Chapter 6
The mansion felt suffocating.
Every day…
Every hour…
Jay hated it more.
Hated him more.
"You can't go there."
A guard stopped her.
"Why?"
"It's restricted."
Jay clenched her jaw.
"Everything here is restricted."
She turned away.
Anger boiling inside her.
She walked faster.
Faster.
Until—
A voice stopped her.
"Help…"
Jay froze.
It came from a side room.
Soft.
Broken.
She hesitated.
Then slowly…
She pushed the door open.
And what she saw—
Made her heart drop.
A man.
Tied.
Bruised.
Bleeding.
Barely conscious.
"Oh my God…"
Jay rushed to him instantly.
"Hey… hey…"
He looked at her weakly.
"Water…"
Her eyes filled.
Without thinking…
She untied his hands.
Gave him water.
"It's okay…"
She whispered.
"You're safe…"
Safe.
The word sounded so wrong here.
"Run…"
The man whispered.
"They'll kill you…"
Jay shook her head.
"I'm getting you out."
And she did.
She helped him stand.
Walked him out through the back.
Past guards.
Past danger.
Until he disappeared.
Free.
Jay stood there.
Breathing heavily.
For the first time…
She felt like she did something right.
Something human.
But—
She didn't know.
She had just made the biggest mistake of her life.
Hours later—
The mansion changed.
Silence turned sharp.
Footsteps became louder.
Heavier.
Dangerous.
The door burst open.
Jay flinched.
And then—
She saw him.
Keifer
But not the calm version.
Not the controlled one.
This…
Was something else.
His eyes were dark.
Cold.
Furious.
"Where is he?"
Jay's heart dropped.
"I—"
"Don't lie."
His voice cut through her.
Sharp.
She swallowed.
"I let him go."
Silence.
Dead.
Even the air felt frozen.
"You… did what?"
Jay forced herself to stand straight.
"He was hurt."
"He was begging."
"He needed help!"
"And you decided to give it?"
"Yes!"
A step.
He came closer.
"Do you even know who he was?"
"I don't care!"
"That man…"
His voice dropped dangerously.
"…killed three of my men."
Jay froze.
Her breath stopped.
"And you let him walk out."
Her hands started shaking.
"I… I didn't know…"
"Exactly."
Another step.
Now he stood right in front of her.
Too close.
Too dangerous.
"You don't know this world."
Jay's voice broke.
"But that doesn't mean you get to be a monster!"
Silence.
The word echoed.
Monster.
Again.
Something snapped.
Completely.
In one second—
His hand grabbed her wrist.
Hard.
Jay gasped.
"You think this is a game?"
His voice wasn't loud.
But it was terrifying.
"You think you can walk around… and fix things?"
"I was helping—"
"You were interfering."
His grip tightened.
Pain shot through her arm.
Tears filled her eyes.
"You don't get to decide who lives or dies here."
"I couldn't just leave him!"
"You should have."
Their eyes locked.
Fire.
Fear.
Clash.
"You put everyone here at risk."
Jay's lips trembled.
"I didn't mean to…"
"I don't care what you meant."
Silence.
Then suddenly—
He let go.
Jay stumbled back slightly.
Holding her wrist.
Breathing uneven.
Keifer ran a hand through his hair.
Frustration.
Anger.
Something deeper.
"You don't understand consequences."
Jay whispered—
"Then teach me."
A pause.
A dangerous one.
Keifer looked at her.
Long.
Hard.
Then—
"You will watch."
Her heart dropped.
"Watch what?"
His voice turned cold again.
"What happens… to people who cross me."
Fear crawled up her spine.
Because this time…
She knew.
She had gone too far.
And now—
She was about to see…
Just how cruel he could really be.
End of Chapter 6