Page 8

8

KIRA

I run my fingers over the intricate details of my Aloy costume, checking every buckle and strap one last time in the mirror. The leather armor hugs my curves, and the synthetic red hair falls over my shoulders.

“You’re fussing again,”Jennasays from my bed, already dressed in her Lara Croft outfit. “It looks amazing! Stop worrying.”

“I know, I know.” I adjust the quiver on my back, ignoring the strange sense of foreboding that’s been following me all morning. “I want everything to be perfect. And maybe...” My voice trails off as I think about how the stranger’s hands felt on my hips as we danced.

“Oh no. I know that look.” Jenna sits up, a theatrical sigh escaping her lips. “You’re thinking about club guy again, aren’t you?”

Heat rises to my cheeks. “Not just him. That Ghost cosplayer who showed up at the second club... the way he scared off that creep who wouldn’t leave me alone. There was something about him...”

“Kira.” Jenna’s voice carries that warning tone I know too well, but there’s a hint of jealousy laced in her words. “Random guys in masks are not safe. We’ve talked about this. Honestly, can’t I catch a break? You’ve got all these guys fawning over you while I’m just here. It’s like I’m invisible.”

“I know, but—” I fiddle with one of Aloy’s braids, feeling guilty. “Did you see how he moved? How did he just know exactly what to do? And those shoulders...” A shiver runs through me at the memory.

“And what about Mr. Blue Eyes from the first club? Weren’t you obsessing over him, too?”

“I can’t help it.” I flop onto the bed beside her. “They both made me feel... different. Special. Like they saw right through me.” My phone buzzes with a convention alert, but underneath it is a notification from an unknown number:

Looking forward to seeing you today.

I quickly swipe it away beforeJennanotices, a chill running down my spine. “At least I won’t be thinking aboutRoguenot showing up anymore.”

“Small mercies.”Jennachecks her prop guns. “Ready to head out?”

I grab my convention badge and prop bow, excitement bubbling up despite my confused feelings and that unsettling text. “Born ready. Let’s go be badass gaming heroines.”

I can’t shake the feeling that something’s different as we leave my apartment. The hallway security camera that never works tracks our movement, its small red light blinking steadily. I hurryJennapast it, not wanting to voice my paranoia.

The bus lurches around another corner, and I grab the pole to keep my balance. My Aloy costume draws appreciative glances from fellow Con-goers packed into the crowded vehicle. A guy in a Kratos costume gives me a respectful nod.

“Look!” I nudgeJenna, pointing out the window at the growing line outside the convention center. The morning sun glints off prop weapons and armor as hundreds of cosplayers queue up.

I spot the first Ghost costume in line. Then another. And another. Each one makes my stomach clench with a mixture of anticipation and dread.

“Oh, wow, there are so many of them this year.” I press my face closer to the glass, trying to catch the details of each costume. Some have the classic mask, while others sport the newer tactical gear. A few even have working LED effects. Anyone of them could be him—the one from the club.

My phone buzzes again. Another text from the same unknown number:

I see you on the bus. Red hair suits you.

I quickly turn it face down on my lap, scanning the bus frantically. No one seems to be watching me specifically, but the message is clear: someone is.

“You okay?”Jennaasks, noticing my sudden tension. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Just excited,” I lie, forcing a smile. “And maybe a little nervous.”

“Don’t forget about all the Konigs, too.”Jennapoints out a group posing for photos outside the convention center as our bus approaches. “Though I know which one’s your favorite.”

I bite my lip, remembering the mysterious Ghost from the club. The way he appeared exactly when I needed help, like he’d been waiting for the moment to step in.

“Speaking of which.”Jennaraises an eyebrow as we step off the bus. “How exactly do you plan to find your club Ghost in this sea of cosplayers? There must be at least twenty just in the entrance line.”

“I’ll know.” I adjust my quiver strap, scanning the crowd with growing unease. “The way he carried himself was different. Plus, his costume had those custom details...”

“Uh-huh.”Jennadoesn’t sound convinced. “And what if multiple people have similar costumes? Or what if he changes something up?”

“If it’s meant to be, he’ll find me.” I shrug, adjusting my prop bow. “He saw my face at the club, after all. And I mean, look at me—how many Aloy cosplayers are rocking these curves?”

As we join the line, I notice a Ghost cosplayer about twenty people ahead turn and stare directly at me. Though I can’t see his face behind the mask, his posture sends a jolt of recognition through me. He raises his hand in a subtle gesture that could be a wave or a salute before turning back around.

