The card trembled in my fingers, though my hand clutched it tightly.

The Queen.

The moment the men saw it, the atmosphere in the room shifted like a storm.

“She’s mine,” the golden-haired man said first, his voice dripping with charm but carrying a sharp undertone. He stepped forward with a smirk, flashing his Ace card. “The Queen should stand with the Ace of Hearts. We’d make the perfect pair, don’t you think, sweetheart?”

“Pathetic,” another voice cut in, cold and merciless. The silver-haired man adjusted his glasses, his gaze as sharp as a blade. “The Queen belongs with strategy and strength, not empty flirtations. This isn’t about romance—it’s about survival. And under my protection, she will live.”

“You mean under your control.” The billionaire, the Ace of Diamonds, scoffed. His tailored suit shimmered under the chandelier’s glow as he stepped closer. His eyes locked onto mine with possessive fire. “Don’t listen to them, Ivy. With me, you’ll never want for anything. Money, power, security—it’s all yours. All you have to do is stay by my side.”

A chair scraped as the man with dark hair, sitting silently until now, finally moved. He stood, towering, his expression unreadable yet filled with tension. “You’re all making this harder than it needs to be,” he muttered. His black eyes flicked toward me—intense, unwavering. “The Queen doesn’t need your promises. She needs protection. I’ll handle that. End of discussion.”

Before I could process his words, a low chuckle echoed across the room. The Joker. He leaned lazily against a pillar, spinning his card between his fingers with dangerous ease. “Tsk, tsk, gentlemen. You’re fighting like dogs over scraps.” His grin widened, feral and mocking. “But here’s the truth—you’re all wrong. The Queen doesn’t belong to anyone.”

The air grew heavier. The men tensed, glaring at one another, like predators in a cage.

And me?

I was the prey.

My lips parted, a protest on the tip of my tongue, but the weight of their gazes silenced me. The Queen card felt like it was burning into my skin.

How had my life come to this?

---

~Flashback~

One week earlier…

The smell of coffee, not gunpowder. The warmth of sunlight through my small apartment window, not the glitter of chandeliers. That was my world. Simple. Safe. Forgettable.

I worked part-time at a bookstore, surrounded by the scent of paper and ink, escaping into stories that weren’t mine. My life wasn’t extraordinary; it wasn’t even interesting. Wake up. Work. Go home. Repeat.

Sometimes I dreamed of more. Of danger, of passion, of a world that felt alive. But dreams were just that—dreams. I was nobody.

Or so I thought.

It started with an envelope slipped under my door. No sender. Just my name, written in elegant ink. Inside was a single card: the Queen of Spades.

I had laughed nervously, thinking it was some kind of prank. But when I stepped outside the next day, men in black suits were waiting.

“You’ve been chosen,” they said.

I ran. Of course, I ran. But no matter how far I went—down crowded streets, into dark alleys, even across city lines—they always found me.

And then, one night, they caught me. Dragged me into a limousine with tinted glass, pressed the card back into my hand, and whispered, “Welcome to The Deck.”

From that moment, my life stopped being mine.

---

~Back to the Present~

“You’re trembling.”

The voice jolted me back to reality. The Ace of Spades stood closest now, his cold eyes scanning me with terrifying precision. “If you want to survive, Queen, choose wisely. Align yourself with the wrong Ace, and you won’t live to see next week.”

Before I could respond, the Ace of Hearts scoffed and grabbed my wrist. “Don’t listen to him, Ivy. He doesn’t care about you. He only cares about winning.” His smile was infuriatingly bright, but his grip was firm, possessive. “But me? I’ll make this fun for you. You’ll forget all about the fear.”

The Ace of Clubs stepped forward in an instant, his hand snapping to the blond’s wrist, forcing him to release me. “Don’t touch her.” His voice was a low growl, dangerous. “If anyone lays a hand on her without her permission again, they’ll answer to me.”

