I couldn't understand how anyone found this enjoyable.

The flashing lights pulsed in sync with the relentless beat of the music, overwhelming the senses.

The room was stifling, packed with bodies swaying in a chaotic rhythm, their skin gleaming with sweat. The air was thick with heat and the smell of too many people crammed into too small a space.

Cassandra had vanished into the crowd, leaving me stranded. She and Nick had gone off to buy what I imagined were overpriced drinks, and after what felt like an eternity, they still hadn't returned.

I had spent the past hour pressed against a rare strip of unclaimed wall, hoping she'd come back and rescue me—maybe even tell me it was time to go home. I longed to wash the stench of strangers off me and crawl back into a bed that smelled like comfort and safety.

But as the hour dragged on, my hope dwindled. It became clear the night was far from over, and I feared we were only getting started. 

My anxiety simmered with each passing minute, and finally, I couldn't stand it anymore. Worry gnawed at me, and against my better judgment, I left the security of my little corner to search for her.

I pushed through the throng of bodies, grimacing at the slickness of the skin brushing against mine. The sensation made my stomach churn. I felt dirty, suffocated, but I kept moving, weaving my way toward the bar.

There she was—Cassandra—dancing with Nick, wedged between him and the counter, completely oblivious to my absence.

Anger surged through me as I stormed over, pinching her shoulder to get her attention. "What the hell, Cassandra?" I snapped.

She spun around, startled, her eyes wide. "Where were you? You just left me!"

Her expression softened, but only slightly, a faint flicker of guilt crossing her face. "Oh... sorry. I got distracted."

I shook my head, too frustrated to even argue. "When can we leave?" I asked, hoping for a sliver of relief.

She shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know. Whenever. Just go do something—enjoy yourself."

I wanted to ask her how exactly she expected me to enjoy myself in this chaotic mess, but she had already turned back to Nick, laughing with him and another girl as if I wasn't even there.

Disappointment settled heavy in my chest. I had foolishly hoped she might care more about how I felt. Shoulders sagging, I turned away, making my way back through the crowd to the spot I'd been standing in before. It was probably taken by now, but it didn't matter, I would find a new spot.

I was only halfway through the crowd when a pair of large hands suddenly clamped down on my arms, yanking me backward.

My heart spiked with anger, expecting to see Cassandra, but it immediately turned to ice when I looked up and saw a tall, imposing figure dressed in dark clothing, a baseball cap pulled low over his sunglasses.

His grip was ironclad, and the coldness emanating from him sent a chill down my spine. Panic surged through my veins as I instinctively tried to pull away, but his hold only tightened, dragging me closer until his lips hovered near my ear.

"I have a gun," he whispered, his voice low and chilling, laced with a threat that wrapped around me like a vice. "You're going to quietly step outside with me, and no one gets hurt. Understand?"

My breath hitched. Numbly, I nodded, my body paralyzed with fear. The air seemed to thin, leaving me lightheaded as we moved together toward the double doors. Each step felt heavy, the booming music fading into the background as my mind raced for a way out. My skin burned where his fingers dug into my arm, his confidence growing with every stride.

His grip loosened slightly, a mistake he didn't realize he'd made. I watched from the corner of my eye as he pulled a sleek phone from his pocket, his hand briefly leaving me. He pressed a button and lifted it to his ear, his voice calm but laced with authority. "I've got her, Granger. Tell Fal to meet us at the front."

A spark of adrenaline surged through me.

In that split second, as a waiter passed by with a tray of drinks, I lunged. My hand shot out, grabbing the nearest glass. Before he could react, I hurled the drink straight at his face, liquid splashing across his face and cellphone. He snarled in surprise, momentarily blinded, and that was all I needed.

I bolted.

My legs pumped wildly as I tore back into the crowd, the throbbing mass of bodies both a curse and a shield. People became obstacles, walls of flesh pressing in on me, slowing me down. My pulse hammered in my ears, drowning out the music as panic clawed at me. Behind me, I heard the man shout, a string of curses rising above the noise.

The crowd stirred, confused by the commotion, but I didn't stop to explain. I shoved past arms, shoulders, anything in my way, desperate to put as much distance between myself and him as possible. Every step felt like an eternity, my muscles screaming in protest, but I couldn't stop.

I wouldn't stop.

Faces blurred around me, flashes of light searing my vision as I struggled to keep moving. I could feel him closing in, his footsteps heavy and deliberate, cutting through the chaos with terrifying ease.

I spotted Cassandra at the bar, her movements erratic and clumsy. My heart pounded as I barreled into her, catching the petite girl off guard. "Jane! Just relax—"

"We need to leave!" I interrupted, my voice urgent and breathless.

She rolled her eyes, irritation flashing across her face. "I told you—"

I shook her, desperation clawing at my throat. "No! We need to leave now, please!" My eyes darted behind me, where I could see the crowd parting like a wave, a dark figure pushing through.

