"Bang!"
As the gunshot echoed, Sophie felt a gust of wind rush past her ear, followed by a ringing that made everything around her seem eerily quiet. To her relief, the bullet hadn't hit her. Colby, who had appeared from seemingly nowhere, had already taken down the bodyguard, snapping his neck before Sophie could even register what was happening.
The gunshot was just a desperate, off-target attempt by the dying guard.
Colby, dressed sharply in a suit with a black masquerade mask, was unmistakable to Sophie, even in disguise.
"Let's get out of here!" he urged.
There was no time to linger. The bodyguard had triggered an alarm, and within two minutes, security would be swarming the second floor. Sophie and Colby sprinted towards the exit, weaving through the chaos on the first floor until they melted into the crowd.
But escape wasn't going to be easy. The main doors had already been sealed, and guards were closing in from every direction.
Sophie, muddled from inhaling too much gas, felt her mind drift. Her thoughts were a blur, her legs wobbly like she was walking on clouds. She focused on the warmth of Colby's hand gripping hers, sparking a memory of someone else who once held her hand just like this.
Who was it?
The memory was hazy, like something from a dream. The image of a young man, fleeting and surreal, danced in her mind—almost as if it never happened, just a figment of her imagination.
Around them, panic reigned. The wealthy guests were in a frenzy, their screams filling the air.
Colby clutched her hand firmly, steering them towards the main doors. Despite the lockdown, one sharp whistle from Colby sent the castle's exterior into disorder as well.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Revenge is best served cold