The forest was eerily quiet as Amelia and Benjamin made their way down the narrow, winding path. The air was dense with humidity, and every crackle of a branch beneath their boots made Amelia flinch. Her mind buzzed with the weight of their deal with Bishop. A million dollars. It was a reckless promise, but she couldn't stop herself. This will lead to something— it had to.

"Focus," Benjamin said, his voice cutting through her thoughts as he brushed aside a low-hanging branch.

"I am focused," Amelia snapped, though the edge in her tone betrayed her distraction.

"I beg to differ."

Before she could retort, a low whistle echoed through the trees, its sound sharp and deliberate. Benjamin froze, his hand moving instinctively to the hilt of the knife at his side.

From above, a voice called out, smooth and laced with amusement. "And here I thought this forest was empty tonight."

Amelia recognized it instantly, her stomach sinking as Karma dropped effortlessly from the tree above. His landing was graceful, almost feline, and he straightened with a confident grin that made her blood boil.

"Karma," Benjamin growled.

"Ah, Benjamin," Karma said, waving lazily as if they were old friends. Then his attention shifted to Amelia, his smirk deepening. "And the princess herself. Out here, braving the wild with... what? A single blade and that charmingly naive sense of hope?"

"What do you want, Karma?" Amelia said, crossing her arms to keep her hands from trembling.

"What do I always want?" he asked, stepping closer. His eyes gleamed with something she didn't want to name. "To make things interesting."

"I'm not interested," Amelia shot back, her voice sharper than she intended.

Karma chuckled, a low, velvety sound that grated against her nerves. "Oh, Amelia. You always know how to make rejection sound like an invitation."

Her face flushed with anger, but she couldn't find the words to shut him down. Why couldn't she just tell him off?

"Amelia," Benjamin cut in, his tone firm. "Focus."

She nodded, taking a deep breath and turning her back to Karma. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of riling her up. But ignoring him proved impossible when his voice followed her every step.

"You know, I almost feel bad for you," Karma said, his tone shifting to something darker. "All this running around, searching for answers, and you don't even know the right questions to ask."

Amelia clenched her fists, refusing to turn around.

Karma, unbothered by her silence, leaped in front of her, blocking her path. His smirk had vanished, replaced by something colder. "Your father's a liar, Amelia."

Amelia stopped in her tracks, her eyes narrowing. "Don't you dare accuse anyone of being a liar."

Her voice was low and dangerous, and for a moment, even Karma seemed caught off guard. But he recovered quickly, his lips curling into a faint smile.

"Amelia," he said softly, almost pityingly. "Your mother named you Yamari."

The words hit her like a punch to the gut. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out. Benjamin stepped forward, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"That... doesn't make sense," Benjamin said. "But I remember your mother. She used to talk about naming you Yamari. She said it meant 'beautiful.'"

Amelia's head snapped toward him, her glare sharp enough to cut. "He wouldn't lie about a name," Benjamin added quickly, though his voice lacked conviction.

Amelia turned back to Karma, her anger flaring. "What are you playing at?"

Karma sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. "Your father wanted the government to think you were dead," he said bluntly. "That's why you've never been outside. That's the real reason he keeps you locked up."

Amelia stared at him, her mind racing. "You're lying."

Karma let out a hollow laugh, shaking his head. "I am," he said, his voice light and carefree. For a moment, relief flickered across Amelia's face. Then he smirked again, his gaze cutting into her.

"Or maybe I'm not."

"Stop playing games, Karma," Benjamin warned, stepping between them.

"Games?" Karma said with a laugh. "This isn't a game, Benjamin. This is a puzzle, and I'm giving you the pieces. Whether or not you put them together is up to you." He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"Yamari," he said, his tone soft but deliberate. "You are not Amelia. Your father isn't lying to protect you. He's lying to protect himself."

The forest was silent, the weight of Karma's words hanging in the air like a storm cloud. Amelia's hands trembled at her sides, her mind a whirlwind of doubt and anger.

"You're wrong," she said, her voice shaking. "You're lying."

Karma tilted his head, his smirk fading into something almost regretful. "Maybe," he said, stepping back. "But you'll find out soon enough."

With that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Amelia and Benjamin standing alone in the quiet, suffocating forest.