The Start

You were at The Dagger Club.

It was late. Ciaran had called you in with that look—the one that meant something was wrong, but he wouldn’t say what. You stood by the bar, half-shadowed in velvet light while he whispered to Percy on the balcony. You watched the courtesan trail fingers down his shoulder. Watched Ciaran let him.

That was the third night in a row.

You told yourself you weren’t jealous. That you didn’t care. That you were only there to talk strategy, not jealousy.

But the moment Percy looked at you—smug, territorial, like he knew something you didn't—you decided to step outside for air.

Just a minute. Just to think.

Niall followed. He always did.

The alley was quiet. Too quiet. You didn’t notice the shift until it was too late. A rustle. A breath.

The quiet kind of waiting. A breath too still. A shadow too close.

You didn’t see the pipe until it was already swinging. Didn’t hear the boot until Niall dropped. You lunged. Then hands—rough, gloved—slammed you against the brick. Niall shouted. You turned just in time to see him take another blow to the head. Then a boot. Blood. His knees folded.

You tried to reach him. You got one punch in. Maybe two.

Then a crack against your temple, sharp and final.

The ground never caught you.

Everything went black.

Now you’re awake. Your wrists burn. Your head pounds. You’re tied to a chair in a warehouse that smells like rust and mildew. Niall’s slumped across from you—barely breathing. And you can hear something outside.

Gunfire. Rain.
And footsteps.

And the only thing louder than the pain in your skull...

Is the fight.

Somewhere nearby, fists collide. Something crashes. A gun skitters across the floor.

You don’t know what's happening.
You don’t know if help is coming.
You only know the warehouse is filling with rage.

And someone’s going to reach the gun first.

The Mood

You're not safe. You're not powerless. You're the reason this world is burning down.

One wrong word and someone pulls the trigger.
One right one... and maybe they pull it for you.

Author's Note:

AHAHAHAHAHAHA—