Amara's POV
I ended the video call and collapsed onto my bed, immediately pulling up everything I could find on Dominic.
Dark Abyss Penitentiary—better known as the Realm of the Souls Dead—sat on some godforsaken island in the middle of nowhere in the Azure Sea.
The place was packed with heavy hitters: corrupt politicians, billionaire scumbags, psycho scientists, and stone-cold murderers.
Every single prisoner was a major league player, hoarding secrets that could buy and sell entire nations.
And then there was Dominic.
His file made him look like your average spoiled rich boy from Aethelgard.
Academy school dropout, spent some years as military grunt work, then struck it lucky with some startup.
After that? Nothing but failures—several businesses that crashed and burned, one right after the other.
To everyone else, Dominic was just another trust-fund baby who couldn't make it stick.
But Dark Abyss had him locked up like he was the crown jewels. His records? Classified beyond belief.
Before they even got him through the doors, his system was swimming with NX-5 neurotoxin.
The prison brass pulled every string they could, secretly scrambling for an antidote just to keep him alive. That's what got my attention in the first place.
I knew this guy was hiding something massive.
The next morning, I jogged back to the house early and walked straight into the Hopper family circus.
Winston, his wife, and their precious daughter Seraphine were having breakfast together.
Usually, the Elands didn't crawl out of bed for breakfast until later in the morning, and I was already long gone by then—up early for my run, back to my room without bothering with pleasantries.
We lived under the same roof but in completely different universes.
Today, though, fate decided to throw us together.
Winston ignored the death stares from his wife and daughter and flashed me a smile. "Morning, Amara! Early bird today? Come sit, eat something."
"Thanks, but I'll pass," I said, shaking my head. "Got school today. Just need to shower and I'm gone."
Seraphine's lips curled into that familiar sneer. "School? That's hilarious. Everyone knows you dropped out last year. You're either off gallivanting somewhere exotic or hiding in the attic like some hermit. Since when do you give a damn about education?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Figured you'd be thrilled I'm getting out of your hair. Less competition for daddy's attention."
Seraphine let out a bitter laugh. "I'd throw a party if you disappeared permanently."
"Seraphine!" Winston's voice cut through the air like a whip. "She's your sister!"
Seraphine's eyes blazed with leftover rage from whatever drama went down last night. "Mom has one daughter, and it's not some charity case you decided to take in!"
Winston's face hardened. He turned to me, trying to smooth things over. "Hey, let me have the driver take you."
Seraphine jumped in before he could finish. "Excuse me? I have shopping plans today. If the driver's busy playing taxi for her, how am I supposed to get around?"
"Seraphine—" Winston started, but I cut him off.
"I'll grab an Uber," I said, keeping my voice completely neutral.
Seraphine's mouth twisted into that smug little victory grin, but it faltered when she realized I wasn't even looking at her.
My cool stare was locked on Winston.
Winston went completely still, his expression turning to stone. Then, without warning, he slammed his fist down and shot to his feet. "Seraphine, if you hate being here so much, pack your shit and go back overseas!"
Seraphine's mouth fell open. "Dad, you're seriously choosing her over your own daughter?"
Morgana, Seraphine's mother, looked ready to explode, but before she could say a word, Winston kicked the table over.
Dishes, glasses, and cutlery went flying, crashing to the floor in a spectacular mess.
"If you can't show some respect, then get out!" he bellowed.
He took a breath, dialed it back, and turned to me. "Amara, ignore them. This is your home, it always will be. Anything you need, you come straight to me, understand?"
I tilted my head, catching the pure hatred radiating from Seraphine and Morgana.
A small smile played on my lips. I wasn't buying his performance for a second. "Winston, I hope you remember what I told you last night. Cross me, and I won't be nearly so understanding."
Winston opened his mouth to respond, but I was already heading upstairs.
"Dad, what the hell is wrong with you?" Seraphine whined behind me.
The sharp crack of his hand meeting her cheek echoed through the house.
"I told you to shut your mouth!"
Seraphine's outraged sobs followed me up the stairs, but I didn't look back.
I knew Winston's tough-guy routine was all for show.
The man was selfish, fake, and about as reliable as a chocolate teapot.
Back in my room, I fired off a quick text: Swing by the Hopper house to pick me up.
I tossed my phone on the desk without waiting for a response and headed for the shower.
A short while later, a sleek black van pulled up outside.
I slid into the backseat.
"Merida Academy," I told the driver.
The driver hesitated, then spoke quietly. "Boss, Mr. Radcliffe says to watch your back."
My hand froze over my phone. "How does he know about the injury?"
The driver shook his head. "You know I don't ask questions about Mr. Radcliffe's business."
I nodded, getting the message loud and clear.
I pulled out my phone, accessed a hidden system, and opened an app with a triangular logo.
The homepage loaded with a chat group called Bestiary. The moment I logged in, someone messaged me.
Heron: [Well, well, look who's risen from the dead!]
I took a steady breath and typed back.
Blue sophiae: [What's that supposed to mean?]
No need for details—Heron knew exactly what I was asking.
Heron: Just curious, you know? Word is you got loaned out to Dark Abyss Penitentiary for a security upgrade, but some prisoner got the jump on you, broke your hand, then vanished into thin air.
[So who's this mystery badass? They keeping King Kong locked up in there?]
Falcon: [Wait, BT got her hand broken?]
Cygnus: [Was that on purpose, or did you screw up?]
My fingers hovered over the keyboard.
Within seconds, the chat exploded with dozens of messages. My injury was clearly the hottest gossip going around.
I wasn't sure how to play this. Finally, I typed: [The hostage situation was planned. The broken hand was an accident.]
Cygnus: [Seriously?]
Blue sophiae: [My business.]
I left the group chat and sent a private message to someone labeled "Master Prime."
[Dark Abyss Penitentiary was a fluke. I'm fine now.]
As expected, no response came.
I sank back into the leather seat, my voice casual but with an edge. "Pull surveillance on Dominic. Start looking for anyone whose timeline matches when he went dark."
The driver's eyes flicked to the rearview mirror. "You thinking..."
I let out a sharp laugh. "Who knows what kind of dirty games he's been playing?"
For Dark Abyss Penitentiary to be that obsessed with him, Dominic was definitely not small-time.
Maybe he was some major player—hero, villain, didn't really matter.
"Consider it done," the driver said.
Soon after, I got out at Merida Academy's front entrance.
Across the street, a new shop caught my attention.
The black and white sign read "AMA Hub"—though without context, it looked like some trendy café.
The place was still under construction, but a bright LED screen outside was cycling through their services: [Phone repairs, printing, nuclear submarine maintenance, missile polishing, satellite cleaning...]
A platinum-haired guy strolled out, radiating effortless confidence, and waved in my direction. "Morning!"
I stopped dead in my tracks. It was Dominic.
With students flooding in for morning classes, his movie-star looks and dangerous charm were drawing attention like moths to flame.
Whispers erupted around me.
"Holy shit, he's gorgeous!"
"When did our neighborhood get someone that hot?"
"Who's he waving at?"
Feeling the stares starting to shift my way, I pulled my cap down low and rushed through the school gates.
---
Dominic's POV
I dragged a chair outside, propped my feet up with casual arrogance, and pulled out my phone, sending a friend request to Amara.