Chapter 51 Bloody truth or dare.

Chapter 51: Chapter 51 Bloody truth or dare.

A cold chill prickled across Noah’s skin, making an uneasy shiver crawl through his blood vessels. His instincts immediately kicked in as he shifted backward, making his way toward the door.

Philip stepped in front of him, blocking his escape.

"What are you doing?" Philip asked softly. "Don’t you miss me, Noah? Because I am completely insane for you."

Noah quietly nodded.

Obviously, the guy needed an asylum more than anything else if he wanted treatment for whatever mental illness was lingering inside his head.

Because what the actual fuck was he doing inside his room?

How many times did he have to tell him to fuck off? He didn’t know him, didn’t want him, and definitely wasn’t interested in whatever fantasy the man had cooked up.

"I think you’re making a mistake, man. Maybe you should leave and rethink whatever you’re doing. You can’t just claim me. Don’t do that."

Noah made his stance perfectly clear, hoping—against all logic—that Philip would finally be reasonable.

Unfortunately, it was painfully obvious that wasn’t going to happen.

Philip stopped advancing for a brief moment and simply stared at him from where he stood.

"So... you don’t feel it yet?" he asked quietly. "The bond we share... the path we were supposed to walk together... how we promised to rule the world side by side."

Noah blinked.

Was that an accusation?

And when exactly did he make such a crazy-ass promise?

That definitely wasn’t him.

Or... was it Ashton?

But that didn’t make sense either.

Philip kept calling him Noah—the name from his real world—not Ashton.

The whole thing made his head spin.

"Did you hit your head before coming here, ghost?" Noah asked flatly. "Because how many times do I have to make it clear that I don’t fucking know you? Seriously, why are you acting like one of those obsessive exes who keeps stalking people and has absolutely no idea what consent means?"

Philip frowned, looking genuinely confused.

"What now? Who is your ex? I don’t understand what you’re talking about." He smiled again, almost dreamily. "Instead of saying things like that, shouldn’t you be happy I can finally touch you? I’ve waited so long... This is perfect."

He reached toward Noah’s neck.

Noah immediately jumped out of the way.

Oh, definitely not.

This wasn’t some Hollywood romance.

Who in their right mind just went around trying to bite people on the neck?

"I’m ready to leave now," Noah announced firmly. "So move. You’re standing in my way."

Philip didn’t budge.

"Which part of my words don’t you understand?" he asked. "I’m here to take you back to my world. Maybe once you’re there, you’ll remember me much faster."

Noah stared at him with growing annoyance.

How was this man still not getting it?

He wasn’t going anywhere.

"Cute," Noah deadpanned. "Maybe you should find the person who lived in your world before because right now, girl, you’ve got the wrong guy."

His eyes sharpened as he reached for the doorknob.

Before his fingers could touch it, the entire door shimmered before sealing itself shut.

"..."

Noah slowly turned around.

Maybe violence really was the answer.

"Perhaps I should stop asking politely," Philip said, his smile fading. "This isn’t a negotiation, and I won’t tolerate refusal. Maybe you hate me now, but it’s for your own safety. Once your memories return, you’ll understand everything. You’ll remember who you truly are... and finally reach your full potential."

He stepped forward again, reaching for Noah’s wrist.

His plan was obvious.

Grab him.

Make him disappear.

Take him away by force.

Right before he could touch him—

Knock.

Knock.

"Ash! You’re running late!" Killian called from outside the room. "We’re waiting for the birthday boy!"

"Let me go. Right now, will you?" Noah warned one last time.

Philip only chuckled.

"Do you really want to know who I am?" he asked quietly.

His gentle tone disappeared.

Something colder... darker... replaced it.

"Because I assure you, once you do, this useless place won’t be where you’ll want to stay."

Noah wasn’t backing down.

"Too bad," he replied coldly. "I’m not remotely interested. So get the hell out of my life."

His eyes narrowed.

"I said... get out."

A brilliant shimmer exploded between them.

BOOM!

Philip’s body was violently thrown across the room before smashing into the nearest wall.

A deep slash instantly ripped across his face.

At the same time, Noah suddenly felt an intense, blinding pain surge throughout his own body.

