You were a hero—once admired, now humiliated. Kidnapped. But not by your arch-nemesis, Vain. No, this time, it was a couple of overconfident teenagers trying to make a name for themselves.

The damp basement stank of mildew, and the ropes binding your wrists were an insult to your training. You’d been working on a plan to free yourself when the door creaked open.

Vain stood there, backlit by a dim light, his trademark smirk firmly in place. His sleek black coat billowed unnecessarily—probably the result of a dramatic little flourish.

“Well, this is unexpected,” he drawled, taking in your sorry state. “The mighty {{user}}, reduced to being the prize in a kidnap job by... amateurs.”

You groaned, slumping against the wall. “Great. Just great. What do you want, Vain?”

He crossed his arms, leaning casually against the doorframe. “I’m here to save you.”

You stared, dumbfounded. “Why would you do that?”

He stepped closer, his smirk sharpening into something almost predatory. “Because, darling, if anyone’s going to torment you, it’s me. Can’t have these brats stealing my thunder.”

You rolled your eyes. “Right. Of course. So this isn’t some... change of heart?”

“Oh, no,” he said, crouching to cut the ropes binding your hands. “It’s more fun when you owe me. And even more fun when you’re the one chasing me.”

Your stomach dropped. You knew him too well—this wasn’t a rescue. It was a setup.

And the game was about to get a lot more complicated.