Cloaked in Deception

As we drove our sleek Bugatti up to the front of the opulent hotel, I felt the hum of the powerful engine reverberating through my bones, the cool leather seats against my back, providing a sense of luxurious comfort. A valet, handsome and courteous, approached us with a genial smile, his hand extended for the keys. As I passed them to him, I took a moment to soak in the grandeur of the hotel. Its elegant architecture was bathed in a soft glow, the gilded details glittering under the illumination. I could hear the murmur of excited chatter from the cameramen, their questions creating a cacophony of curiosity, adding to the tantalizing atmosphere of anticipation.

My heart pounded in my chest as Michelle and I stepped onto the plush red carpet. Camera flashes were like bursts of lightning against the evening sky, their intensity stinging my eyes. The sharp scent of burnt ozone filled my nostrils, a byproduct of the incessant camera flashes.

Despite this, Michelle was a beacon of radiance beside me. She danced a little, her joy palpable, radiant in her stunning black evening gown, was the picture of elegance and excitement. As the flash of the cameras played upon her alluring figure and her captivating mask, I could see the excitement twinkling in her eyes. The pleasure she took from this grand entrance was visible. It seemed as if the camera flashes and the murmuring crowd were feeding her energy, causing her to sparkle even more.

Her perfume wafted around us, a blend of exotic flowers and an undertone of sweet vanilla, grounding me amidst the sensory overload. I could taste the excitement in the air, a distinct tang on the tip of my tongue.

As the cold night breeze whisked away the mixed perfumes from the crowd, the scent of Michelle's fragrance remained, grounding me in the reality of the moment. Each flash, each step, each heartbeat seemed to bring us deeper into this world of superhumans, the dazzling spectacle drawing us into its enticing embrace.

The towering glass doors of the hotel loomed ahead, guarded by two muscular bodyguards. Their synchronized movement as they opened the doors was a silent testament to their training and discipline. As we stepped into the hotel's lobby, a gust of cool air greeted us, carrying with it the distinct scent of polished wood and fresh flowers, a stark contrast to the cold city air outside.

Inside the lavishly decorated lobby, a line of individuals marked as superhumans snaked towards a peculiar machine. Each bore the BtP logo on an armband. The low hum of the machine was a steady undertone to the buzz of the room. It was checking something - energy levels, I presumed. The taste of anticipation hung heavily in the air. I could hear the soft beep of the machine, followed by murmurs of conversation. A superhuman would step forward, the machine would hum and beep, and then they would move on. It was a rhythm that filled the lobby, each beat only escalating the palpable excitement and tension.

We were in the back of the line heading for the entrance, and Michelle stood right next to me. Michelle's warm, white hand hooked onto my arm. She was wearing a stunning black evening gown that perfectly accentuated her figure, parts of her body, including her bare back, showcasing her flawless, tempting, and bewitching white skin to anyone who glimpsed at her. I'd bet that no man could resist her, especially with her beautiful mask that accentuated the sharpness of Michelle's chin and the shape of her red lips.

Another thing that amazed me was the mask made by the sensei, which could simply be placed on the face and would stick and feel warm, as if it was part of the facial skin. According to Michelle, the sensei's mask could only be worn by the owner who donated blood to create that mask.

She said that with the perfect superhuman result mask on my face and the original arm strap, I could flawlessly pass their energy sensor device. The device tightly wrapped around my left arm, giving a slightly uncomfortable feeling.

(I always wanted to wear this and become a superhuman, but not in this way.)

We walked towards the entrance queue, and it was clear that a few couples were in front of us waiting to be checked by the machine, I could only smile to hide my pounding heart. Suddenly, I felt Michelle's hand tighten and grip my arm hard, pulling me close to her so she could whisper in my ear, "I made a mistake, they should be using a door-shaped checking device so that we could just pass through and the machine would capture the highest energy from the whole body."

My heart almost stopped, a slight mistake and I would end up in hell. I looked forward and saw a machine where they seemed to place their palms to be scanned. "Are they using fingerprint scans?" I asked worriedly in a whisper, "We need to get out of this line now."

Michelle looked at me, clearly confused and a bit panicked, "No, they're just checking the energy coming from the palms."

"It's the same thing then, I need to get out of this line now, and you know why," I whispered anxiously and restlessly, if a door-shaped sensor would capture the energy from my mask and let me in, my palms wouldn't have the energy to back me up as a superhuman.

