Chapter 02: A Warning in the Dark
POV: Lyra
Finally, he left.
As if he could ever understand what it takes to reach the top. The patience, the blood, the solitude... Success isn't born into — it's earned. Not like him. Born rich, silver spoon and all, every luxury handed to him like a toy.
So lucky.
But not enough. Not more than me.
And yet... why do I keep thinking about him?
Never mind.
This golden trophy in my hand — my newest addition. The 100th in my collection.
I smiled. I loved it.
It was 10:00 PM. The event had finally wrapped up. The crowd was gone. Applause had faded. I walked alone toward the parking lot.
Something felt... off.
I paused.
The air shifted — heavy, thick. Like someone was watching me. I turned around sharply.
No one.
Shaking it off, I made it to my Lamborghini, stepped inside, and took off
— the engine growling as I hit the accelerator. Lo-fi beats played low in the background. There's no better therapy than this: a luxury car, night city lights, and high speed on an empty highway.
This was the same car I'd dreamed of years ago. My first luxury. Back then, it felt unreal.
Now? It had become a habit.
I reached my villa
— the one I earned, not inherited. This wasn't handed to me. I built this empire brick by brick. Alone.
As I approached the door, my instincts screamed.
Something was wrong.
Without hesitation, I reached under my thigh and pulled out the gun I always carried — safety off, fingers steady. I stepped forward slowly, heart steady but alert.
Then it happened.
Someone grabbed me from behind.
One arm wrapped around my waist, the other clamped over my mouth with a cloth — chloroform. I sniffed a little by accident. My head spun instantly.
My gun fell to the ground.
Before I could react, another person gripped both of my hands tightly.
But I'm not weak.
And I never let them win.
I rammed my elbow back into the first guy's stomach — hard.
He groaned and loosened his grip. That gave me just enough space to break free, dizzy as I was.
I stumbled, grabbed my gun from the floor, and fired one round straight into the sky.
A warning shot.
My head was spinning, my vision blurry, but I could just make out two figures dressed in black — masked, faces hidden.
Still, I smirked.
"Next time, I won't warn you. I'll aim for your head."
One of them snarled, "Before that, we'll finish what we couldn't last time."
My knees weakened. I couldn't fight them both. I knew there might be more inside waiting for me. Going back in would be suicide.
I raised the gun again — aimed at one of them. Pulled the trigger.
Missed.
No time to panic. No time to think.
I ran — every step like dragging a mountain behind me. My car was just ahead. I had to make it.
If I stopped, I was done.
I reached the car door just in time, unlocked it mid-run, jumped in, and floored the accelerator. The tires screeched, the engine roared — and I flew off.
Far enough, safe enough — or so I hoped.
My body had reached its limit.
I stopped the car somewhere outside the city.
I opened the door… tried to step out…
And then everything faded to black.
I collapsed — unconscious.
**End of Chapter 02**