Gabrielle walked down the bustling halls of her high school, effortlessly turning heads with every step. Her long black waves cascaded past her waist, catching the light in a way that made even the harsh fluorescent bulbs seem flattering. Her gray eyes, wide and framed by long lashes, held a spark of mischief and curiosity, the kind that made her friends Sam, Clover, and Alex trust her with anything. She was the newest—and perhaps the most dazzling—addition to the WHOOPH spies, her light pink mission costume a soft contrast to the vibrant colors of her teammates.

Being a spy wasn’t all glamour, though. Gabrielle had quickly learned that the world of espionage came with enemies who didn’t play fair. None, however, were as dangerous—or as complicated—as Tim Scam. Once a top weapon technician at WHOOPH, Scam had been fired twenty years ago for terrorism, money laundering, and mass destruction. Now, with a personal vendetta against WHOOPH, he was relentless in his attempts to destroy the agency… and its top spies.

Yet, every time Scam crossed paths with Gabrielle, something unusual happened. He never harmed her, no matter the circumstances. Whether it was a laser trap meant to disintegrate her teammates or a collapsing building designed to crush the spies, Gabrielle always found herself mysteriously spared. Her friends noticed the way her eyes lingered on the villain longer than necessary, the subtle blush whenever his name came up—and they couldn’t stop warning her. “He’s evil, Gabrielle. You can’t trust him.”

The latest mission had started like any other: a tip-off from WHOOPH about an illegal weapons exchange in downtown Paris. But nothing could have prepared them for Scam’s plan this time. He had been developing a chemical weapon designed to suffocate an entire city block. Surveillance drones, robotic guards, and automated turrets forced the girls deeper into an abandoned factory, driving them straight into his trap.

The alarms blared, metal shutters clanging shut around them. Robotic arms shot out, shoving Sam, Clover, Alex, and Gabrielle into a reinforced containment cell. The air grew thick, oxygen levels dropping rapidly. Alex coughed violently, Clover swayed, and even Sam’s usually composed face tensed as she tried to help Gabrielle breathe.

“Gabrielle, breathe slowly!” Sam shouted, panic in her voice.

Scam’s voice cut through the room. “Asthma, huh?”

Before anyone could react, a robotic arm detached from the wall and moved directly toward Gabrielle, lifting her off the ground and pulling her out of the suffocating cell. She was deposited in a smaller, isolated cell nearby. The air here was slightly more breathable, but still cold and stifling. Scam made no comment, no explanation, and gave no acknowledgment of why she was spared. He simply observed, meticulous and silent, leaving the other spies struggling for oxygen and freedom.

Through the thick glass, Gabrielle could see Sam, Clover, and Alex fighting against the mechanical restraints, the chemical countdown in the main cell ticking mercilessly. Scam lingered at the edge of the main cell, surveying the chaos without a word,