game was just another day at the office.

Evelyn's mind raced as she tried to piece together how this could possibly prepare anyone to become an assassin. "How is this going to help anyone become an assassin?" she thought, her brow furrowing. The idea of using paintball guns in what was supposed to be a life-or-death training scenario seemed absurd.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Vivian move. Her sister's expression had shifted from shock to something more predatory. Without warning, Vivian grabbed a paintball gun from the wall and aimed it directly at Evelyn. The room's tension snapped like a rubber band stretched too far.

Evelyn's reflexes kicked in, honed by countless hours of training with Lucas. She dodged the paintball with ease, her movements fluid and precise. The paintball whizzed past her, splattering harmlessly against the wall. A cold smirk played on her lips as she reached into her pocket and pulled out her toy gun—a harmless-looking object that had become a deadly tool in her hands.

Taking careful aim, Evelyn fired a plastic pellet at Vivian's paintball gun. The shot was perfect, hitting the gun and knocking it from Vivian's grasp. The clatter of the gun hitting the ground echoed in the silent room, a stark reminder of how real this game had become.

The rules were unclear, and they had no idea how many needed to be eliminated before the test would end. Evelyn had the chance to take Vivian out right then and there, but something held her back. Perhaps it was the lack of information, or maybe it was the twisted sense of competition between them. Vivian's hunger for victory was palpable, and Evelyn knew that defeating her now wouldn't satisfy her in the long run.

As Vivian scrambled to retrieve her gun, Evelyn seized the opportunity. She darted to the wall, grabbing her own paintball gun before sprinting out of the room. The corridors of the building were a maze, each turn disorienting and unfamiliar.

"Get back here!" Vivian's voice rang out behind her, laced with frustration and determination.

Evelyn didn't look back. She could hear Vivian's footsteps pounding after her, but she focused on navigating the labyrinthine halls. The air was thick with the scent of dust and metal, and the distant sounds of other participants echoed through the halls—shouts, footsteps, the occasional pop of a paintball gun.

The building's atmosphere was oppressive, each shadow hiding potential danger. Every corner could reveal an enemy or an ally, though in this twisted game, it was impossible to tell the difference.

Evelyn's mind raced as she tried to formulate a plan. She didn't trust this situation at all. The paintball guns felt like a distraction, a way to lull them into a false sense of security. There had to be more to this test, something they hadn't been told.

'''''

On the Forbidden Island, the air was thick with tension as Selene faced down the massive creature that had risen from the depths of the sea. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery light across the battlefield, its eerie glow reflecting off the creature's slick, shark-like skin. Nearby, her friend Ethan lay unconscious beneath a shattered tree, his body crumpled as if tossed aside by the force of the battle.

The creature was a nightmarish fusion of a shark and a man, with razor-sharp teeth and muscular limbs that propelled it forward with terrifying speed. Its eyes gleamed with a predatory hunger as it lunged at Selene, jaws snapping with a bone-chilling clatter. Selene, her body aching from the earlier battle in the city, barely had the strength to keep up. Her muscles screamed in protest with each dodge, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

The other members of Selene's group stood on the periphery, their faces set in grim lines. They watched intently but made no move to interfere. Their task was clear: ensure no damage befell their base and protect their comrades from any harm. The island's dense jungle, once vibrant and teeming with life, had become a battleground of destruction, the once towering trees now reduced to splintered ruins.

As the minutes ticked by, the battle's toll became evident. Most of the trees surrounding them had been destroyed, and the ground was littered with debris. Selene, her mind sharp despite her exhaustion, carefully studied the creature's attack patterns. It relied heavily on its powerful jaws, its short arms unable to reach or grasp effectively. Occasionally, it would charge recklessly, relying on its thick, durable skin to plow through anything in its path.

Selene knew she had to end this quickly. She baited the creature, drawing it in with calculated movements. When it lunged at her, she spun around and scrambled up the remnants of a sturdy tree behind her. The creature, driven by blind rage, bit into the trunk with a deafening crunch, leaving its head exposed.

In a swift, decisive move, Selene leaped from the tree, her foot coming down with the force of a sledgehammer. The impact was devastating, the creature's skull cracking under the blow. The shark-man hybrid crumpled to the ground, its once formidable body now lifeless and still. The jungle fell into a tense silence, broken only by the distant crash of waves against the island's shore.

Selene extracted her foot from the creature's shattered head, her breath coming in slow, deliberate gulps as she steadied herself. The others began to disperse, their faces unreadable, but she could feel their silent acknowledgment of her victory. She allowed herself a brief moment of satisfaction before her surroundings suddenly shifted.

