Chapter Six: The Fall Before the Crown
322 Words
The Chairman eventually grinned.
⸻
"Bring her to me," he instructed. ❻
Amara didn't fight when they arrived.
She knew this time was unavoidable.
The only question had been when.
⸻
The room she was escorted to was noticeably colder than usual.
Even for him. ❻
Her father sat in the center.
Still. Composed.
Untouchable. ❻
"You've been busy," he said. ❻
Amara met his gaze.
"I learned from you."
⸻
That elicited a hushed chuckle.
"Yes," he answered.
"You did."
A pause.
Next—
"Tell me about him." ⸻ Quiet.
Amara remained silent. ⸻
The Chairman let out a quiet sigh.
"You let me down."
⸻
And in an instant—
The mask fell off.
"Do you think I missed it?" he asked. "The changes. The patterns. The feeling
His eyes became more acute.
"You don't remember who taught you how to read people."
Amara clenched her jaw.
⸻
The Chairman declared, "He's not just a player in this."
"Your weakness is him."
⸻
That word was weighty.
⸻
Amara took a small stride forward.
"No."
She spoke in a steady tone.
"He will take your place."
⸻
For the first time—
The Chairman's face shifted.
Not anger.
Not shocking. ❻ Interesting.
"That's what you believe?" he enquired.
Amara maintained his stare.
"Yes."
⸻
A long hush ensued. ❻
Then—
The Chairman stood. ❻
"Good."
⸻
The single word echoed as a verdict. ❻
"Because now," he added, moving closer, "I know exactly how to break him."
⸻
Throughout the city—
Kade received the message. ❻
Not in words. ❻
In the bloodstream.
A body delivered to his doorstep.
Marked.
Precise.
Intentional.
And with it—
A simple note:
COME FOR HER.
Kade stared at it for a long time.
Then he looked up.
And for the first time—
There was no calculation in his eyes.
No patience.
No strategy.
Just one thing.
War.
[TO BE CONTINUED…]
- Writer
