[Steel]

Her fingers shook as she typed: "No, as you said, I'm a mystery. Keep guessing" hiding her shock behind.

He's still betting it's Madhuri, that shy little housewife he's been unraveling all week. Ishaan's enjoying this game more than he expected.

"You've got me hooked, keep playing, Velvet. I'll figure you out." 

"Hah! Maybe I'll let you try. But don't think you're gonna win this," the reply popped. He laughed softly, running a hand through his hair.

Ishaan replied back "Oh, I love a fight. Keep hiding, I'll trace and unmask you."

She bit her lip with a thrill zipping through her veins. The heat pooling in her belly scared her, she should stop, delete the chat then and , go back to her quiet life.

But she could't. Not yet. She replied, "Keep dreaming, stalker. I'm a ghost you'll never catch. Prepare to get haunted.. in your own way."

Across town, Ishaan sprawled on his bed, shirtless, the phone's glow catching the sweat on his abs. The message from ShyVelvet stopped him cold.

Ishaan froze, rereading her message. "What the fuck?" he muttered. "This doesn't sound like Madhuri. Who else, if not her?" His mind spun with excitement and confusion tangling together.

"The girl next door? The girl from the library? Who could it be?"

A laugh escaped him, awed and unsteady. "Shit," he breathed, staring at the screen with his shaken cocky edge.

DevilzMask: "You're good, I'll bite you soon." He hit send, his mind racing. Someone was fucking with him, and he didn't know the board yet.

Madhuri read it, but she didn't answer. "Haha... I'll let him squirm," she muttered as a sly smile tugged at her lips.

She locked her phone, and slid into bed. Her body hummed, alive in a way it hadn't been in years. She'd stepped into the abyss, not as prey, but as a player and felt dangerously good.