Tension snapped in the air like a drawn bow. The two men glared at each other, ready to strike.

“Enough.” The Ace of Diamonds raised his voice, commanding the room. He took deliberate steps forward until he stood directly in front of me, his shadow swallowing mine. He cupped my chin, forcing my gaze to meet his. His eyes glittered with arrogance. “Don’t be fooled by their chaos, Ivy. You’re mine now. Everything you are, everything you have—it belongs to me.”

I froze. My breath hitched.

And then, from the corner, came the Joker’s slow clap. His laughter sliced through the tension.

“Oh, this is delicious,” he drawled, eyes gleaming with madness. “The Queen, torn between her loyal Aces. How tragic, how poetic. But tell me, Ivy…” His voice dropped to a whisper that still carried across the hall. “…do you even know why you were chosen?”

The question sank into me like ice water.

No.

I didn’t.

All I knew was that my life was no longer mine.

---

~Flashback (Unfinished)~

Back then, I still thought I had a choice. I still thought I could escape.

I remember standing outside the bookstore one last time, watching the rain slide down the glass window, telling myself that tomorrow would be normal again.

But the men were already watching. The game had already begun.

And I… I had already been dealt the Queen.

---

The men surrounded me, their voices clashing again—threats, promises, bargains I didn’t understand.

But one truth became clear as the Joker leaned in close, his smile dripping with secrets.

This wasn’t a game I could walk away from.

The Queen had been chosen.

And she was me.

The moment I held up the Queen card, the hall exploded into chaos.

“She’s mine.”

The words cracked like a whip across the room, spoken by the Ace of Diamonds. His polished shoes echoed against the marble as he closed the distance between us, each step deliberate, filled with confidence. His eyes burned with possession, sharp enough to make my knees weaken. “The Queen belongs with me. Wealth. Power. Security. No one else here can give her that.”

“Power, huh?” The Ace of Hearts gave a low laugh, stepping forward with a careless ease that contrasted with Diamonds’ arrogance. Blond hair fell across his forehead, his eyes glinting mischievously even as his tone dripped with venom. “You think she wants to be locked in a golden cage, Diamonds? Don’t make me laugh. The Queen wants someone who can make her live, not suffocate her. And that’s me.” He shot me a playful grin. “I’ll show you what it means to enjoy the game, sweetheart.”

“Enjoy?” The Ace of Spades’ voice sliced through the air, cold and merciless. His silver hair shimmered under the chandelier, his gaze sharp enough to cut. “This isn’t about enjoyment. This is about survival. And the Queen will not survive under your weakness.” He turned his head slightly, gray eyes pinning Hearts like a blade. “She doesn’t need your charm or your promises. She needs someone who can outthink every enemy, someone who sees every move before it’s made. That’s me. She’ll be mine because I’ll keep her alive.”

“Alive?” Hearts spat, his smile slipping. “She’ll die of boredom with you, Spades. You treat people like pawns, and pawns always get sacrificed.”

Spades’ lips curled in a faint smirk. “Better a pawn than a fool.”

The tension between them was so sharp I could almost hear it hum in the air. My heart pounded painfully in my chest as the two men stepped closer, both radiating danger.

“Stop.”

The Ace of Clubs’ voice was low but thunderous. He moved for the first time, his dark eyes flashing as he planted himself between them and me. His presence was a wall, protective and immovable. “You’re scaring her,” he growled, his hand curling into a fist. “If you keep treating her like some prize to be won, I’ll put you both on the ground.”

“Scaring her?” Diamonds scoffed, his smirk returning. He crossed his arms, his tailored suit shimmering as though mocking me. “She should be scared. Fear is the only thing that will keep her alive in The Deck.” His gaze flicked to me, cold and final. “If she can’t handle it, she’ll die. Simple as that.”

Before Clubs could respond, slow clapping echoed through the room.

The Joker.

