The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

When Vivienne and Percival turned to look again, the woman in red had vanished without a trace.

Vivienne wanted to chase after her, but Percival grabbed her wrist. “Vivienne, let it go. She hasn’t shown us her full hand yet.”

Even for Vivienne and Percival, it had been a stalemate at best. If they pursued her, their chances of victory were slim.

Besides, their main reason for coming to M State was to rescue people, and now that they had, their mission was complete. However, they still hadn’t figured out why the puppet master behind this charade had gone to such lengths.

Vivienne peered in the direction the red-clad woman had disappeared, her gaze murky and unreadable.

Atop a nearby hill, the woman in red stood, her eyes fixed on the scene below where she could see Vivienne’s group.

Lucky for her, she had packed a smoke grenade, which briefly obscured their vision, allowing her a swift escape.

It had been years, and it was time for her to return to Veridia.

She scoffed disdainfully, snapped her fan shut, and walked away. “Wait for it. We’ll meet again.”

…

Elsewhere.

Huxley had fainted from fright during the scuffle and was now jabbed awake by Vivienne’s needle.

“You guys alright?” Vivienne asked, looking toward Larry and Carl.

Larry, clutching his chest, replied, “Vivienne, we’re fine.”

He had sustained some injuries, but they weren’t a big deal for him.

shook his head, too, indicating he was

the red-clad woman gone – he knew he had been saved

I was

at him and wanted to punch him out

if they had met before. The mention of having held Vivienne as a child had also piqued his curiosity. However, he combed

use. The face under the mask was probably

people are masters of disguise; they wouldn’t

“Vivienne, she mentioned Samantha. What’s that

which was to investigate Samantha’s whereabouts.

“Mr. Wolf, it’s time to head home. Some webs

without having completed their mission.

“Okay,” Percival nodded.

not exactly going to cause a problem.

from being third wheels, what else did we accomplish?” Vivienne’s three uncles

Percival: Don’t

You get

them for injuries. The woman in red’s moves had been bizarre, and this was the first time Vivienne had encountered such tactics. The silver needles from her fan were coated in a deadly poison, which

minor injuries, a cracked rib for Larry, and a severely shaken

idea! Back then, Mom lost everything for that man, leaving my sister and

I almost lost it, she suddenly brought me to this sanatorium, where I found Carl. You guys know what

lowered, hiding the look

to come back with

Huxley replied

curved in a mysterious smile.

outside. The uncles peeked out

but ask, “Just two

first. In a day, someone will come

Everyone was puzzled.