Encounters~ Skilled Jewel Empress X Nation's Spoiled Prince

"It better be", Sara muttered under her breath as she examined the open door for any supposed traps. She had her arms crossed and deep in thought.

They wanted to play games with her. Fine, she would teach them how. For now, she could not pull any tricks as she was under watch. Thinking of that, she glanced at the camera above and opposite her. For now, she would go for a blind spot and do the needful. Quickly, she found a blind spot around the opposite corner. She was a one-man army. But, she still needed backup. She stood in the corner and pulled out something from her back pocket which looked like a wireless mic, but was not. She pressed a switch, which in turn flashed a red light. Then, she hurriedly pushed it back in. For now, she was ready and she walked out of the opened door with her long legs.

The entire place looked was built like dull and narrow tunnels, enough for two persons to move in and out. After some time, she found that there were two tunnel openings. Her instinct told her to move to the right one and she did. Towards the end of the tunnel, she found three more tunnels connecting to it. Any normal person would freak at the situation, but she just scoffed upon realization.

The other one had challenged her in her own game. Did they seriously think that she would freak out over some silly maze game? She used to run around mazes as a toddler, jump around as a kid, dance around as a teenager. Who did they take her for?

Mazes were the places she would torture her enemies mentally. This enemy of hers was trying to copy her. For what? To bring her to submission? What a fool!

Whatever...

It took her roughly three minutes to walk out of the maze. In the end, she had walked to the cell with mash nets surrounding it. She took a good look around.

"Truly impressive", the voice was back and so was she. She immediately turned around and saw an elevator coming down. The doors were transparent. What followed was a pair of black pants, followed by a black shirt. She anticipated a face but was greeted by a silver mask mounted on it. Only the pair of dark eyes were visible. She frowned internally, but she kept a neutral face. The man stepped down from the elevator, his right hand tucked inside his pocket. He spoke, his voice amused, "That was quick."

Sara balled her fists. Little did he know, that she had already switched to her demonic form, tear down the face behind the mask...

---

W cafe

Ruby ruthlessly jabbed her fork on the roasted chicken b.r.e.a.s.t. Her patience had finally worn out. Never in her life had she imagined that Sam would stand her up for a date. First time in three years!

*_*

Three hours...

THREE HOURS!!

THE HELL OF THREE HOURS!!

She should have shoved the chicken b.r.e.a.s.t right when he was already an hour late! :-$

Ruby helplessly picked up the phone and stormed her eyes through the numerous text bubbles she had sent him last THREE hours!

[Ruby: How long? You're 3 mins late!]

...

[Ruby: Where are you? It's been an hour!]

...

[Ruby: Come on! Pick up your phone!]

...

[Ruby: Pick up the damndest phone already!]

...

Sigh! :-~°

Each time she called him, the same record played itself again and again!

'The number you have dialed is currently switched off. Please try again later!'

Finally, the word called 'patience' was wiped off from Ruby's mental dictionary. She stood up and unknowingly slammed both her hands on the table, gaining some unwanted attention as well as making the poor plates jump.

The chief chef was immediately summoned to and was paid a hefty sum. Why? To retreat and never show his face! Why? Because he was the only chef capable of making Sam's favorite roasted chicken! She vowed never to come back for a date in this cafe.

Sigh:-~° This was where they first met. Yeah, there were so many memories in this cafe that they share. Thinking about that, she summoned the chef back and said lazily, "Keep the money. You don't have to leave. Keep cooking the roasted chicken."

Saying so, she turned to leave. A few aunties were eyeing her with surprise and confusion. Upon realizing their stares, Ruby stopped and asked haughtily, "What?! Is there something on my face?"

The aunties looked away awkwardly due to her direct confrontation.

Ruby stepped out of the cafe and was about a moment away from hailing a cab when her phone rang with its usual ringtone. She felt so delighted that she didn't see the contact flashing on the screen before answering it.

"Sam?-- What?!"

---

On Sara's side

Sara had twisted the silver mask's right arm and was currently trying to rip off his mask. The mask already had rips on his nose and left cheek, blood streaking through them.

"Who are you?!" Sara growled while keeping him under his control.

The silver mask let out cold, sinister laughter, "You don't have to know. Hand me the papers and you are done."

"I will usher them on your grave", Sara spoke in a low, cold and evil voice.

"He--Help!" a disoriented mechanical voice echoed in the cell. Sara looked up with suspicion. She narrowed her eyes, "What was that? Who was that?!"

On the other hand, the silver mask took advantage of Sara's distraction and immediately hit on her injured forehead. Sara winced in pain and fell back due to sudden bout of dizziness.

The silver mask immediately jumped up and ran towards the various machines placed in there. He pressed a peculiar button that stopped the disoriented voice.

Sara realized that it might be the radio.

But, suddenly alarms started blaring nonstop. It hurt Sara's ears and made her feel dizzier.

"F*uck!" the silver mask cursed under his breath when a sudden warning was heard.

"Surrender!"