Page 55 of Run Little Fawn

A flicker of movement, a figure slipping through the crowds on the casino floor.

The software pings, highlighting her face. It's her, but not her. A blonde wig, heavy makeup, clothing that's all wrong for her usual style.

But those eyes. I'd know them anywhere. Even through this grainy footage. I've always been perceptive, but this is something different.

It's as if my senses were honed specifically to recognize her.

Like I was made to seek her out.

To find her. To hunt her.

To make her mine.

I lean back in my chair, a slow smile spreading across my face. Clever girl, but not clever enough. She can't hide from me forever. Not even here.

I watch her move through the casino, her steps purposeful, her head held high. She's not just hiding, she's… hunting?

Searching for something, or someone.

Me?

The realization sends a thrill through me, a rush of dark anticipation. Could it be? Has my little fawn finally decided to turn the tables, to become the huntress herself?

The thought is intoxicating, a heady rush that has me rising to my feet, already reaching for my jacket. If it's a hunt she wants, then a hunt she shall have.

I step out into the night, the neon lights of the Strip casting a garish glow over everything they touch.

The air is thick with the mingled scents of perfume, alcohol, and desperation, the sounds of laughter and music spilling out from every doorway. But I'm not here for the distractions.

I'm here for her.

I pull up a map of the area on my phone, cross-referencing the location of the casino with the nearby hotels. There are a few likely candidates, but one in particular catches my eye.

The Bellagio, with its luxury suites and high-end clientele. It's exactly the kind of place Aria would choose now, hiding in plain sight among the wealthy elite.

I hail a cab, sliding into the back seat and giving the driver the address. As we navigate the crowded streets, I lean back, my mind racing ahead. She's up to something, that much is clear.

But what?

What game is she playing?

The anticipation is a living thing inside me, a coiled serpent ready to strike. I've never wanted anyone the way I want her. Never been so consumed by the thrill of the chase.

She's awakened something in me.

The cab drops me off at the Bellagio, and I blend into the crowd, just another face among the many. I take up a position in the shadows, my eyes scanning the entrance, waiting for her to appear.

Minutes tick by, stretching into an hour. And then, there. A flash of blonde hair, the swirl of a long coat. It's her, emerging from the hotel like a ghost slipping free of its haunt.

I move to follow, keeping my distance, letting the crowd shield me from view as I stalk her through the streets.

She moves with purpose, her strides long and confident. I can practically feel the determination radiating off her, the steely resolve. She's taken my guidance to heart, her mannerisms completely different.

She doesn't act like a newcomer here, hiding among strangers. She acts like someone who's lived here her whole life, someone who belongs.

She's not just running this time.

She's on a mission.

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