Zifa's Mansion — Late Night, Doorbell from Hell
The doorbell rings.
Once.
Twice.
Then a long, irritating press.
Inside, Zifa groans into her pillow. "If this is death, let it take me."
The bell rings again.
Zifa stumbles out of bed, hair a mess, hoodie half-on, eyes murderous. She opens the door—
"Rhea?" she snaps. "Do you know what time it is?"
Rhea pushes past her instantly. "Yes. And I don't care."
Zifa blinks, then slams the door shut. "You better be bleeding or dying."
"I'm neither," Rhea says. "But I will be if you don't come outside. Now."
Zifa squints at her. "Why do you look like you're about to rob a bank."
Rhea turns, already heading back to the door. "Shoes. Keys. Move."
Zifa swears under her breath but follows her out.
The night air is cool. Quiet. Too calm for whatever madness Rhea is carrying.
Rhea stops beside her car and tosses the keys at Zifa.
Zifa catches them automatically. "…Why are you giving me your car."
"Because you're dropping me somewhere," Rhea says flatly, "and my car stays here."
Zifa's eyes narrow. "Where."
Rhea meets her gaze. Doesn't blink.
"Kwong mansion."
Silence.
Then—
"Oh," Zifa says softly. "You've lost your mind."
Rhea exhales. "I don't have time for commentary."
Zifa laughs once, incredulous. "You want me to drive you to the most guarded mansion in the city. At this hour."
"Yes."
"And leave your car here," Zifa continues slowly, "so your mother thinks you're with me."
"Yes."
Zifa rubs her face. "You know I like you, right? But this is insane."
Rhea steps closer. "Zifa."
That tone.
Zifa stiffens. "Don't use that voice."
"I need you," Rhea says quietly. "And I don't ask."
Zifa studies her—really looks now. The tension. The lack of sleep. The panic barely held under pride.
"…Did you two fight," Zifa asks.
Rhea doesn't answer.
Zifa sighs. "That bad, huh."
She turns toward her own car reluctantly. "If your mom calls me—"
"She will," Rhea cuts in. "Tell her I'm with you. Watching movies. Fell asleep."
Zifa scoffs. "You don't watch movies."
"Lie better than that," Rhea snaps.
Zifa smirks despite herself. "Wow. Bossy tonight."
Rhea mutters, "You love it."
Zifa opens the driver's door. "Get in before I change my mind."
Rhea pauses. "Thank you."
Zifa glances at her. "You owe me your soul."
"Take it," Rhea says. "It's already ruined."
Zifa snorts. "Drama queen. Get in."
The engine hums softly as they pull onto the road.
Zifa glances sideways. "So. Plan?"
Rhea stares out the window. "Drop me near the north side. Old trees."
Zifa raises a brow. "You did research."
Rhea doesn't respond.
Zifa exhales. "You're really going in through a window."
"I'm not letting her climb," Rhea says immediately.
Zifa smirks. "You sound like a wife already."
Rhea shoots her a glare. "Focus."
Zifa chuckles, then sobers. "You sure she wants to see you."
Rhea's jaw tightens. "…No."
"That's comforting," Zifa mutters.
They drive in silence for a minute.
Then Zifa speaks again, quieter. "You know if this goes wrong—"
"I know," Rhea says. "But if I don't go, it already has."
Zifa nods slowly. "Fair."
She slows as the distant outline of the Kwong estate comes into view, lights minimal, walls tall.
Zifa whistles low. "You're insane."
Rhea opens the door handle. "Wait here. Engine on."
Zifa grabs her wrist lightly. "Rhea."
Rhea looks back.
"…Don't get caught," Zifa says. "I don't want to explain this to your mother or the police."
Rhea gives a tight, grateful nod. "I won't."
She steps out into the night, the gate looming ahead, heart pounding—not from fear of security.
But from what she's about to face inside.
Kwong Mansion — North Side Boundary, Deep Night
Rhea crouches behind the line of old trees, breath shallow, eyes scanning the mansion wall.
"Okay," she whispers to herself. "You planned this. Think."
The wall looks higher from here.
Too clean. Too smooth. Cameras blink faintly, red dots cutting through the dark like eyes that don't sleep.
"Trillionaire mansion," she mutters bitterly. "Of course."
She moves closer, testing the ground with her foot—stone steps carved unevenly into the slope. She lifts herself onto the first.
Then the second.
On the third, her foot slips.
"Sh—"
She falls forward—not far, not dramatic—but enough.
Her knee scrapes hard against the stone.
Pain flares sharp and immediate.
Rhea bites her lip to keep from gasping.
She looks down.
Blood. Not much. But enough to sting. Enough to piss her off.
"Great," she mutters, pressing her palm to it. "Perfect timing."
She exhales, annoyed more than hurt, and pulls out her phone with shaky fingers.
She types fast.
Text — Rhea → Rina:
Where exactly is the blind spot you mentioned.
Three dots appear instantly.
Kwong Mansion — Inside, Rina's Room
Rina is awake.
She reads the message once.
Twice.
Then her eyes widen.
"…No way."
She types back quickly.
Text — Rina:
Why.
Rhea clenches her jaw.
Text — Rhea:
Answer me.
Rina swears under her breath.
Text — Rina:
Rhea. Tell me where you are. Right now.
Rhea glances around—the wall, the trees, the faint hum of security carts moving farther down the path.
Text — Rhea:
North side. Near the old steps.
Rina's blood runs cold.
"You actually did it," she whispers.
She's already pulling on a hoodie as she types.
Text — Rina:
Don't move.
North Side — Moments Later
A flashlight beam cuts suddenly across the trees.
"Hey!" a guard calls out. "Who's there?"
Rhea freezes.
"Shit," she breathes.
Two security guards approach quickly, hands near their radios.
"Ma'am," one says sharply, light trained on her. "You're not allowed here."
Rhea straightens despite the pain in her knee. "I—"
"Hands where we can see them," the other guard says, already suspicious.
Before Rhea can respond—
"Wait."
Rina's voice cuts through the night, calm but authoritative.
The guards turn.
Rina steps into the light, expression annoyed, almost bored.
"She's with me," Rina says flatly. "My friend."
The guards hesitate.
"Miss Rina," one of them says respectfully. "We detected movement—"
"And you found it," Rina interrupts. "Congratulations."
She looks at Rhea pointedly. "I told you not to wander."
Rhea clenches her teeth, playing along. "I got lost."
The guards exchange glances.
"You should've informed us," the second guard says.
Rina smiles thinly. "Next time. You can go."
There's a pause.
Then a nod.
"Yes, ma'am."
They step back, radios quiet, and move off into the dark.