Elara Venn landed hard on the mattress—luxurious, springy—bounced once, and landed directly in Hazel Lane's arms.The heat of her breath brushed Elara's neck. Body against body. So close, so hot—Elara couldn't help it. Her nerves lit up like a live wire.
She curled in on herself, both to hide the flush on her face and to distract herself from the way her entire being buzzed with anticipation.
Hazel misread the tension.
"You'll have to get used to it," she whispered. "Relax, or I might hurt you."
Elara thought to herself: it's like acupuncture. You know it's going to feel good later, but that needle still scares you every time.
Only… this needle was a hell of a lot longer—and much more terrifying.
Hazel asked suddenly, "Do you like men or women?"
Seriously? Elara nearly rolled her eyes.Dirty, smug, loud men versus sleek, fragrant, icy-badass goddesses? Not even a competition. Especially not when Hazel Lane herself was the epitome of that archetype.
Like? She wanted to worship her. Wrap her in silk and keep her home, just for herself.
The system piped in: How much more do you want?
"One Hazel Lane is enough," Elara muttered. "Too much spice is bad for your kidneys."
The system: …You're unbelievable. Can we focus on the task? Or do you need me to remind you how your last life ended?
That shut her up.
By the time morning light filtered in, Elara was in tatters.Eyes swollen, face blotchy—she couldn't go see Nathan Lane like this. But she had promised him.
To break that promise would mean more than disappointment. It would kill the fragile trust he'd built in her. She'd be dead to him.
Hazel saw right through her anxiety.
She reached out, tousled Elara's hair. "Stop worrying."
Elara looked up.
"You don't have to struggle with the choice," Hazel said smoothly. "You're not going to see him."
Elara froze.
Hazel narrowed her eyes. "Do I look like a fool?"
No, Elara wanted to say. You look like the final boss of every psychological horror.
"You're just his doctor now," Hazel continued, tone deceptively soft. "But wait a little longer... should I prepare for betrayal?"
"You're out of your mind," Elara snapped. "He's just a kid!"
Hazel's gaze was piercing. "In his eyes, you're always there, always kind. That kind of devotion? It's bound to evolve."
"No. Impossible."
"How can you be sure?"
The system stirred. Are you really sure?
"…Did I miss something?" Elara asked, suddenly unsettled.
The system remained silent—but it remembered. Other worlds. Other missions. Men and women alike who had fallen for her, and were left with nothing.
"You should've told me," she said quietly.
And what would you have done with that? the system thought grimly. Sure enough—
"Some of them were really hot…" Elara murmured wistfully.
Focus, the system sighed.
Hazel, meanwhile, smiled sweetly. "He's in good hands now. I sent him to the best facility—he'll be taken care of."
Elara stiffened. "Wait—you're sending him away?"
"No," Hazel said. "He's already gone. Last night."
Elara bolted upright. "What?!"
She tried to leap off the bed—only to be yanked back.A cold click. Her ankle was chained to the bed frame.
Hazel smoothed down her shirt. "I'll be busy for a few days. Stay here. Be good."
Be good? You locked me to the bed. Elara trembled in fury.
"You can't do this!" she shouted. "Hazel, you've gone too far—"
Hazel leaned down and kissed her softly. "Ask whatever you like. Curse me in your heart. But even if I die, I'll drag you to the underworld with me. We'll reincarnate together, and I'll find you again."
Elara's stomach twisted.Hazel wasn't just possessive—she was obsessive.
"Mrs. Lee went with him," Hazel added. "Familiarity helps. Someone will bring your meals."
Elara refused to meet her eyes.
Hazel didn't care. "If you try anything, you'll be making our relationship public. Loudly."
Elara shuddered. She remembered that phone call. That stunt.
Then, as if nothing had happened, Hazel smiled. "Be good."
Elara nodded, weakly.
"Good girl," Hazel whispered, before walking out.
I prefer you when you're rougher, Elara thought bitterly, at least then I know what to expect.
Once alone, she stared at the chain. Yanked it. It didn't budge.
"System," she muttered. "Get the coffin ready."
The system, equally useless, said what it could: Call the police?
"Right. Because Hazel Lane has zero influence," Elara snorted.
The system sighed: Then what? Give up? Let yourself die again?
It paused. Something felt off.
"…You're not doing this on purpose, are you?" it asked.
Elara gasped. "How could you think that of me?!"
Because I know you, it thought. And you are exactly that person.
Out loud, it warned: Don't forget how you died. Hit by a car. Smashed into pulp. Brain matter on the pavement. Your skull split—
"Enough!" Elara gagged, clutching her mouth.
"I'll finish the mission," she croaked. "Just stop describing it."
But her brain wouldn't let go of the image. The pain. The humiliation. The splatter.
Maybe she would escape. Just… not yet.
She had to admit: a small part of her didn't want to leave Hazel Lane.
The system, ever-helpful, whispered: Brain matter… crushed pelvis…
"Okay!" she wheezed. "Fine! I get it!"
She curled up, closed her eyes.
Tomorrow would be another battle.