The Arena

The arena stood like a temple to chaos, at the center stood octagonal ring bathed in stark white light at its centre. The leather seats surrounding it rose in calculated tiers, their luxurious cushioning was far more comfortable, a contrast to the brutality about to unfold. Every detail was desgined for the affluent spectators who had gathered to observe suffering presented as entertainment.

Donovan Magnum, one of the orchestrators of such blood-soaked events, wasn't content to watch from the shadows tonight. For the first time in years, he'd step into the ring himself—a move that stirred the evening withan undercurrent of uncertainty, making elites and high-ranking politicians take part.

At Sky Tower, one could feel the excitement in the air. Men clad in tailored suits toasted with their glasses of fine whiskey, rum, and a variety of other drinks, while women in glimmering cocktail gowns weaved through the gathering. Their grins were as pointed as the heels of their stilettos. This wasn't just a fight—it was a spectacle masquerading to be classy.

But far from the glittering chaos, on Rachel's terrace, tension was about to simmer in a quieter form. Daran's phone buzzed where it lay beside him, the notification glowing coldly against the darkened screen.

Holding his phone, he noticed the caller ID displayed a blocked number. It was the type of call that bore the burden of unfortunate news even before you picked up.

Daran remained silent while answering the phone, and there was quietness on the line. It seemed as though both individuals were deliberating in their minds about who would break the silence and disclose their real intentions. After a moment, the person on the other end started to talk.

"I'm sending the Li a present," a distorted voice on the other endannounced.The voice was artificial, garbled, a alteration to conceal the identity of the speaker while enhancing its threat.

The line clicked dead before Daran had a chance to reply. For a brief moment, he gazed at the phone, the phrases of the speaker echoed in his thoughts like a record stuck on repeat.

Rachel settled comfortably in the lounge area, noticed his troubled expression and moved in closer, and concern etched on her face. "Who was it?"

His jaw tightened. Daran didn't answer immediately. He glanced at the living room, where Liora sat with her headphones on, her head swaying slightly to the music. She looked so at ease, so untouched by the storm brewing around her.

"Someone who has a death wish."

The phone buzzed again. This time, it wasn't a call but a message—an MMS. Daran swiped it open with a thumb without a second thought.

The video started playing, and as the first frames appeared, his entire body tensed. Rachel leaned over his shoulder, her breath hitching. What they saw made her raise a trembling hand to cover her mouth.

The footage of the video paired with audio was a crafted to create a nightmare, to seep into their bones. It wasn't just meant to frighten—it was meant to haunt.

At the end, bold text scrawled across the screen:

'If you liked the video. Give likes and thumbs up, and subscribe!'

Then it shifted, the final message burning itself into their minds:

'STAY AWAY.'

Rachel exhaled sharply, shaking her head, "How cruel."

"Hmmm," Daran replied, his gaze flicking toward the living room where Liora sat, her headphones on, blissfully unaware. "It's a warning for Liora. She'll face the same consequences if she attempts to reach out to Alice."

"How did they manage to get your number?" Rachel inquired, twitching her lips.

"I provided it to the detective in case they required any further assistance. Let's just say I shared mine before they attempted to gather information on Liora."

The video automatically deleted itself as soon as the message ended, leaving no trace behind.

Rachel laughed derisively, "How is it that you guys made an enemy just in one day of being in Valtham?!" Rachel whispered mockingly.

Daran drew in long, steady breaths, attempting to calm the whirlwind of emotions overwhelming him.

"All thanks to you and the red dress."

Hearing Daran's response, Rachel rolled her eyes, "Yeah, I got it, Daran from the very beginning."

"What should we tell Liora about Alice?" Daran asked, his gaze locked on Liora. "She would definitely want to meet Alice."

"Let's make sure her attention is directed towards Sven and Caspian. Even if it means assisting Caspian in finding Liora."

Daran reacted angrily and glared at Rachel, to which Rachel furrowed her brows, create a safe a distance from him, "What? It's better than her meeting the same fate as the person in the video."

Daran harboured animosity towards Caspian. Rachel had informed him about his relationship with Pearl Sinclair, a Sinclair whose grandfather is close to the President. Not only that, but Pearl also has a tendency to hurt anyone who tries to get too close to Caspian and James.

Daran pondered the situation thoroughly and had previously considered the same issue before their flight to Valtham. Whom should he safeguard Liora from: the psycho Caspian, who is infatuated with Liora for reasons he doesn't understand, or Pearl, who is dating James Anderson and Caspian Glacier, or Sven Valentine, who is known as Patrice Decosta in the USA or the new addition to the list the MMS guy?

On their way to the Sky Tower, Kai and Logan changed into sharp black business attire and were now seated in the limo with Donovan, heading to the venue of tonight's match. The luxurious car cruised swiftly through the busy streets.

"Have you made up your mind about whether you'll be on the receiving end of a punch or if you'll be the one delivering it tonight?" Logan joked, fixing his cufflinks with a playfully solemn look.

"I suppose we'll see when we get to the arena," Donovan answered with a self-assured grin.

Inside the Arena, the atmosphere was in another league. It was packed with society's crème de la crème—powerful CEOs, influential politicians, famous Social faces, and renowned celebrities. Heirs of massive fortunes shared the same space with few Hollywood legends, and figures from different mafia factions and cartels were present to witness tonight's exciting event.

Among the crowd on this rare occasion, Caspian chose to bring his presence to the event.He sat next to Rihana and leaned in to say something to her, which madeher chuckle quietly.

"I am really looking forward to watching the fight," Rihana said enthusiastically.

"Do you know the reason Donovan chose to step into the ring this evening?"

"I have no clue; I wasn't even aware there was a match happening tonight." Rihana's eyes appeared vacant, although she maintained a smile on her face. "He seemed a bit out of it today as if something was bothering him."

Caspian nodded, taking a deep breath. He wasn't there to cheer for Donovan, but rather to assess his abilities in one-on-one combat. He aimed to understand both his physical strength and his mental fortitude and presence.

Throughout the entire year of college, Caspian never participated in any events that Donovan attended, and the same went for Donovan.

The applause grew to a thunderous crescendo as Donovan, Kai, and Logan made their way further into the Arena. All eyes were on them. This is their Sky Tower, their Arena where notorious battles occurred, their seat of authority where they radiated like triumphant rulers with dominance.

The crowd's energy reached a fever pitch as the famous Trio made their way to their seats. They settled directly across from Caspian.

Caspian's eyes often drifted to Donovan, reminding him of the photo Silvia had shared—Liora sleeping peacefully in Donovan's arms on the bus during that trip from years past. Caspian left Donovan unharmed because he helped Liora when she needed it the most.

Donovan, however, found it hard to overlook Caspian's. He questioned why he chose to show up today. He had never been present at any of their previous gatherings. So, what made today different?

Whenever he glanced at Caspian, his mother's caution reverberated in his thoughts: "Stay away from Liora because of the Glaciers."

Liora was one reason. They never felt the need to see each other or even glance in the other's direction. Maintaining a careful distance was their unspoken truce, a way to preserve the fragile peace at the university.

The question still remains: How long will the cold truce endure?

"What is Galcier doing here?" Donovan's question caused Logan and Kai to furrow their brows, their heads turning to follow his gaze toward Caspian, who wore a grim expression as he observed Donovan, just as Donovan was watching him.

"I don't know. Probably, he is here to steal your girlfriend right in front of you," Kai quipped with a smirk, provoking Donovan to turn his head sharply and shoot him a warning glare.

"Are you jealous because he is next to Rihana?" Kai chose to disregard Donovan's glare.