DANCING WITH THE DEVIL | CHISHIYA X OC |

CHAPTER THREE

Let them believe I have a plan, wear confidence like armor, while inside, still learning how to breathe.

♤♡♢♧

The car ride stretched on endlessly, Tokyo unfolding like an empty maze of shattered glass and vacant streets. There was a stillness in the air, the city feeling hollow in a way Seina couldn't quite explain.

She slouched in the back seat, elbow resting at the window, her fingers absently playing with a loose thread on her sleeve. Aguni was at the wheel, his eyes focused on the road, his usual silent demeanor unbroken. In the passenger seat, Hatter was more of a presence than a person, his gaze flicking to her occasionally with that unreadable, but predatory look.

"You don't talk much, do you?" Seina broke the silence, glancing at Aguni with a smile that was equal parts teasing and sarcastic.

Aguni didn't even look at her. "No."

Seina shrugged and leaned back in her seat, with a playful smile. "Fair enough. I like the strong, silent type."

Hatter chuckled, his eyes never leaving her. "Oh, you and Aguni are going to get along just fine."

She turned her gaze on him, raising an eyebrow. "Is that what you think?"

Hatter leaned back in his seat, his eyes locking onto hers with a calculating intensity. "I think you're an interesting one, Seina."

She tilted her head slightly, intrigued but guarded. "You mean crazy? Insane? Empty? You don't have to be a genius to realise that."

Hatter's grin spread slowly across his face, one of those lazy, confident smiles that made her stomach tighten in a way she couldn't quite shake. "I've met a lot of people in this place, but I've never met someone who looked so bored while fighting to survive."

She exhaled slowly, a laugh escaping her lips. "Maybe it just wasn't exciting enough for me."

His laughter filled the car, bright and amused, like he had already figured her out. "You're going to love the Beach."

Seina didn't answer immediately. She was already starting to get a sense of what kind of game he was playing.

"And what if I don't?" she asked nonchalantly.

"Then you're free to leave." His smile turned sharper, his eyes glinting in the dim light.

***

The Beach was exactly what Hatter had promised—bright lights, electricity, running water, alcohol, and a pulse of music that filled the night air. About forty or fifty people were drinking, dancing, laughing, clinging to the illusion of normalcy amidst the chaos. Seina stood at the edge of the pool, her eyes scanning the scene around her, a slight smirk playing on her lips as she took in the vibrant madness.

She felt eyes on her—of course, she did. People always stared. But here, it felt different.
It felt like they were measuring her.

Hatter appeared beside her, holding a drink in one hand, his eyes never leaving her face. "So?" he asked, his voice low. "What do you think?" He handed her the drink, his fingers brushing against hers.

"I think," she said, her voice slow and deliberate, "this is exactly what I needed."

Hatter's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with approval. "Knew you'd say that."

She glanced up at him, a glint of amusement in her eyes. "You think you have me all figured out already?"

He leaned in just slightly, his eyes intent. "Not at all. But I know people like you."

"Do you?" she challenged, her gaze sharp and unreadable.

He didn't falter. "Mm. You're the type who doesn't get attached. The type who plays the game but never lets the game play you. And you are sweetheart, beside your beauty, you are a fucking mess."

She let the words hang in the air for a moment before responding, her smile slow and sharp. "And you think that's a good thing?"

"I think it makes you dangerous," he murmured, the tone of his voice shifting ever so slightly. "And I like dangerous."

Seina met his gaze, unwavering, her fingers absently tracing the rim of her glass.

He leaned in a little closer, his breath almost brushing her skin. "People like you know how to manipulate this game. Know how to control the rules, Seina." He paused, his eyes narrowing, "People like you always end up on top."

Seina laughed softly, a quiet, self-aware sound. "I don't need control. Power is just an illusion." She leaned in slightly, the proximity making his heart race. "And freedom?" she whispered, just close enough for him to hear. "That's the most dangerous lie of all."

Hatter smirked, intrigued by her fire. "Then what do you want?"

Seina paused, taking another slow sip of her drink, savoring the warmth that spread through her. "To have fun. Maybe to survive. Haven't decided yet." She said simply.

Hatter watched her, his interest piqued. But she saw through him, saw the way he was convinced that he had her figured out. He didn't. He never would.

Because, in reality, she had him exactly where she wanted him. He may have been the king of this place, but his protection wasn't a gift—it was a strategic advantage. And if he thought he could claim her, control her, all the better. She would play him like she played everyone else.

***

Hatter's room was exactly what Seina had expected—spacious, luxurious in the way only a self-proclaimed king would allow, and thick with the scent of expensive alcohol and ego. She walked in without hesitation, her movements slow, deliberate, eyes scanning the room as if appraising it. As if appraising him.

He poured two glasses of whiskey and handed her one, his fingers brushing against hers just slightly.

Seina accepted the drink but didn't react. Didn't smile, didn't tease. She just raised the glass to her lips, took a slow sip, and let the burn settle deep in her throat.

The night blurred around her, a haze of alcohol and distractions. Hatter continued to talk about power, about the cards, about survival, about how this world was a game, and he was the only one who truly understood it. She listened, or pretended to, letting the conversation roll off her like water.

She smiled when it was necessary, allowed her fingers to linger on the glass just long enough to make him think she was still invested. But soon enough, she found herself not caring anymore.

The next thing she knew, she blacked out in his bed, whiskey buzzing through her veins, the room spinning.

She drifted into a sleep she didn't want.
Maybe she fell asleep drunk.
Maybe she woke up drunk too.
Either way, she didn't care.

Not yet.