Without warning, the familiar jungle was replaced by a different environment entirely. The air was cooler here, the atmosphere more controlled, and the chaotic jungle noises were replaced by an eerie silence. Selene's eyes narrowed as she took in her new surroundings, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. She had been expecting this.

This was not just a random teleportation—Selene knew she had entered a carefully constructed environment, a test. She had been briefed about the possibility of being transported to Phantom's Edge, the infamous assassin school, but her true mission went beyond mere survival. She was here to memorize the layout of Heroic Heights, the headquarters of the Hero Association.

The voice that echoed through the air was deep and authoritative, "Welcome to Phantom's Edge."

Selene didn't waste any time. As the voice began to explain their objective, she was already analyzing every detail of her new surroundings. She knew that this was just the beginning, and while the others might be focused on passing the test, her mind was on the bigger picture. Every corner, every hallway, and every shadowy alcove in this replica would be imprinted in her memory, a vital part of the mission she had been sent to complete.

Her thoughts sharpened with purpose as she moved, ready for whatever challenge lay ahead. The smile on her face grew as she prepared to face the unknown. This was where the real battle began.

''''''

Evelyn sprinted down the narrow corridor, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she put as much distance as possible between herself and Vivian. Her heart pounded in her chest as she vaulted over a flight of stairs, her feet barely touching the ground as she made a sharp left turn. But her escape was cut short when she came face-to-face with the barrel of a paintball gun, its cold metal aimed directly at her.

Instinctively, Evelyn tried to sidestep the shot, but the gun tracked her every movement. She ducked just in time, narrowly avoiding the paintball that whizzed past her ear. A sudden splash echoed through the hallway, and Evelyn realized the shooter had been aiming at someone else.

Seizing the moment, she raised her own paintball gun, ready to fire. But before she could pull the trigger, the guy lunged forward, grabbing her wrist and pushing her hand down.

"Don't," he warned, his voice low and steady.

Evelyn met his gaze, her brows furrowing in confusion. "Why not?"

A shout echoed down the hallway, and both of them turned to see Vivian at the far end, breathing heavily and glaring daggers at Evelyn. "Finally found you!" she called out, her voice tinged with frustration.

The guy glanced at Vivian, then back at Evelyn. "Who's she?"

Evelyn shrugged, a wry smile tugging at her lips. "Ask her yourself." She yanked her arm free from his grip and bolted down the corridor, determined to outrun Vivian.

But before she could gain any real distance, a powerful gust of wind slammed into her, pinning her against the wall. She struggled to shield herself with her arms, but the force of the wind was too strong. The guy beside her was also thrown back, his long red hair whipping around his face as he fought to stay on his feet.

"She looks pissed. Did you do something to annoy her?" the guy asked, squinting through the wind as he tried to hold his ground.

Evelyn gritted her teeth, her voice barely audible over the howling wind. "She's always angry."

Vivian stood at the end of the hallway, a devious grin spreading across her face as she advanced toward them, the wind still howling at her command. The corridor was bathed in a harsh, fluorescent light, casting long shadows that flickered with each step she took.

"If this keeps up, we're going to be eliminated," the guy muttered, glancing at Evelyn with a hint of desperation in his crimson eyes.

Evelyn took in his appearance: the long red hair, the crimson tracksuit, the black shirt underneath. He seemed out of place in this deadly game, yet there was something in his eyes that suggested he wasn't entirely helpless.

"Are you also giftless?" Evelyn asked, her voice strained as she fought against the wind.

He nodded, his expression serious. "Yeah."

Vivian continued to close the distance between them, her grin widening as she sensed victory. Evelyn knew they had to act fast. Despite the situation, she hesitated—she didn't want to eliminate Vivian. But if they didn't do something soon, they would both be out of the game.

Evelyn's eyes darted to the toy gun still clutched in her hand. She glanced at the guy beside her, her voice firm as she issued a command. "Don't shoot at her or me."

Without waiting for a response, she took aim at Vivian's thigh, her hand steady despite the chaos around her. With a sharp crack, the pellet hit its mark. Vivian cried out in pain, dropping to one knee as the wind abruptly ceased.

Taking advantage of the momentary reprieve, Evelyn grabbed the guy's arm and pulled him toward an open office door. They dashed inside, the door swinging shut behind them as they found themselves in a room filled with desks and computers.

Evelyn's heart skipped a beat when she saw a familiar face turn toward her, a wide smile of recognition spreading across their features. The room seemed to close in around her, the walls suddenly too tight, the air too thick. Her expression darkened, all traces of relief gone.

"You," Evelyn spat, her voice dripping with venom. She wasn't expecting to meet them here.