Ashtine's POV
The next morning, I showed up earlier than usual. My desk was still quiet, the halls empty, and for a rare moment, I felt calm. Not until I saw it. A white box, neatly wrapped in a silver ribbon, sat on my desk like a bomb waiting to explode. My name was scribbled in bold strokes on the card.
—A.
That’s it. No message. No name. Just an initial. Just… him. I stared at it, unsure whether to open it or throw it straight into the trash.
Curiosity won. Inside was a single, elegant necklace, delicate and gold, with a tiny maze pendant hanging at the center.
I blinked.
A maze.
Ashtine Maze.
Was this a coincidence? A sick joke? Or… did Rich just send me a piece of myself? Before I could even react, the sound of polished shoes echoed in the hallway. I looked up and, of course,
