It was the best date I’d ever been on. Brittney was everything I remembered—beautiful, sweet, and funny, with that quirky charm that had always made her so special to me. We laughed, we talked, and for those few hours, it felt like the world outside didn’t exist. It was just me and her, wrapped up in our own little bubble, away from everything else.

We dined at Bora Bora, a cozy restaurant right next to the sea. The outdoor seating was perfect for the evening—warm and inviting, with a gentle sea breeze and the rhythmic crash of waves against the rocks below creating a soothing soundtrack. The setting sun bathed everything in a golden glow, making the night feel like a scene from a romance novel.

The evening started out a bit awkwardly, with us both adjusting to the nerves of reconnecting. But as we settled into our seats, the familiar ease of old friends quickly returned. The conversation began tentatively but soon flowed effortlessly, taking on a flirtatious edge as the night went on.

As we clinked glasses of wine and shared stories, the tension melted away. Brittney’s laughter was like a warm embrace, and every time she looked at me with those sparkling eyes, I felt like the luckiest guy in the world.

“You know,” Brittney said with a playful glint in her eye, “You’ve changed quite a bit since I last saw you.”

I leaned in, grinning. “People change, and change is inevitable. But the real question is whether it’s for the better or worse.”

Brittney raised an eyebrow, her gaze teasing. “Oh, really? I didn’t realize I was dining with a fortune cookie tonight. ‘Change is inevitable,’ huh? Sounds like something Galileo would say.”

I chuckled. “Maybe. Or maybe I’m just trying to impress you with my newfound wisdom.”

Brittney laughed, shaking her head. “Well, congratulations, because you’ve definitely impressed me. But seriously, you don’t have to try so hard. I already like you for who you are.”

Her words made my heart skip a beat. “Good to know. I guess I’ll just have to keep being myself then.”

As the evening deepened, we decided to take a stroll along the quiet streets near the restaurant. The cool night air was refreshing, and Brittney walked close beside me, her arm brushing against mine every now and then. Each touch sent a delightful shiver up my spine, and I couldn’t stop smiling, feeling a warmth inside that had nothing to do with the chilly breeze.

“So,” Brittney said, glancing up at me with a playful smirk, “What’s the verdict on our little adventure tonight?”

I tapped my chin dramatically, pretending to think. “Well, I’d say it’s been a total success. But I might need a second date to make absolutely sure.”

Brittney laughed, her cheeks flushing with a rosy hue. “Oh, really? And what if I say no?”

“Then I guess I’ll just have to work my charm a little harder,” I replied with a wink. “But I’m pretty confident that by the end of the night, you’ll be begging for that second date.”

She rolled her eyes, a playful grin spreading across her face. “Confidence. I like it. But let’s see if you can keep it up.”

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We continued walking, the stars above seeming to shine just a bit brighter for us. Every moment felt perfect, as though the universe had conspired to create a night just for us. The simple pleasure of each other’s company made me feel like I was on top of the world, savouring a magical evening that seemed too good to be true.

As we strolled along, the quiet streets and soft sea breeze created a cocoon around us, amplifying the connection we were rekindling. The world outside felt distant, and it was just me and Brittney, enjoying the enchantment of the night.

Then, out of nowhere, they appeared.

A group of three men stepped out from the shadows of an alleyway, their intentions clear from the moment they showed their faces. The tallest of them, a guy with a scar running down his cheek, flashed a sinister grin as he blocked our path. The others flanked us, their eyes hungrily sizing up Brittney.

“Evening, lovebirds,” the scarred man sneered, his gaze shifting from me to Brittney. “Why don’t you hand over whatever you got on you, and we’ll be on our way?”

I felt Brittney tense beside me, her grip tightening on my arm. Fear flashed in her eyes, and I felt a surge of protectiveness—along with the cold dread that came with knowing we were outnumbered.

“Just give them what they want,” I whispered to her, trying to stay calm.

But it wasn’t enough. As we fumbled to hand over our belongings, the scarred man’s gaze lingered too long on Brittney. “You know,” he said, his voice dripping with malice, “maybe we’ll take a little more than just your wallets.”

Panic gripped me as the two other men moved closer to Brittney, their intentions clear. No, this wasn’t happening. Not to her.

“Leave her alone,” I said, stepping between them and Brittney. My voice shook, but I stood my ground.

The scarred man chuckled darkly. “Look at this one. Trying to be a hero.”

My mind raced, heart pounding in my chest. I could feel the pull of that strange, forbidden power I’d always tried to ignore. I didn’t fully understand it, but it felt wrong—something my family had warned me about my whole life. But I couldn’t let them hurt her. Not her.

Before I could even decide, instinct took over. I reached out mentally, focusing on the metallic objects around me—the loose change in my pocket, the metal bars on the building nearby, even the fillings in the scarred man’s teeth. I felt them shift slightly, responding to my will.

But then he pulled out a gun.

“Last chance,” he snarled, pointing the gun straight at my chest.

Everything slowed down. The metal inside the gun called to me, but I hesitated too long.

The gun went off, a deafening crack in the night. I reached out, trying to push the bullet away, but it moved too fast. The force slammed into me, and I felt a searing pain in my side as I was thrown to the ground.

I heard Brittney scream, but the world was fading, darkness closing in from the edges of my vision. The last thing I saw before I lost consciousness was the horrified look on Brittney’s face as she knelt beside me.

Then everything went black.

When I woke up, the world was a blur. My head pounded, and every breath sent a sharp pain through my side. I was lying on something cold and hard—a metal table? No, a stretcher. The room was dimly lit, with shadows dancing on the walls from a flickering light above.

“Brittney?” I croaked, my voice barely a whisper.

No answer. Panic surged through me again, but I was too weak to move. Where was she? What had happened?

I tried to sit up, but pain shot through my body, forcing me back down. I had to find her, had to know if she was okay. But I was trapped, helpless. The power I’d tried so hard to deny had failed me, and now I didn’t even know where I was or what had happened after I blacked out.

The sound of a door opening somewhere nearby caught my attention. Footsteps approached, and I tensed, preparing for the worst. But it wasn’t one of the attackers. It was a woman in a white coat, her expression unreadable as she looked down at me.

“You’re awake,” she said, her voice calm, almost clinical. “You’re in a hospital. You were brought in a few hours ago.”

“Brittney,” I managed to say, the effort exhausting me. “Where is she? Is she okay?”

The woman’s expression softened slightly, but there was something in her eyes that filled me with dread. “I’m afraid I don’t have any information on her,” she said. “You were brought in alone.”

Alone.

The word echoed in my mind, making my heart sink. The fear and uncertainty were almost too much to bear. I had no idea where Brittney was, if she was safe, or if she was even alive.