“Did you see that?” I ask Jenna, gripping her arm.

“See what?” She looks around, confused.

“That Ghost cosplayer. He... never mind.” I shake my head, unsure if I’m being paranoid or perceptive.

Jennarolls her eyes. “You’re such a hopeless romantic. What happened to the practical gamer girl I used to know?”

“She discovered that real life can be just as exciting as games.” I strike a pose, making my costume’s leather pieces creak, trying to shake off my growing sense of unease. “Besides, you’re the one who’s always telling me to put myself out there more.”

“Yeah, with normal guys. Not mysterious masked strangers.”

“But that’s what I’m into!” I grab her arm, practically bouncing, the enthusiasm only partly forced. “He knew exactly what to do when that creep wouldn’t back off... It was like he’d stepped right out of the game.”

“Or like he’d been watching you and waiting for the right moment,”Jennamutters.

Her words hit uncomfortably close to my own unvoiced fears. I think about the text messages, the feeling of being watched, and how the club Ghost knew exactly when to intervene.

“Don’t ruin this for me.” I pout at her. “Let me have my gaming fantasy, just for today. Tomorrow, I’ll return to being sensible, the Kira who triple-checks her privacy settings.”

“Promise?”

“Cross my heart.” I make an X over my chest piece.

The line inches forward as more cosplayers join behind us. I can’t stop fidgeting with my prop bow, the excitement shaking my hands. My phone buzzes again, but I’m afraid to look at it.

“Look at that Master Chief!” Trying to distract myself, I point to an incredibly detailed costume with working LED lights. “The craftsmanship is insane.”

“Not as insane as those prices for photo ops.”Jennascrolls through the convention schedule on her phone. “Seventy-five dollars to take a picture with voice actors? Highway robbery.”

“Worth it, though.” I pull up my own schedule, finally checking my phone. The new message on the screen makes my blood run cold.

Your bow is perfect. I’ve been watching you make it for weeks.

I quickly put away my phone, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’ve got slots booked for the Call of Duty panel and?—”

“The Ghost meet and greet?”Jennafinishes, smirking. “You only mentioned it about twenty times.”

“Can you blame me? It’s the original voice actor!” My voice rises an octave, partly from genuine excitement, partly from nerves. “Plus, they’re showing exclusive footage from the new game.”

A group of Minecraft cosplayers shuffles past, their blocky cardboard costumes taking up half the walkway. One of them bumps into me, nearly knocking my quiver loose. As he steadies me, he leans in close—too close.

“See you inside,” he murmurs, his voice achingly familiar, before disappearing into the crowd.

“Careful of the props!”Jennasteadies me, noticing my sudden pallor. “You okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I’m fine,” I lie, scanning the crowd frantically for the Minecraft guy. “Just someone being weird.”

“Remember last year when that guy’s sword fell apart during the costume contest?”Jennaasks, clearly trying to distract me. “Poor dude had to do his whole performance with just the handle.”

“At least he committed to it. Made it look like his character had just finished an epic battle.” I smile, but my eyes dart around the entrance area. The line of Ghost cosplayers has multiplied.

“I can’t believe you talked me into Lara Croft.”Jennatugs at her shorts, oblivious to my growing panic. “These pockets are useless.”

“But you look amazing! Besides, what else can rival dual pistols and tiny shorts?” My voice sounds hollow even to my own ears.

“I could’ve been Bayonetta.”

“With her heels? You’d break an ankle before we hit the dealer’s room.”

We share a laugh, but mine comes out strained. The convention center looms ahead, its glass doors reflecting the morning sun and the crowd of cosplayers eager to enter. Somewhere inside, someone is waiting for me.

As we approach the entrance, I feel a hand brush against my lower back—so light it could be accidental in this crowded space. But the deliberate way it traces the exact pattern of my spine sends a chill through me.

“Jenna.” I grab her arm. “Promise you won’t leave me alone today, okay?”

She gives me a curious look. “Of course not. We’re sticking together. That was always the plan.”

I nod, relief washing over me. At least I have my best friend by my side, whatever happens, but as we hand our tickets to the attendant, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m walking straight into a trap.

The convention doors swing open, welcoming us into a world of noise, color, and excitement. A chill runs down my spine as my eyes scan the crowd. I can’t explain it, but a feeling deep in my gut tells me someone is watching and waiting. Like prey sensing a predator, I feel like I’m in danger.