Nathan stood by the dorm window, staring into the darkness outside.
Inside the room, laughter filled the air. Alex and Chloe were arguing over the ridiculous short film they had just recorded, while Ariel excitedly tried to convince Samantha to let her test the drone again.
Normal.
Everything felt normal.
But Nathan couldn't shake the strange feeling crawling at the back of his mind.
For a moment, he thought he saw movement beyond the campus lights—something shifting between the trees.
Watching.
Then it vanished.
Nathan frowned and turned back to the room.
Behind the laughter and warm lights, none of them noticed the quiet tension lingering in the night.
But what they didn't know…
Was that danger had already come for them.
Three days earlier.
---
Three Days Earlier
University Dormitory Complex
01:47 AM
The hallway outside Samantha's dorm was silent.
Most students were asleep.
Only the dim yellow emergency lights glowed along the corridor walls.
Inside the dorm room, Samantha slept peacefully.
A soft hum came from the equipment near her desk.
Half-built machines.
Prototype devices.
And near the door, sitting calmly in a chair, was Adejo.
Arms crossed.
Eyes open.
Watching.
He had been Samantha's personal bodyguard for years. Adam Valentine trusted very few people in the world—but Adejo was one of them.
Adejo never slept deeply when he was on duty.
Years of training had taught him to recognize danger before it arrived.
Which is why the sound caught his attention immediately.
A faint click.
Metal against metal.
Adejo's eyes slowly opened.
Someone was tampering with the lock.
He stood silently.
Another soft sound.
The door handle turned slightly.
Adejo stepped to the side of the doorway, out of sight.
The lock popped open.
The door slowly creaked inward.
Three masked figures slipped inside the room.
One of them whispered.
"There she is."
Their eyes turned toward Samantha sleeping peacefully on the bed.
Adejo moved.
Fast.
The first intruder barely had time to react before Adejo grabbed him from behind and slammed his face into the wall.
The crack of bone echoed through the room.
The second attacker lunged forward with a knife.
Adejo stepped aside.
Caught the attacker's wrist.
Twisted sharply.
CRACK.
The man screamed as his arm snapped.
Adejo drove his elbow into the man's throat, sending him crashing across the floor.
The third attacker rushed forward with a metal baton.
The weapon swung toward Adejo's head.
Adejo blocked the strike with his forearm.
The baton cut into his skin.
Blood appeared instantly.
Adejo didn't even flinch.
He stepped forward and delivered a brutal punch straight into the attacker's jaw.
The man flew backward into Samantha's desk, smashing equipment across the floor.
The noise woke Samantha instantly.
She sat up in bed, eyes wide.
"Adejo?!"
"Stay behind me," Adejo said calmly.
Two of the attackers were already struggling to stand again.
But something strange happened next.
One of them suddenly disappeared.
Adejo froze.
The room felt different.
A voice spoke from the other side of the room.
"You're faster than expected."
Adejo turned sharply.
But the man was standing somewhere else entirely.
Then another voice came from behind him.
"No wonder Valentine trusts you."
Adejo's eyes narrowed.
"…Illusions."
The attacker laughed softly.
"Very good."
Suddenly the man rushed forward.
But Adejo did something unexpected.
He closed his eyes.
The attacker hesitated.
"Are you serious?"
Adejo listened instead of looking.
Breathing.
Footsteps.
Movement through the air.
The moment the attacker lunged—
Adejo moved.
He grabbed the attacker's arm mid-strike.
Twisted violently.
The knife clattered to the floor.
Adejo slammed his knee into the man's stomach.
The attacker gasped.
Then Adejo drove a devastating punch into his face.
Blood sprayed across the floor.
The man collapsed instantly.
The last attacker struggled to stand.
Blood ran down his mouth as he laughed weakly.
Adejo grabbed him by the collar and lifted him slightly off the ground.
"Who sent you?"
The man grinned.
"The Illusionist."
Adejo's grip tightened.
"Where is he?"
The man's smile widened.
"Watching."
Then suddenly the man coughed violently.
Blood poured from his mouth.
Poison.
Within seconds, the attacker went limp.
Dead.
Adejo dropped the body slowly.
Silence filled the dorm room.
Samantha stared at the scene in shock.
Three attackers.
Broken furniture.
Blood on the floor.
Adejo wiped the blood from his eyebrow calmly.
Then his phone rang.
He answered immediately.
"Yes."
On the other side of the line was a deep, controlled voice.
Adam Valentine.
"Report."
Adejo briefly explained what happened.
There was silence for several seconds.
Then Adam spoke quietly.
"…So he has finally made his move."
Adejo frowned.
"You know who this Illusionist is."
"Yes," Adam said.
"And if he's targeting Samantha…"
His voice grew colder.
"Then this is only the beginning."
The call ended.
Adejo looked toward the window.
Outside, the campus was silent.
Peaceful.
But Adejo knew better.
Somewhere out there—
Someone had just declared war.
---
Back in the present…
Nathan still stood by the dorm window.
Watching the darkness.
Feeling that strange sensation again.
Like someone was watching them.
And far away…
In a dark room filled with glowing screens…
The Illusionist leaned back in his chair.
Watching the footage of Samantha's dorm.
Watching Nathan.
Watching Alex.
Watching all of them.
His fingers tapped slowly against the armrest.
A quiet smile appeared on his face.
"The first move…"
He whispered softly.
"…was only a test."