Abigail's POV 
I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of my jacket, my hands shaking a little. The Midnight Scavenger event was nearing its final days, and the atmosphere had only grown darker. But tonight, I didn’t need to participate in any more games. At least, I hoped I didn’t. I’d done my share and won enough to avoid the craziness for now.
Just as I finished brushing my hair back, I felt something—like a presence behind me. I wasn’t sure how, but I could sense it, deep in my bones. My body stiffened, and without even thinking, I spun around. 
And there he was.
Finn stood in the doorway, his tall frame filling the room, not saying a word. His expression was neutral, maybe a bit softer than usual, but that didn’t make it any less intimidating.
“Uh… hi?” I managed to say, my voice shaky. What was he doing here?
He just gave me a small nod, his greeting as formal as ever. "Abigail."
I blinked at him, unsure of what to say next, but Finn didn’t seem to care about my awkwardness. He stepped into the room further, folding his arms. “You’re done for the night. Only participants who’ve won three games have the right to rest and watch.”
Wait—so I didn’t have to play anymore?
My shoulders sagged in relief, and I almost whispered to myself, “Thank goodness. No more death chasing me.”
I heard a small, strangled noise from Finn, and when I looked up, I saw him fighting back a laugh. A genuine, small smile appeared on his face as he gave me another nod.
"You’re safe for now," he added with that same calm tone. "Emery wants you upstairs. To watch."
I froze in place. “Upstairs? With Emery?” My brain struggled to catch up. After the way Emery had been acting—serious, cold, like she was ready to snap someone's neck—why was she inviting me to sit with her? 
Finn just shrugged, not offering any explanation. "She requested you."
This was strange. Very strange. But I wasn’t about to pass up the chance. If Emery wanted me closer, I needed to take advantage of it. I still had too many questions about this academy, about Emery herself.
I followed Finn through the hallways, my stomach twisting in nervous knots. The higher we went, the more isolated the area became. When we entered the room upstairs, I was greeted by a huge glass screen that overlooked the event floor. It was one of those fancy one-way glass windows; you could see everything from here, but no one could see in.
Finn gestured to a seat beside Emery, who was already there, seated quietly, eyes glued to the scene below. She didn’t look up as I approached. She was completely absorbed in what was happening.
Finn excused himself, clipboard in hand, saying something about needing to monitor the event, but I barely heard him. The room suddenly felt suffocating with just me and Emery there. The silence between us was too thick, like a wall I couldn’t break through.
I glanced at her, my heart pounding. Should I say something? Should I—
Before I could decide, Emery finally spoke, her voice cutting through the quiet.
“This day marks a special point in the event,” she said, her tone flat but there was something else—something that made me shiver. Her lips curled into a small smile, but it didn’t touch her eyes. “The last night of the Midnight Scavenger is always the most important.”
I swallowed hard, focusing my eyes on the glass in front of me. I couldn’t bear to look at her for too long. Below us, the students were engaged in intense battles, their shouts and screams muffled by the glass. Some were winning, some were losing. Injuries were starting to pile up, but that was the price for staying in the game. Each fight mattered, each point crucial.
Then, I saw him.
James. He was standing alone in the battle circle, adjusting a new pair of glasses. But something was wrong—he didn’t have an opponent. Not yet, anyway.
I frowned. Why was James waiting so long? My gut twisted with unease.
And then, I saw why.
Xioron.
He stepped into the arena, his posture confident, his smile crooked. The crowd hushed as they saw him approach, and my stomach sank. Xioron was known for cheating, for doing whatever it took to win. He didn’t care about rules. He only cared about power.
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I stared at the scene below. Was this part of Emery’s plan? Why was she so interested in this fight? 
I looked over at her, and her eyes were locked on the arena. The intensity in her gaze was unnerving.
James didn’t stand a chance. He was strong, but Xioron didn’t play fair. And the rules allowed for anything, as long as it led to victory.
The fight started.
James moved with speed and strength I hadn’t seen from him before. He was dodging Xioron’s blows, landing a few hits of his own. For a brief moment, I allowed myself to hope. Maybe James had grown stronger. Maybe—
Xioron caught him off guard. 
In one swift move, Xioron grabbed James by the collar and smashed his glasses to the ground, shattering them into tiny pieces. 
“No…” I whispered under my breath. Without his glasses, James couldn’t see. He was vulnerable.
James stumbled back, blinking rapidly, his vision obviously blurred. Xioron didn’t hesitate. He moved in fast, landing a punch to James’s stomach that sent him crashing to the floor.
“Come on, James,” I whispered desperately. “Get up!”
But it was useless. Xioron didn’t let him recover. He kicked James down, again and again, until finally, James stayed down, his body limp and defeated. Xioron raised his arms, victorious.
I couldn’t believe it. Xioron had won. And James—he was lying there, bloodied and broken.
Beside me, Emery’s lips curled into a smile again. But this time, it was colder, darker. 
