The countdown on her burner phone blinked ominously: 4 days. It felt like each digit was a heartbeat—steady, urgent, impossible to ignore.
Yasmine sat on the edge of her bed in the dim light of her apartment, the city humming beyond her window. The sketch of Amaya sat face-up on her desk, unfinished but alive. The lines were soft—more compassionate than anything she'd ever drawn. She reached out, fingertips brushing the graphite, and closed her eyes.
Amaya's laughter. Amaya's tears. Amaya's hand in mine.
She swallowed hard and looked at the message again:
Your mission must be completed tonight. No exceptions.
Tonight.
Late Afternoon – Ridgewood High
Amaya hovered at her locker, jaw clenched. Every time she thought she'd turned a corner, doubts clawed their way back. She'd forgiven Yasmine, tentatively—more out of her own restlessness than any truce offered—but the questions never stopped.
Was Yasmine telling the truth? Could she trust a killer?
Her phone buzzed.
Yasmine:Meet me at the art club. ASAP.
Amaya's heart caught. She closed her locker and hurried toward the art room.
Art Club Room – 4:30 PM
Yasmine stood by the window, nervously tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. The room was nearly empty, save for scattered art supplies and a few half-done canvases.
"Hey," Amaya said, stepping inside. "You sounded urgent."
Yasmine glanced at her, eyes wide. "I… I need your help."
Amaya's brow rose. "With what?"
Yasmine took a shaky breath. "I can't do it. I can't kill him."
Amaya's stomach dropped. "What are you talking about?"
"My mission… Kai Donner. I'm supposed to kill him tonight. I can't."
Amaya's breath caught. "You… why not?"
Yasmine's gaze dropped. "Because you matter more. Because he… he doesn't deserve this. I—"
"Wait." Amaya's voice was sharp. "So all those weeks you lied—everything you did, all the sketches, all the talk—you just…?"
Yasmine shook her head. "No. None of that was a lie. I meant every word when I said I didn't want to hurt you. But my orders are orders."
Amaya closed her eyes, furious. "You expect me to help you stop a killer?"
Yasmine's lip trembled. "Please. I don't know what else to do."
Corridor Outside Art Room
Amaya grabbed Yasmine's hand and pulled her into the hallway. "Okay—okay." She exhaled. "First: what exactly are we doing?"
Yasmine swallowed, voice low. "I need a distraction. Something to draw him away, give me a clear shot at stopping him before he—"
"Before he kills him," Amaya finished.
Yasmine gave a small nod.
Amaya stepped back, thinking fast. "The east wing? That's where he said we should meet."
Yasmine's eyes went wide. "He expects me there."
"What time?"
"Midnight."
Amaya's heart slammed. It was already 5 PM. "That gives us seven hours. We can make a plan."
Evening – Amaya's House
Amaya and Yasmine crouched in Amaya's bedroom—the one decorated with Raven posters and ribbons from cheer competitions. Amaya's textbooks lay forgotten on the floor.
"I'll call a fake alarm," Amaya said, scrawling notes. "Smoke in the east wing—it'll clear everyone out. Fire alarms, sprinklers… full evacuation. He'll think it's the real deal."
Yasmine frowned. "But security will be on high alert. Cameras, guards—"
"Which is why we need to be quick." Amaya grabbed her phone. "I can hack the alarm panel. I've done it before—school retreats, trust me."
"I don't know if that's legal," Yasmine muttered.
"Legal, illegal—it's the only way to save him." Amaya's eyes burned with resolve.
Yasmine nodded. "Okay. And after the alarm… I stop him?"
Heat rose in Amaya's cheeks. "I'll lead security to the east wing. You hover at the junction to the locker rooms. Stop him however you can. I'll do my best to cover for you."
Yasmine's hand tightened around hers. "And what about you?"
Amaya swallowed. "I'll be there too. I—" She paused, voice catching. "I'll keep an eye on you. If anything goes wrong…"
Yasmine stepped forward, brushing a kiss against Amaya's temple. "Thank you."
