“A joker is a little fool who is different from everyone else. He's not a club, diamond, heart, or spade. He's not an eight or a nine, a king or a jack. He is an outsider. He is placed in the same pack as the other cards, but he doesn't belong there. Therefore, he can be removed without anybody missing him.”

― Jostein Gaarder, The Solitaire Mystery

Chapter One: Resentment

Aziekyell Dawn

“Let me show you what you truly fear in this world. Now, come with me. Aziekyell”

Ever since that night, those words repeated itself inside my head. Over and over again. It was as if an invitation of a demon, but it was easily brushed of the moment when he smiled after he said my name. I never knew that a nightmare can be so beautiful.

Angelo Fuentes. How could I ever forget a man like him? He was the epitome of a Heaven and Hell. His words are so pure that people always put their trust in him, as if he was an Angel. But in reality, he was just a manipulative person that always see fun inside one’s suffering. I love every part of him, from his dark side to his bright. We only knew each other half a year after I transferred, but he was the only person that could understand me, the real me.

The night when he proposed to me to became his girlfriend was the night he was murdered. He’s body was found the morning, cold and lifeless. A kitchen knife was found buried in his chest and a rip of King of Spades Card was found. The academy kept his death a secret to the media and a hush money to his parents.

When I transferred to the academy, the director explained that there are rules that must be uphold on the campus. I came mid-year that’s why I was exempted to those rules and so to avoid disturbance no one ever talked to me about those rules. Even if I asked Angelo about it, he’ll just smile and tell me the right time will come. Now, I waited three months for it. Tomorrow will be another school year, our last year in the Academy. I’ll master those rules and win what kind of game this is.