The game wasn’t just about points. It was about survival.
I bit my lip, hard, tasting blood. This academy, this entire event—it wasn’t just about winning. It was about control. And Emery… she was at the center of it all.
James had been just another piece on the board. And I realized, with a sickening feeling, that I might be next.
I can't take it anymore. I shot up from my chair, my breath ragged as I stared down at the arena. “This is bullshit!” I blurted out before I could stop myself. My voice echoed in the quiet room. “Xioron took advantage of James’ weakness. He cheated—this whole thing is a setup!”
Emery didn’t even flinch at my outburst. Her reaction, or lack of it made my frustration boil over. How could she just sit there and act like this was all okay?
But instead of responding, she let out a slow breath and leaned back into her chair, her eyes closing as if she was soaking in the icy air around us. She was completely calm, too calm. The cold room seemed to echo her demeanor, and I realized how foolish I must have looked, standing there, all fired up, while she acted like none of this mattered.
I opened my mouth to say something, to demand answers, but then Emery’s eyes snapped open, locking onto mine. Her gaze was piercing, and I felt a cold wave rush over me. I took a step back, instantly regretting how I let my emotions show. Damn it, why did I let myself get carried away like that?
“I—” I started, but my voice died in my throat as Emery finally spoke, cutting through the silence like a blade.
“Isn’t that part of my rule?” she asked, her voice low but sharp. She didn’t even raise her tone, but it felt like she was slicing through my arguments without effort. “Isn’t the purpose of this game to bring your opponent down using their weaknesses? Blood, fear, pain—it’s all part of the challenge.”
I blinked, feeling the weight of her words hit me. “But—”
“As long as they win,” she interrupted smoothly, her cold gaze unwavering, “it’s not against the rules. That’s the reason for this game. To rise to the top with your power. It’s common sense.”
Her voice carried a finality that left no room for debate. I tried to speak, but nothing came out. She was right. The rules had been clear from the start, anything goes, as long as you come out on top. Still, seeing James like that, bloodied and broken... it made something inside me twist.
Emery’s lips curled into a smirk. “Why are you so concerned?” she asked, her tone mocking now. “Isn’t this what you expected from the Midnight Scavenger event?” She tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing as she studied me. “Letting your emotions get involved will only lead to your downfall.”
Her words hit harder than I wanted to admit. I clenched my fists at my sides, feeling my nails dig into my palms. I didn’t like how she was right. How this place was changing me. 
“If you keep letting feelings control you,” Emery continued, her voice colder now, “you’ll end up dead before you even realize it.”
Her smirk deepened, and I swallowed the lump in my throat. Death. That’s where I was headed if I couldn’t keep my emotions in check. This academy wasn’t a place where feelings had any place. It was a battleground. You survived by outwitting and overpowering everyone else. Nothing more, nothing less.
I turned back toward the glass, my body tense as I watched the next round begin. Emery’s words echoed in my head—over and over again. She was right. Here, you couldn’t trust anyone. Not fully. Not even yourself, sometimes. It was survival of the fittest, and I had to keep my emotions out of it if I wanted to make it through.
The sound of students screaming in pain filled the air, their bodies being pushed to the limit. It was all for ranks, all for survival. But now, I saw it differently. This wasn’t just a game. This was real. People were getting hurt—some badly. But the academy didn’t care. And neither did Emery.
She spoke again, her eyes still focused on the floor below. “Sit down,” she said, her voice cutting through the tension like ice. She didn’t even glance at me, but the authority in her tone was enough to make me obey.
I sank back into my seat, my heart still racing, my hands still clenched into fists. The glass screen in front of us flickered, showing the next match beginning. I could barely focus on it though. My mind was spinning.
This academy wasn’t just about winning or losing. It was about breaking people—pushing them to the edge, making them question everything. And Emery… she was the one pulling the strings.
I glanced at her again, sitting so still, so composed. She was on a different level than the rest of us. Untouchable. It made me realize how much I still didn’t know about her. What was she thinking? What was her endgame?
My thoughts kept swirling as the fight below raged on. I could hear the sounds of punches landing, the grunts of pain, the cheers from the crowd. But none of it registered fully. My mind was too wrapped up in what Emery had said, in how she saw the world.
I was playing the game wrong. I let my emotions get the better of me. That wasn’t how you survived here. I needed to be smarter. I needed to think like Emery.
But that scared me, too.
As I sat there, watching the chaos unfold below, I realized something. Emery wasn’t just strong because she was powerful. She was strong because she didn’t let anything touch her. She didn’t care about the rules, about fairness, about emotions. She was untouchable because she didn’t let herself feel.
Could I do that? Could I shut everything off the way she did? If I wanted to survive, I had to. There was no other choice.
Beside me, Emery remained silent, her eyes never leaving the arena. And for the first time since I entered this academy, I felt truly alone.