Night – Ridgewood High
At 11:50 PM, Amaya slipped in through a side door she'd pried open earlier. The halls were deserted, lit in blinking emergency-orange.
She crept to the alarm control panel by the east wing entrance. Her fingers flew over the keypad, entering the override code she'd memorized. The fire alarms roared to life.
Lights flashed. Sirens wailed. A plume of artificial smoke hissed from the vents.
"Now," she murmured into her comm.
East Wing Hallway
In the chaos—students and staff evacuating, lights flickering—Yasmine moved like a shadow. She pressed herself against the wall near the locker rooms, eyes scanning.
Moments later, she saw him: Kai Donner, jogging down the hall, confusion and concern on his face.
"Miss Rivera?" he called, spotting Amaya slipping ahead. "What's happening?"
"I'm the one who set it off," Yasmine said, voice low but urgent. "You need to come with me—now!"
Kai hesitated, but the building shook with the weight of the alarm. He followed her into a small maintenance closet.
Maintenance Closet
Yasmine locked the door behind them. Kai's eyes widened.
"Yasmine? What's going on?"
Amaya's footsteps pounded outside. Yasmine held up a finger. "Just… stand back."
She reached into her jacket—no weapon, nothing that looked deadly. She grabbed Kai's shoulders, looking into his eyes.
"I would never hurt you," she said, voice trembling. "But someone sent me. And you're in danger. There's a hit on you."
Kai's brow furrowed. "What? Who—?"
Amaya burst in, breathless. "He's serious. Security's about to sweep this wing. You have to come."
"Hang on a second," Kai said, bewildered. "Yasmine—"
Yasmine took a steadying breath. "I'm not your enemy."
Kai looked between them. "I don't understand."
Amaya reached out, pulling Kai's arm. "No time. You both need to leave, now."
Hallway Outside
Sirens blared as the three sprinted down the corridor. Security guards rushed past, heading deeper into the wing. Amaya led Kai down the fire escape stairs as Yasmine followed, heart pounding.
Outside, the smoke was thick. The night air stung their eyes.
Amaya guided them away from the east exit. "This way," she said.
She saw the front doors to the maintenance exit swinging open. A guard stepped out, mouth open.
"Stop right there!" he yelled.
But Amaya held up her hand. "He's with me, Officer. Medical emergency—he needs help."
The guard hesitated, then nodded. "Go, go. I'll cover."
Outside – Ridgewood Front Gate
They burst into the cool night. Kai gasped for air, clutching his chest.
"Amaya—Yasmine—what—" He tried to speak but choked.
Yasmine sank to her knees. "I'm so sorry," she said, tears in her eyes. "I… I couldn't do it. I couldn't kill you."
Kai's eyes were wide with disbelief. "Yasmine…?"
Amaya wrapped an arm around him. "It's okay. You're safe."
Yasmine pulled out her phone, hands trembling. She crossed out the countdown message on the screen, then smashed the phone underfoot.
No more deadlines.
That Night – Aftermath
Amaya and Kai sat together at the park bench by the pond, Yasmine beside them, silent but present. The fire trucks and alarms were gone. The emergency passed.
Kai put an arm around Amaya's shoulders. "What the hell just happened?"
Amaya squeezed. "A long story."
Yasmine reached into her bag and pulled out the sketchbook. She found the page with Amaya's portrait—eyes open now, full of life—and tore it out. With a swift motion, she ripped it in two.
Amaya gasped. "No—"
Yasmine held up the two halves. "I'm done hiding. No more secrets."
She gathered the pieces, folded them, and pressed them into Amaya's hand.
Amaya stared. "I… I can't believe you."
Yasmine's voice was barely a whisper. "Believe in me now."
Amaya looked at Kai, then back to Yasmine. The night was still, the pond's water calm.
And for the first time since Yasmine arrived, Amaya felt hope.