His knees nearly buckled.

"..."

Then it clicked.

"I think I know what’s happening."

He slowly straightened despite the pain.

"You can’t take me unless I consent."

A small smile appeared on his face.

"Isn’t that right?"

Philip’s expression froze.

"Well..."

Noah looked directly into his eyes.

"You’re in a pretty shitty position because I will never give you that consent."

"So back off."

The moment those words left his mouth—

Flames erupted around Philip.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!"

Fire wrapped around his body as though it had been waiting for that exact moment.

He screamed in agony.

"How could you...?" Philip cried. "How could you use your powers against me, Noah?"

His voice cracked with both pain and disbelief.

"I’m only trying to take you somewhere safe! You don’t belong here! I’m trying to protect you... to shield you from every enemy waiting for you..."

His words suddenly stopped.

His body began breaking apart.

Tiny glowing fragments floated into the air as though he were turning into ashes before Noah’s eyes.

"No..."

The flames intensified.

His screams echoed through the room.

Within seconds, the fire completely consumed him until nothing remained.

Silence.

Outside the room—

Killian’s heart nearly stopped.

"Ash!"

He immediately started banging on the door.

"Open the door! Ash, are you okay?"

Bang!

Bang!

"Please answer me!"

He was already preparing to kick the door down when the magical seal disappeared on its own.

The door slowly creaked open.

Noah stepped out.

Killian immediately searched behind him.

"I’m sorry about that," he said quickly. "But... is someone still in there?"

Noah simply shook his head.

"No."

Despite the answer, Killian walked inside anyway.

The familiar scent instantly reached him.

Lemon.

His expression darkened.

"Isn’t this Philip’s scent?" he muttered.

"Don’t tell me he was here."

His aura immediately became unstable.

One more second and he probably would’ve gone looking for Philip to start a war.

Before he could move—

Two arms wrapped around him from behind.

Noah hugged him tightly.

"Stay with me, alright?" Noah whispered. "I’m fine. I promise."

Killian froze.

Slowly, he turned around to face him.

"Are you sure?" he asked seriously. "He didn’t hurt even a single hair on your head?"

Noah smiled before shaking his head.

"I’m okay."

Killian finally let out the breath he’d been holding.

His eyes slowly wandered across Noah from head to toe.

For a few moments...

He simply stared.

"You look... ethereal sometimes," he admitted honestly. "I still can’t believe you’re real."

His gaze lingered on Noah’s soft purple hair before moving to those equally beautiful silver eyes.

"And your face..."

He laughed softly.

"It’s honestly unfair."

His eyes finally settled on the elegant outfit Noah was wearing.

"You look gorgeous."

Noah immediately turned bright red.

His ears even felt hot.

"T-Thanks."

He scratched his cheek awkwardly.

"By the way... who picked this outfit? It fits perfectly."

Killian rubbed the back of his neck.

"I did."

He smiled sheepishly.

"I’ve actually wanted to surprise you with it for a long time, but I never got the chance."

He shrugged.

"Looks like it finally worked."

Thankfully—

Noah never asked the one question Killian wasn’t prepared to answer.

How exactly did he know Noah’s measurements?

Some secrets were better kept for another day.

Killian clapped his hands together.

"Come on."

He gently grabbed Noah’s wrist.

"We’re about to play Truth or Dare."

"It’s one of the most popular traditions in this school."

He smirked.

"Normally, only people from the Elite Circle are allowed to join."

His smile widened.

"But today..."

He pointed directly at Noah.

"You’re one of us."

"So congratulations."

"You’re playing."

Noah nodded, a bright smile spreading across his face.

For some reason...

Something deep inside him whispered that this wasn’t going to be an ordinary game.

No.

Knowing this school, nothing was ever ordinary.

Every event somehow ended with explosions, fights, conspiracies, or someone trying to kill somebody else.

As they walked downstairs together, Noah’s eyes wandered toward the large decorative banner hanging across the grand hall.

The moment he read the words written across it...

His smile slowly disappeared.

His eyelid twitched.

His instincts immediately screamed at him to turn around and run.

Because written in enormous blood-red letters were four words.

BLOODY TRUTH OR DARE!!