He peeled himself off the wall where he had been leaning, his grin stretching wide, sharp as broken glass. His dark hair shadowed his face, but his eyes gleamed with chaotic delight. “Ah, look at the mighty Aces,” he drawled, spinning his card effortlessly between his fingers. “Snarling at each other like wolves over a bone. And all the while…” He tilted his head, eyes locking on mine. “…you’ve forgotten the truth.”

The room stilled.

“The Queen doesn’t belong to any of you,” Joker continued, voice dripping with amusement. He leaned closer, his grin widening as though he enjoyed my fear. “She belongs to the game. And the game…” His whisper was loud enough for everyone to hear. “…is cruel.”

My breath caught in my throat.

“What game?” I forced out, my voice barely steady.

Spades answered first, his tone like ice. “The Deck. A secret society where power is everything. The Queen’s role is to survive it.”

“And if I don’t?” My voice cracked, but I needed to know.

Diamonds’ smirk widened. “Then you die.”

The words slammed into me like a physical blow.

“You can’t be serious—”

“We’re dead serious,” Spades cut in sharply. His gaze pinned me like I was already on the board, already a piece in play. “Tomorrow, your first trial begins. Fail, and you won’t see another sunrise.”

My knees threatened to give out, but Clubs’ hand brushed against my arm, steadying me. His touch was protective, almost gentle, though his eyes burned with suppressed violence. “You don’t have to let them scare you,” he said quietly, his voice meant only for me. “You’re stronger than you think.”

Before I could answer, Hearts stepped forward, flashing that infuriating smile again. “Relax, darling. Trials aren’t all bad. Think of it as a dance. Follow the right steps, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll make it out with your crown still shining.”

I didn’t believe him for a second.

The room felt like it was closing in on me, each man’s voice crashing against the other’s.

“She needs guidance—” Spades snapped.

“She needs protection—” Clubs growled.

“She needs wealth and power—” Diamonds declared.

“She needs love, or she’ll lose her mind—” Hearts argued.

“She needs chaos,” Joker interrupted with a laugh. “Otherwise, what fun is the game?”

Their voices tangled, clashing like blades. My chest tightened, the Queen card trembling in my hand as though it, too, knew what was coming.

For a moment, I thought they’d draw their weapons right there in the hall. The air was thick with violence, with tension, with everything they weren’t saying out loud: each one wanted me, not just for the title of Queen, but for something more.

And me? I wanted to scream. To run. To throw the damn card in their faces and disappear.

But deep down, I knew the truth.

There was no running anymore.

The Queen had been chosen.

And she was me.

The next morning came too quickly.

I hadn’t slept, not even for a second. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw their faces—the Aces snarling over me, the Joker’s twisted grin, the Queen card burning in my hand. By the time the heavy double doors of the grand hall opened again, my body was trembling, though I forced myself to stand tall.

This time, the hall was darker. Torches flickered against the stone walls, throwing jagged shadows that made the place look more like an execution chamber than a room of royalty. At the center, a massive table gleamed with polished black wood, and on it sat a deck of cards bound with a blood-red ribbon.

The Aces were already waiting.

Spades leaned against the far wall, arms crossed, his icy gaze never leaving me. Hearts lounged in his chair, spinning a dagger between his fingers like it was nothing more than a toy. Diamonds adjusted his cufflinks, smug as ever, while Clubs stood rigid, his fists clenched as if he was one second away from breaking someone’s skull. And the Joker… he was perched on the edge of the table, humming a tune that made my skin crawl.

“Queen,” Joker called, stretching the word out like a joke. “Welcome to your first trial.”

I swallowed hard. “Trial?”

“The Deck doesn’t tolerate weak pieces,” Spades said coldly. “If you can’t survive this, you don’t deserve to wear the crown.”

“And what if I don’t want the crown?” My voice cracked, but I didn’t care. I had to say it. “What if I don’t want any of this?”

The Aces exchanged glances, but it was Diamonds who answered, his smile cruel.

“Then you’ll be buried without it.”

