Crimson Alchemy – Episode 3: The Crimson Trap

The Scarlet Harlot had always worked in the shadows, but now the shadows seemed to be closing in.

Ruby Blackwell stared at the news on her tablet. The headlines were relentless: “Scarlet Harlot Escapes Grayson Gala Ambush,” “Vigilante or Menace?” She scrolled through articles dissecting her every move, amateur sleuths posting theories, and even law enforcement speculating on her identity. The stakes were rising, and Ruby knew her carefully balanced double life was in jeopardy.

But the mission wasn’t over. Grayson’s collapse had caused a ripple effect, exposing ties to another predator: Judge Alan Merrick, a corrupt magistrate notorious for letting corporate criminals walk free while exploiting the vulnerable behind closed doors.

At Hawthorne University, Ruby’s day began as usual, her glasses perched low on her nose as she handed back quizzes. She felt Tessa-Rae’s gaze from the back of the lecture hall.

“Professor Blackwell,” Tessa said after class, stepping forward as the other students filed out. “Are you going to the faculty mixer tonight?”

Ruby hesitated. “I might. Why?”

Tessa smirked. “Just thought I’d ask. You’ve been… more intriguing lately.”

Ruby tensed but forced a laugh. “Intriguing? I’m pretty sure I’m the least interesting person on staff.”

Tessa tilted her head, a spark of mischief in her eyes. “Maybe, maybe not.” She left with a playful wave, but Ruby could feel the weight of her suspicion growing.

That evening, Ruby prepared for Judge Merrick’s gala at the Ravenport Courthouse. Her plan was meticulous: infiltrate the high-security event, plant a modified Specter Fog device in Merrick’s private chambers, and let the toxin do its work once he retreated to his office.

But something gnawed at her. The ambush at the Grayson gala had been too coordinated, too precise. Someone was studying her movements. Tonight, she needed to be sharper than ever.

The courthouse was a fortress of gleaming stone and metal detectors, but Ruby, clad in the Scarlet Harlot’s crimson armor, slipped through a service entrance unnoticed. The air was heavy with the sound of polite conversation and the clinking of glasses.

She moved swiftly, avoiding cameras and guards as she approached Merrick’s chambers. She placed the Specter Fog canister under his desk, setting the timer. But as she turned to leave, a voice stopped her cold.

“Scarlet Harlot.”

She spun, her heart racing. Standing in the doorway was a figure dressed in dark tactical gear, their face obscured by a mask.

“You’re clever,” the figure said, their voice distorted by a modulator. “But not clever enough.”

Ruby lunged for the nearest cover as a net shot out from the figure’s wrist device, narrowly missing her. Whoever this was, they were prepared.

The fight was brutal. Ruby used every trick in her arsenal: smoke bombs, flash flares, and quick, calculated strikes. But her opponent was relentless, mirroring her movements as though they’d studied her for weeks.

In the chaos, she managed to detonate a diversionary charge, causing the sprinklers to erupt and sending alarms blaring. As security swarmed the courthouse, Ruby fled into the night, bruised but alive.

Back in her hidden workshop, Ruby examined her injuries in the mirror. Her ribs ached, and her lip was split, but what worried her more was the masked figure. They’d known exactly where she’d be.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Ruby froze—no one ever came to her workshop. She grabbed a small taser and approached cautiously.

“Ruby?” Tessa’s voice called from the other side.

Ruby’s heart sank. She unlocked the door, her expression carefully neutral. “Tessa? What are you doing here?”

Tessa stepped inside, clutching a soaked sketchpad. “Sorry to barge in. I was caught in the rain, and your house was on the way. Thought you wouldn’t mind.”

Ruby nodded slowly, her mind racing. Tessa glanced around, her artist’s eyes taking in the cluttered space filled with vials, blueprints, and tools.

“Interesting setup,” Tessa remarked, setting her sketchpad down.

Ruby forced a laugh. “Just some old chemistry projects. Nothing special.”

Tessa’s gaze lingered on a crimson fabric swatch draped over a chair. “You sure about that?” she asked, a hint of suspicion in her tone.

Ruby felt the walls closing in. Tessa was closer than ever to uncovering her secret, and now there was a new player in the game—one who was determined to trap the Scarlet Harlot.

As Tessa left, Ruby stared at the locked door, her mind a storm of doubt. Whoever the masked figure was, they weren’t just trying to stop her—they were hunting her. And with Tessa creeping closer to the truth, Ruby knew she couldn’t afford a single misstep.

The Scarlet Harlot had always been the hunter. Now, she was the prey.