Start of Deception

Chapter 5

Start of Deception

Benjamin’s POV

When I got back from school, my mind was tangled in dread. I knew what was waiting for me,a "mission" or "punishment" as I’d come to see it. The whole day had been a fog of blurry lectures and half-hearted conversations.

Nothing had managed to hold my focus, not with the weight of my father’s unknown expectations pressing down on me.

Sighing, I slumped onto my bed. I had slipped into my room without being noticed, taking care to avoid the usual corridors so no one would bother me. After a cold shower, I settled at my desk, deciding to take a stab at my homework. My pen moved almost automatically across the page, but I wasn’t absorbing any of it; the words felt hollow, just as I did.

After a few minutes of forcing it, I tossed the pen aside. "We aren’t submitting this until after summer camp anyway," I muttered, and threw myself into my only escape,gaming. Time slipped away as I dived into the comforting world on my screen, a place far removed from my reality, where power didn’t mean pain, and winning wasn’t a requirement for survival.

I barely registered the knock at my door until our steward’s quiet voice broke through my focus. "Master Benjamin, your father requests your presence in his study."

Dread tightened around my chest. I swallowed, pushing down the panic. "I’m on my way," I replied, trying to sound composed. Standing up, I ran a hand through my hair, muttering, "It’s nothing, it’s just another routine." But the reassurance fell flat.

I took a slow, heavy walk to my father’s study, each step amplifying the fear gnawing at me. His study was dimly lit, heavy curtains drawn to block out the afternoon light. The room was like a fortress of shadows, reeking of cigarette smoke and power. My father sat at the far end, a dim outline shrouded in smoke, his eyes glittering with cold authority.

"Good evening, sir," I said, masking my fear with a stoic expression.

He didn’t respond immediately, just took a slow drag from his cigarette, his gaze piercing through me. "Your mission," he began, his voice deep and methodical, "is to befriend a boy. Make him your friend, gain his trust. Then gather the information I need."

The words felt as if they sucked all the air from the room. Befriend a boy? I hadn’t expected that. "A boy, sir?" The question slipped out before I could stop it, my voice betraying my surprise.

My father’s eyes narrowed, his expression a storm cloud about to unleash. "Is there a problem with that?"

I quickly straightened, clamping down on any hesitation. "No, sir," I replied, steadying my voice.

He leaned forward, the dim light casting sharp shadows across his hardened face. "Good. You’ll have the perfect opportunity during the summer camp. Get close to him. Make him comfortable with you, so he trusts you enough to reveal things. Use that opportunity to uncover everything I need to know."

His tone had shifted to something darker, sharper, like a blade pressed to my throat. "I just need to return a favor," he finished, the words dripping with malice.

In the dim light, I caught a glimpse of his expression,rage, disdain, and that unyielding ruthlessness he wore like armor. I could feel the weight of his gaze bearing down on me, judging every muscle twitch, every flicker of doubt. I cleared my throat, steadying myself. "If I may ask, sir, who is the boy?"

His lip curled ever so slightly. "Daniel Thompson."

My breath hitched at the name, though I kept my expression impassive.

Daniel Thompson

the green-eyed boy from school, the one Billy and his friends mocked every chance they got, the boy who’d unknowingly captivated my attention without trying.

I nodded, not daring to ask why Daniel was important or what my father wanted. Those questions would only invite his wrath, and I wasn’t foolish enough to test his patience tonight. "Understood, sir," I answered, keeping my tone steady, the words rolling off my tongue like an oath.

"Remember, Benjamin," he said, his voice dropping to a dangerously low tone. "This isn’t a game. There’s no room for error. Stay focused on the mission. No attachments. No emotions. Only loyalty to this family." He paused, letting the words hang in the air like a threat. "And you know what happens when someone compromises a mission."

I felt a shiver crawl down my spine. "Yes, sir," I replied, my voice a hollow echo. "I won’t fail you."

He smirked, leaning back into the shadows. "Good. Now, leave."

Two Days Later

I had packed all my things for the summer camp, but there was one thing I couldn’t pack

My heart.

Because if I was being honest, my heart wasn’t prepared for any of this. Pretending to like someone, especially someone like Daniel, who seemed so… so real, so untouched by the rot of my world, it felt like a betrayal of my own shattered integrity.

As I stood outside my door, my bags already loaded into the car, I waited for a final word from my parents. My mother came up to me, her eyes soft with affection as she reached out and brushed my cheek. "Try to enjoy yourself," she whispered, a faint, weary smile breaking through. "You deserve to be happy, Benjamin."

Her words stirred something fragile inside me, something I couldn’t name. "I’ll try, Mom," I replied, a forced smile on my lips.

But before I could let the moment sink in, my father’s sharp voice cut through the quiet. "Don’t coddle him," he snapped, glaring at her. "He’s not a child. He’s the heir of this family, and he has a mission to fulfill."

My mother stepped back, sadness flickering across her face as he approached me, his eyes locked onto mine. He looked at me with a fierce intensity, as though he could see straight into my soul. "Follow orders, Benjamin. No distractions, no weakness. Don’t let your emotions compromise anything."

The memory of his words and the chilling weight of his gaze stuck with me the entire drive to the school park. When I arrived, I kept my distance from the other students, finding a quiet corner on the bus where I could gather my thoughts.

But as I sat there, mindlessly scrolling through my phone, my eyes drifted toward the bus entrance. There he was,Daniel, clutching his bag, his green eyes scanning the seats with quiet desperation.

My heart thudded in my chest, the mission roaring back to life within me. This was it, the start of my father’s twisted plan. "Hey, come and sit here," I called out, the words escaping before I could stop them.

He looked up, his eyes widening in surprise, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. I could see the shock, the uncertainty, but he nodded and came over, sitting beside me in silence.

I stretched out a hand, forcing myself to keep my tone light and smooth. "I’m Benjamin."

"D-Daniel," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. Up close, I could see the details of his face, the flecks of green in his eyes, the faint freckles scattered across his cheeks. He was… beautiful.

"You have beautiful green eyes," I murmured, the compliment slipping out unguarded. I couldn’t stop myself; I wanted to say it.

His blush deepened, his head dipping shyly. "Thank you," he mumbled, his voice soft, vulnerable.

I stared at him for a moment, wrestling with the feelings his presence stirred in me. This boy… he was supposed to be my mission, my target. But as he sat there, blushing and shy, I felt an overwhelming urge to protect him, to shield him from the cruel intentions my father had planted in my mind.

It was just a mission, I reminded myself, forcing the emotions down, burying them beneath layers of practiced coldness. "See you around," I said, leaning back and turning my attention to my phone, though my mind was a mess of conflicting thoughts.

I sensed his gaze on me, a warmth that lingered long after he looked away, filling the silence between us with an ache I couldn’t place.

---

As the bus began its journey, I stared out the window, a storm of emotions swirling inside me. The summer camp was meant to be an escape, a reprieve. But now, as I sat beside Daniel, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this trip would be the beginning of something far darker.

Whatever this summer held, I knew it would change me. Whether for good or bad, I couldn’t say.