The chilly wind bit at my skin as I stepped out of the car, Kyle lingered behind me with his usual unreadable expression. It was a miracle I didn't encounter Judas. The coat he'd given me still hung heavy around my shoulders. My breath fogged in the early morning air, and I clenched my fingers around the small, inconspicuous flash drive tucked safely into the pocket of my jeans.
Ivan must be waiting. As I walked toward the cafetaria, my mind raced. Judas was a monster, something worse. A shadow that crept into places no one dared to go.
I stepped inside the cafeteria where several students were gathered. To my relief I didn't find Alina. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee did little to calm the nausea churning in my stomach. There, in the back corner, he sat. Ivan.
Tall, brown-haired, and impeccably dressed, his smile was warm but soulless. His eyes pierced through me as I approached him. He rose, his gaze sliding over me, lingering a fraction too long, making my skin crawl.
"Sera," he greeted, his voice smooth as silk. "You look… tired."
I didn't respond, slipping into the chair opposite him. My heart hammered in my chest, but my face remained blank. I couldn't let him see my fear. Not today. Today, I wasn't the shattered girl who Judas had broken. Today, I was someone who would make sure Ivan paid for everything.
Judas said Ivan was spying on us last night. Was he saying that to scare me? Or… how much of it was truth.
"I have something for you." I pulled the flash drive from my pocket and placed it on the table between us, the cold metal a stark contrast to the warmth of the room. Ivan's eyes flicked to it, his smile widening.
"His files?" he asked, leaning back casually in his chair. His hands drummed lightly on the table, a silent rhythm that sent shivers down my spine. "You went through all this trouble for me?"
I didn't answer right away, my fingers tightening around the edge of my chair. "You said you wanted proof, right? That's it. Everything you need to bring him down."
Ivan's smile didn't falter, but there was something darker lurking beneath it now. He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "And what about you, Seraphina? What are you going to do once Judas is gone? Run? Hide?"
"I don't care," I replied, my voice sharper than I intended. "Judas deserves hell."
His eyes flickered with amusement. He let out a low chuckle, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from my face. I jerked back instinctively, but his hand hovered just close enough to make my skin crawl. "Oh, darling," he murmured. "You think this is enough, don't you?"
"I know enough." My throat tightened as I spoke, but I refused to show weakness.
"Judas is a monster, Sera. A rapist. A murderer. And he'll rot in prison once we have enough proof. And this pen drive and few reports will not be enough."
He tilted his head, feigning curiosity, but there was nothing but calculation in his eyes. "Prison, hmm? You're still so naive. Do you really think that's how this ends?"
My heart pounded as he leaned even closer, his voice a soft, venomous whisper. "I have connections, Sera. I have plans. Do you think I haven't considered every possible outcome?"
His words slithered into my mind, wrapping around my thoughts like poison. He was lying. He had to be. But the confidence in his voice, the certainty, made my stomach twist in knots. I couldn't let him manipulate me.
"But you said," I began, my voice low and controlled, "Once the evidence gets out, there's no escaping this."
He chuckled again, more amused than before. "You're so sure of yourself, aren't you?" He leaned back, his hands resting casually on the table. "But what if I told you there was another way?"
I narrowed my eyes, my body tensing as he reached for my trembling hands. "We could leave, you and I. Run away from all of this. Forget Judas. Forget Lucius. I have a plan." His voice softened, taking on a more lower tone. "In two days, we could be on a plane to Switzerland. I'd keep you safe. Your family safe. We could start over… somewhere far away, somewhere they can't touch us."
My heart stuttered at his words, but I quickly shoved the feeling aside.
I met his gaze. The hole in my chest expanded.
I clenched my hands into fists, my nails biting into my palms as I fought to keep my composure. His words slithered into my mind, tempting, dangerous. Could he be telling the truth? Could he really protect me from Judas, from Lucius? The idea of leaving everything behind, of disappearing into the quiet, snowy peaks of Switzerland, sounded so peaceful in that moment, so simple. But it was a lie. It had to be.
"I'm not running," I said, though my voice faltered. "I've already made my decision."
Ivan sighed, his smile fading just slightly. He leaned back again, folding his arms across his chest. "You're braver than I thought, Seraphina," he murmured, his tone almost admiring. "But bravery will only get you so far. You're playing a dangerous game. And I assure you, Judas is always ten steps ahead. Always.
I swallowed hard, hating the way his words made my chest tighten with doubt. I had to believe in the plan, in the files I'd gathered, in the evidence that could finally bring Judas down. But Ivan's calm, calculating gaze made it feel like I was standing on a precipice, one wrong move away from falling into an abyss I couldn't escape.
He pushed the flash drive toward me, the small piece of metal sliding across the table with a soft scrape. "This… this is nothing," he said softly. "A fucking trinket. A distraction. You don't think Judas hasn't prepared for this? Do you think he doesn't know what's on that drive? He's waiting for you to use it, Sera."
My breath caught in my throat, my pulse racing. Could he be right? Did Judas already know? Was this whole thing just a trap? If this was, why did he let me come here?
I shook my head, trying to clear the fog of fear that was creeping into my mind. "You're lying."
His lips curved into a small, knowing smile. He reached out again, this time his hand resting lightly on top of mine. I flinched but didn't pull away.
"I'm not your enemy," he whispered, his voice so soft it was almost a caress. "I know you're scared. I know you've been hurt. But trust me, Seraphina. Trust me, and I'll get you out of this."
I wanted to scream, to tell him to stop, to shove him away, but his hand was warm, grounding me in a way that felt terrifyingly comforting. The room seemed to spin around me, the weight of everything crashing down all at once. Could I really trust him? Could I afford not to?
His thumb gently brushed against the back of my hand, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Just say yes, Sera. Say yes, and I'll make sure you never have to fear Judas or Lucius again."
The air between us was thick, suffocating. His offer echoed in my mind. Two days. Switzerland. Freedom.
For a long moment, I stared at him, at the way his eyes gleamed with something dark and dangerous. The pull was there, undeniable. I had spent so long being afraid, so long trapped in the shadows of Judas's world. The idea of escape, of finally being free…
I bit my lip, trying to shake off the dizzying spell he was weaving around me. But I couldn't think straight. My hands were trembling. My pulse was pounding in my ears. His touch was still on my skin, warm, reassuring in a way that felt wrong but oh so tempting.
"I…" My voice cracked, and I cursed myself for the hesitation, for the doubt that was creeping in. "I can't…"
Ivan's smile widened, his grip tightening just slightly on my hand. "You can," he whispered, leaning in closer, his breath ghosting over my ear. "You deserve better than this. Better than Romanovski. Better than the pain. Just let go, Sera. Let me protect you."
And just like that, the walls I had built to keep myself from falling crumbled.
My heart shattered. I didn't know if it was the fear, the exhaustion, or the poisonous allure of his words, but something inside me gave in. I nodded, barely, but it was enough.
Ivan's smile turned triumphant. "Good girl," he murmured, his voice low and approving. "You won't regret this."
I felt a strange numbness creep over me as his hand slid away from mine, as he rose from his chair. I had made a choice, and I couldn't take it back. I had just handed myself over to him.