Cassandra's expression shifted to one of realization, and she quickly grabbed Nick, dragging him toward the exit.

"Where are we going? We just got here," he protested, still munching on a shrimp cocktail, completely oblivious.

Cassandra ignored him, pushing forward until we burst through the back door into the cool night air.

"She can explain in the car! Go, we need to hurry!" she shouted, her voice laced with urgency.

We sprinted toward the truck, and I climbed in alongside Cassandra, my heart racing. Nick took his time, ambling to the driver's side door as if nothing was wrong.

"You guys are being dramatic," he muttered, a smirk on his face, completely unaware of the danger closing in.

But before I could respond, BANG! The window beside me exploded in a shower of glass. The deafening gunshot echoed in my ears, sending shockwaves of panic through my body.

I ducked instinctively, instinctively pressing my hands against my ears as the world around me blurred into chaos.

"Get in the fucking car and drive!" Cassandra screamed, her voice slicing through the panic.

Nick finally jumped in, his face draining of color as he registered what was happening. He slammed the door shut and slammed on the gas, the truck lurching forward, skidding dangerously as we tore through the rows of parked cars.

BANG! BANG! More gunshots rang out, bullets shot past us, some scraping the truck's metal frame with a sickening sound. Adrenaline surged through me, and I gasped for breath, fear coursing through my veins like ice.

I pulled myself up to glance back and saw the man jump into a black Jeep, pursuing us relentlessly. "They're following us!" I shouted over the chaos.

Nick's face was slick with sweat, panic evident in his wide eyes. "Fuck, fuck, fuck. What should I do?"

Cassandra climbed into the backseat beside me, her gaze locked on the men tailing us. "We've got to lose them somehow!" She turned to Nick, her voice firm. "Okay, babe, I need you to listen to me. When I say turn, you turn, got it?"

"Yeah, Cass!"

"Alright, turn!"

Nick yanked the wheel left, darting into a maze of oncoming cars. My heart raced as we narrowly avoided a collision, the cars inches away, a cacophony of honks and screeching tires filling the air.

"What do I do now?" Cassandra's voice rose, a mix of urgency and fear.

"Go around them! Head north down the highway and then cut into the back road!" Cassandra screamed as she held her phone tight in her hands trying to navigate.

The sudden jerk of the car slammed me against the door as Nick swerved around the obstacles, the tension inside the vehicle palpable.

I shot back up, breathless. "Are they still on us?"

Cassandra met my gaze, determination etched on her face. "We're not in the clear yet, but they got stuck behind a few cars."

As Nick maneuvered down the route she directed, the familiar streets faded, giving way to a hidden back road that veered away from the city's chaos.

Cassandra turned in her seat, her expression softening. "What happened back there?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out—only a shaky breath. My hand instinctively rose to my lips, trying to contain the rising tide of fear that gripped me.

A suffocating wave of terror crashed over me, reminiscent of that snowy day when I had felt frozen to the ground, unable to move. My vision began to blur, the edges darkening as panic threatened to consume me.

Suddenly, hands gripped my upper arms, rubbing them roughly. "Hey, calm down. You don't have to talk right now," Nick's voice broke through the haze, grounding me. I managed a shaky nod as I sank back into the seat, battling the urge to faint.

The car felt like it was closing in on me, the weight of my fear pressing down like a heavy blanket. Each second stretched into eternity, the overwhelming sensation of impending doom clawing at my throat.

Amid the muffled sounds of the chase, something was thrust into my face. I blinked through wet lashes to see Nick, his hand outstretched.

"Here, this always helps my little brother when he's upset. Just squeeze the hell out of it. It'll help."

In his palm was an old stuffed bear, its fur worn and faded. I stared at it, my mind struggling to process his words.

Timidly, my shaking hands reached out, accepting the offering. The soft weight of the bear felt like a lifeline as I gripped it tightly, desperate for any semblance of comfort in the midst of chaos.

"It's gonna be okay." Nick's voice cracked on the last word, almost a whisper, more for his sake than mine.

A sharp pang hit my heart, like an arrow piercing through the fog of panic. I felt something shift within me, a release, as if I could finally breathe again.

Clutching the stuffed bear tightly, I found a sense of reassurance in the comforting weight of it. I wasn't alone in this fear.

Cassandra remained by my side throughout the ride, her presence grounding me as silence enveloped us. The reality of our situation settled like a heavy fog—we had almost died. The weight of that truth felt unbearable, pressing down on us in a way that was both uncomfortable and profound.

The knowledge of how fragile life was now loomed over us, sharp and menacing. I had felt the sting of mortality before, and though it shook me, I realized I was steadier than the two of them. This was a new experience, one that was fresh and raw for both of them.

Cassandra was the first to break through the heavy atmosphere. "Those guys weren't just random freaks. Whatever this was, it was planned." Her tone was assertive, a clear sign she was ready to take action. "Nick, pull over. We need to talk about some things before we head home."