My blood ran cold.

Joker hopped down from the table, the red ribboned deck in his hand. He tugged it free, the cards snapping like whips as he shuffled them with theatrical flair. “The rules are simple, darling Queen. You draw a card, and whatever fate it carries, you must survive. That’s the game.”

“Survive?” My throat tightened. “What do you mean by—”

“You’ll see,” Joker cut in gleefully. “Oh, this is going to be fun.”

He fanned the cards out before me, bowing mockingly. “Pick.”

My hands shook. I wanted to run, but Spades’ voice cut through the silence like steel.

“Choose. Now.”

I forced my fingers forward, my pulse hammering in my ears. Slowly, I drew a single card from the deck.

The Ten of Swords.

Joker’s grin widened so much it almost split his face. “Ah… how poetic.”

“What does it mean?” I whispered.

“Death,” Spades said bluntly.

Before I could react, the floor beneath me shifted with a heavy groan. The tiles slid apart, revealing a pit below—deep and dark, filled with sharpened spikes glinting under the torchlight.

My breath caught in my throat. “You’ve got to be kidding me—”

“You survive, or you die,” Diamonds said, smirking. “That’s all there is to it.”

A narrow stone bridge extended over the pit, no wider than a single step. At the far end sat another card, glowing faintly under the torchlight—the escape.

My legs went numb.

“I can’t do this,” I whispered.

“You can,” Clubs said firmly. His voice carried none of Diamonds’ mockery or Hearts’ teasing. It was solid, grounding. “One step at a time. Don’t look down. Just move.”

Hearts leaned back in his chair, smirking. “Or look down. I’d love to see that expression when you realize one wrong move means you’re skewered like a kebab.”

“Shut up, Hearts,” Clubs snapped.

Spades’ eyes locked onto mine. “Move. Prove you deserve to live.”

My hands were shaking so hard I thought I might collapse, but something deep inside me snapped. If I froze, I’d die. If I begged, they’d laugh. If I ran… there was nowhere to go.

So I took a breath. And I stepped onto the bridge.

The stone was cold beneath my feet, rough and uneven. The spikes below shimmered like a hungry mouth waiting to swallow me whole.

“Don’t look down,” Clubs had said.

I looked down anyway.

My vision spun, my chest tightening until I could barely breathe. The pit seemed endless, pulling me toward it. My legs trembled violently, my arms flailing for balance.

“Pathetic,” Spades muttered from behind me.

“Come on, sweetheart,” Hearts called lazily. “It’s just a walk. Pretend you’re on a runway.”

“Focus!” Clubs barked, his voice hard now, sharp enough to cut through my panic. “You can do this. One step. Just one more.”

I clenched my fists, forcing air into my lungs. Step by step, I moved forward, each second dragging like an eternity. My foot slipped once, and a scream tore from my throat as my body swayed dangerously close to the edge—

—but I caught myself.

The Aces watched in silence, their gazes heavy. Joker clapped his hands like a child at a circus, his laughter bouncing off the stone walls.

“Marvelous! The Queen dances on knives!”

Finally, with one last desperate lunge, I reached the other side. My hands shook as I grabbed the glowing card. The pit closed behind me with a thunderous crash, the bridge vanishing like it had never been there at all.

I collapsed to my knees, gasping.

For a moment, there was silence. Then Spades’ voice cut through the air.

“You survived. Barely.”

Diamonds smirked. “She’ll need more than luck next time.”

Hearts tilted his head, flashing that dangerous smile again. “She looked beautiful when she almost fell, though. Didn’t she?”

Clubs ignored them all, stepping forward and offering me his hand. His dark eyes softened, just a fraction. “You made it.”

I hesitated—then took it.

Joker’s laughter rang out, sharp and wild. “Oh, this is only the beginning. The Queen has made her first move… but how long before she’s checkmated?”

His grin made one thing terrifyingly clear.

This wasn’t just a trial.

It was a war.