"That's not possible anymore," Michelle replied, "And now smile, don't look scared." I could feel Michelle's arm clutching me tightly, afraid I might flee, and obviously, we were now second in line, which had now become the first. It was no longer possible to turn back without arousing suspicion.

The guards allowed us to place our palms. Two of these waist-high machines were located on the left and right of the entrance door. I had to put my right palm on its glass screen now or never. Cold sweat trickled down my forehead and I could feel my breath getting heavy. The machine to Michelle's left buzzed and displayed a green color with the words "Please enter". Meanwhile, my hand was still hanging over the machine.

(To become a rabbit or to turn back now!)

Just then, I decided to turn back and raise my trembling hand away from the device, turning my head to Michelle, "Darling, I think I'm feeling unwell. What if I just go back now before I embarrass myself by fainting at the party," I said a bit loudly so the guards could hear, hoping they might understand if I left now.

I was about to step out and pull Michelle with me if it wasn't for a woman behind me tapping my shoulder and saying, "Sir, my friend here is a healer, come in and let her heal you." I paused briefly looking at the two masked women behind me, wanting to curse their kindness which now put me in a difficult position.

Before I could reply with a "No, thank you". Someone from behind the girl's line began to grumble, "Get in quickly, friend, and you can decide to go back once you're inside, but don't block the entrance." Sweat poured down my forehead and I was completely helpless, they were blocking my way out and the guards were starting to look suspicious. I could only hope that this mask would work well.

(Oh God, help your servant trapped at this gate of death.)

My body immediately turned back to face the entrance and kept holding Michelle's arm in the other hand, hoping she would send any energy that would make me a little above normal. My hand was back on the sensor machine, hanging a few centimeters. My eyes glanced at the black-jacketed guards who were starting to look at me suspiciously.

Will I become a rabbit because of the LXX and that stupid agreement? All of this was clearly not in my plans.

Neither was the plan to have an LXX SMARTPHONE. Deep down, I was still questioning whether I was a superhuman or not. Part of me still believed that I was a superhuman, wanted and so wanted it to be real. I looked at the checker machine and my heart was pounding.

Now is the time to prove whether I am a chick or an eagle, a superhuman or a normal human. Everything will be answered by this machine. The opportunity will not come a second time even though the risk of failing this time would endanger my life but... I also no longer have the choice to back down.

(This is the moment to fly or sink.)

Sweating cold, I decided to put my palm on the machine. The moment of truth about who I really am was ready.

"Pipp," the machine beeped, the light on the screen turned red and showed the sign, "No." Even though I had suspected this, my heart felt like it stopped right then and there. Just a few seconds and I had signed my admission ticket to the Research Division. Also proving that I am not a superhuman at all.

(I am a normal human!!!!)

The guards and those behind me looked alert and stared at me full of questions. A guard in front of me immediately went on alert and pulled out a stun gun from the holster on his belt, "Sir, I think you should come with us."

My history ends here.

"Pip..." The scan machine started doing its job again and once again detected my palm on it. This time the machine emitted a green light with the words "Please enter." Instantly, everyone stopped and the officer who was about to pull me paused for a moment. One of his colleagues quickly pulled out a small device like a 50 cm long stick and brought it close to my upper arm band.

"Pip," the machine beeped and showed the authenticity of the BtP arm band. The guard and his colleague embarrassedly lowered their heads and said, "We apologize, Sir, machine error, please enter now."

"It's okay, my energy is a little weak because I'm sick," I said, leaving them behind. My heart was pounding again, I didn't know what happened but I had narrowly escaped from a tiger's nest. "What happened?" I asked Michelle as we walked. Michelle remained silent and seemed to think hard before saying, " I try to use my supremacy over you."

"Supremacy?"

"The explanation is a bit complicated ... but basically, I channeled my energy to you," said Michelle.

"Okay whatever it is, I never want to do it again," I said, "And now tell me what should I do?" I want all of this to be over quickly so I can get back to where I'm supposed to be, my home and my life, not this place for superhumans. Michelle glanced around and pulled me into the elevator, "Accompany me a little longer to introduce you to some of my friends after that you can do whatever you want."

Do whatever I want? I just want to go home as soon as possible.