Max didn't answer . His eyes flicked down to the ring, then back to her—and for the first time, he looked worried.
"Take it off," he said.
Ruby frowned. "What?"
"The ring," Max said, quieter now. "Take it off."
Ruby hesitated, then slowly tried to pull it off her finger. It didn't move. She twisted it slightly, pulling harder this time, but it stayed in place.
"I… I can't," she said.
Max's expression shifted immediately, something close to frustration—no, worry—crossing his face.
"Knew it," he muttered under his breath. "I wasn't fast enough."
Ruby's stomach tightened. "Okay, can you stop saying things like that and actually explain what's going on?"
Max ran a hand through his hair, glancing around like he didn't want anyone to hear.
"You weren't supposed to remember anything from last night," he said.
Ruby stared at him. "So it wasn't a dream. It was all your idea!"
Max didn't answer, which was answer enough.
Ruby let out a breath, her thoughts racing. "Then what was that? Who were those people? And why were you there?"
Max looked at her again, more serious this time. "That's not the point."
"What? What do you mean that's not the point? That is the point!" Ruby shot back.
Max's eyes dropped to the ring again. "I'll explain later."
Ruby instinctively looked down at it. The small flower-shaped mark caught the light again, like it wasn't just a normal piece of jewelry.
"It's just a ring… I mean, what's wrong with it other than not coming off?" she said, but her voice didn't sound as sure as before.
Max shook his head slightly. "No. It's not."
Then his gaze shifted past her shoulder.
His whole body went still.
Before Ruby could respond, a familiar voice cut in from behind them.
"Ruby."
They both turned.
Victoria was walking toward them, smiling—but something about it felt wrong. Too sharp. Too perfect. She stopped a few steps away, her eyes immediately dropping to the ring.
"Well," she said softly, "That was fast, usually everybody takes a week to figure out."
Ruby blinked. "Victoria…?"
"Did our little hero Max tell you about the ring?" Victoria continued, tilting her head slightly. "Too bad he wasn't fast enough."
Ruby frowned, her heart starting to race. "Victoria… are you okay? You look really pale—"
Victoria didn't even look at her.
Her eyes stayed on Max.
"Max," she said calmly, "you're getting really good at disturbing my plans."
Max stepped slightly in front of Ruby without thinking. "Stay away from this town."
Victoria let out a small laugh. "Or what?"
Victoria suddenly moved, moved so fast it didn't felt a human, grabbing Ruby by the collar and slamming her back against the wall.
Ruby gasped, the air leaving her lungs as panic shot through her.
"I think that's enough," Victoria said coldly, her grip tightening. "Annoying. you have been asking too many questions. 100 #."
"Victoria… don't…" Ruby whispered, struggling.
Before Victoria could say anything back to Ruby,
Ruby heard something, like.... stabbing.
She looked past Victoria's shoulder. Max stabbed Victoria's back with a pencil,
Ruby wanted to scream, but because of Victoria'f hand she couldn't
"…Wow, really?" she said, turning and dropping Ruby on the floor like she was nothing, and taking a look at the pencil on her back. "Didn't expect that from you."
Max's expression had completely changed now
He looked like he was about to cry, but he didn't want to do that.
Victoria smiled again, but this time it wasn't friendly at all.
"Wood doesn't work on me, if that's what you expected. " she repeated.
Max stepped forward.
"I'II…. I'II do it again, if you kill her " he said quietly. "And next time it wouldn't be a pencil."
There was a pause.
She lunged forward, fast—but Max was ready this time. He grabbed her wrist mid-motion and shoved her back again, harder. She hit the wall with a sharp thud but didn't stay down.
Ruby expected Victoria to scream or fight back, but she laughed
"You really grow, after coming to high school." she said.
Victoria looked at Ruby and said
"I'II do my business later. Because someone is destroying my plans."