> "The greatest monsters wear the cleanest gloves.
But when they slip…
They still bleed."
---
🔍 Scene 1 — The Interrogation Setup
Two days after the Tower Trials, Lena Voss requested a private "team review."
Everyone found it normal.
Except Aric.
> She never does anything without reason.
If she's calling a meeting alone…
Someone's about to be exposed.
They gathered in the strategy chamber — Lena, Aric, Myles, Darin, Cassia.
The door locked from inside.
Lena stood calmly, hands behind her back. "We need to clear the air. Something's wrong in this team."
Aric smiled faintly. "You noticed?"
Lena ignored the jab. "Someone has been leaking information. Internal strategies. Secrets. Even… manipulation reports."
Cassia shifted uncomfortably.
Lena walked toward the table. Threw down a parchment.
The drawing.
The same one Cassia received — Aric with "VOX" on his chest, fire all around.
Lena's voice was ice. "Care to explain this?"
---
🧠Scene 2 — The Power Play Begins
Everyone stared at Aric.
Darin crossed his arms. "Looks like you've been playing your own game."
Myles grinned nervously. "Guess the quiet guy has secrets."
Aric didn't panic. Didn't blink.
He picked up the drawing. Studied it.
> "I didn't draw it," he said quietly. "But someone clearly wants you to fear me."
Lena slammed her fist on the table. "Don't turn this around."
Aric's voice dropped. Calm, chilling.
> "Why not?
Is it because for the first time…
You're not the one controlling the pieces?"
A pause.
Tension rippled like lightning.
Then Lena pulled out something new: a vial of blue serum.
Cassia gasped. "That's Truth Bane."
Lena nodded. "One drop… and lies burn the tongue."
She handed it to Aric.
"Prove it," she said.
---
🩸 Scene 3 — Blood Spilled
Aric took the vial. Rolled it between his fingers.
He smirked.
And drank.
Nothing happened.
> "I didn't draw it," he said.
Truth confirmed.
Lena's jaw tensed.
> "But you knew what it meant, didn't you?" she asked.
"I guessed."
"Guessed what?"
Aric stepped closer.
> "That something came back with me.
And it wants me to remember."
The room froze.
Then Darin growled, "This is insane. We're wasting time."
He stepped toward Lena. "Just give the order. We'll handle him."
"Like you handled the Tower Beast?" Aric snapped.
Darin lunged.
Aric moved faster.
A punch. A dodge.
Darin tripped over a chair—
—and landed on Cassia's blade.
Silence.
Blood.
Darin gasped, red spilling from his chest.
Cassia stared, eyes wide.
"No—no I didn't mean—"
Darin slumped. Still. Lifeless.
---
⚰️ Scene 4 — Aftermath
Time slowed.
Myles screamed.
Lena backed away, stunned.
Cassia dropped the blade. "I… I didn't mean to—he came too fast—he—he—"
Aric caught her before she collapsed.
"It wasn't your fault," he whispered. "It was hers."
He looked straight at Lena.
"You created this moment. You triggered it. You made her kill."
Lena opened her mouth—but said nothing.
---
📓 Scene 5 — Notebook Update
That night, Aric wrote silently.
"Phase 4: First Blood"
Darin: Removed âś…
Cassia: Trauma Imprint âś…
Lena: Emotionally destabilized âś…
Myles: Fear rising
Public suspicion: Still under control
He paused.
Then added:
> "The first blood was never meant to be mine.
But now it stains them all."
---
🧠Scene 6 — Cassia's Spiral
Cassia didn't speak for hours. Aric stayed near her.
When she finally spoke, her voice was cracked.
"I killed someone."
Aric replied, "No. Lena did."
"I stabbed him."
"He made you. He threatened you. He lunged."
She looked at him. "How are you not afraid?"
"I am," Aric said. "I'm afraid of what happens if I stop moving.
If I stop planning.
If I let them win."
She stared.
Then nodded.
> She's broken now.
But the broken ones are easier to mold.
---