I could see Nick's shoulders tense at her command, his reluctance palpable, but he complied without question.

"Alright—"

Cassandra shifted, turning to face me, her knees on the seat. "What exactly happened? Every detail."

Though I still felt fragile, Cassandra's take-charge attitude eased some of my anxiety. I placed the bear gently on my lap, bracing myself to recount the events. "Well, after I left you, I was just trying to go back to the spot I was in before. I was moving through the crowd when he grabbed me."

Cassandra huffed, leaning forward, her expression fierce. "Perv. What happened next?"

"He pulled me close and said he had a gun, that I needed to be quiet. Then he led me toward the door, but I managed to escape."

Cassandra shook her head, her eyes wide with disbelief. "That could've turned out really bad."

Nick leaned back in the front seat, his voice cutting in, "Who the hell did you piss off?"

Cassandra's hand came down sharply on Nick's arm. "You're being rude!"

As my thoughts drifted back to the woods, where men had hunted me like prey, a shiver raced through me. My leg throbbed beneath my jeans, the scar a painful reminder of my past.

I kept my gaze lowered, hesitant to continue. "I think... I might know who it could be, sort of."

Both of them focused on me again, the car's atmosphere charged with anticipation. I gulped, rubbing my calf as a distraction from the tightening knot of anxiety in my chest.

"Before you came to live with us, I ran away... to the woods."

I watched their reactions, both of them still and silent, absorbing my words. "There were people trying to take me then. It makes me wonder if it's the same people now."

"Of course they were looking for you," she said knowingly, her expression momentarily clouded. "It's just strange how secretive they've been about it. Why didn't they take you when you were living out in the woods?"

Nick, who had been listening intently, chimed in, "Most people can't just enter town without approval from Town Hall."

Cassandra and I exchanged puzzled looks, prompting Nick to continue, his tone serious. "Seriously, you didn't know about that?"

An impatient Cassandra shook her head. "No, we didn't. Please explain."

Nick leaned back awkwardly in his seat, explaining, "Well, remember those people I mentioned? I think you've encountered one. Remember when you went to the graveyard with her that day? Mr. Thomas, ring any bells?"

I leaned forward, surprised. "James?"

Nick nodded. "Wow, you're on a first-name basis with him." He refocused, continuing, "It's complicated, but he pretty much runs the entire town—or manages it, at least. His sister Pretoria technically owns New Gullies, but since she's a kid, Mr. Thomas handles everything. They've always been wary of outsiders, though I'm not sure why."

Nick shrugged. "Anyway, they won't just come after you in town. At least, not easily."

Cassandra leaned back next to me, her arms crossed and a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

"Damn, and here I thought this place was boring."

She exhaled dramatically, turning her gaze toward Nick. With a pointed finger, she declared, "You need to come to my house tomorrow around lunch to pick us up—"

Nick's expression shifted to uncertainty, his mouth opening as if to protest.

Before he could voice his concerns, Cassandra shot him a steely glance. "Don't even think about arguing. This might seem over the top, but it affects all of us."

Nick paled, his eyes glinting with worry as he replied, "Babe, you have no idea what we're getting into. These people—Mr. Thomas especially—are not the kind you want to involve yourself with."

His words dripped from his lips like poison, whispered as if saying them too loudly might draw unwanted attention.

Cassandra cringed, her tone dripping with disbelief. "What are we, in some lame budget B-movie? They're just people. What's the worst they can do?"

Frustration flickered across Nick's face, his brows twitching as he regarded her. "You don't know this town like I do. Bad things happen to people who dig into their business—"

Cassandra moved closer to me, her determination unwavering.

"What makes them so scary, exactly?" Cassandra's hands flew dramatically through the air as she spoke.

Nick shrugged. "It's complicated."

"So, you don't know?" She laughed, a mocking edge in her voice.

His frown deepened, creasing his face further. "No one does. Every time someone tries to find out, something always happens."

His voice faltered, and he glanced downward, lost in a memory. "Bottom line, this is directly meddling with them, and I don't think it's a good idea."

The genuine worry etched on his face made me want to plead with Cassandra to drop it. I grabbed her arm, tugging gently to bring her focus back to me. "Do we really have to do this?" I kept my voice steady, masking just how much I didn't want to go down this path.

She shook her head, her expression earnest. "Think about it, Jane. Those men might be after you, but who do you think is standing in their way?"

A realization settled in. "Ben and Lilly are what keep you housed, fed, and safe. They'll go after them. Not just them, either." She waved a hand between herself and Nick. "They saw us. They probably have your license plate number and everything." A quiet curse escaped the driver.

"That's what I meant when I said this involves all of us. So, we're going to figure out how to deal with this tomorrow."

With that final statement, the atmosphere in the car shifted to one of inevitable finality. No rebuttal could counter the valid points she'd made. Even if there were, I wouldn't have argued. Ben and Lilly were all I had. I would do anything to protect them, even if it meant risking myself in the process.