We were Born to Die
stepp
ley Bentayga, a shiver o
cool breeze that danced
sed, handed the keys to t
eat. She looped her arm t
s down my arm as we walk
like a well-r
r pres
ing glances from passer
ated me. In her black cros
l tassel earrings that spa
er. Her black hair, tied
uating her striking feat
y coursing through me at
n't straight, I thought fl
to ask her out, which I
someone like h
d in red a
s that hugged my curves i
over me. The dress, a sec
ible, empowered. My hair,
to my ensemble, completi
take th
soon we
ding music hit me like a
with the scent of sweat,
instinctively placed my ha
oise, but it was futile.
ople, their bodies sway t
thers indulged in their d
mfort as we moved de
inall
a VIP room, where Danie
ngling with the pulsating
s with smiles, their glas
d them, engaging in small
e off the feeling of unea
nd the superficial chatte
reak, pushing my way thro
to the restrooms, my hea
denly,
me to stumble backward.
stration, but before I
of bodies, leaving me a
felt a sharp sting on my
urce unknown in the midst
restroom, desperate for m
s, my hands trembling as I
my arm. The cool sensation
was stil
I emerg
und of laughter and chatte
of my dress, trying to c
But as I approached, I
r conversations, their an
ike a protective shield. W
t deep down, I knew I was
once bubbled within me e
eling that gnawed at my in
to the safety
niella,
n I just... Chicken out?"
bt and apprehension clo
e she could offer any reas
f desperation. "No need to
ton to send
niella
t, but I silenced her wit
own. I just need some fres
respect my
r expr
ncertainty dancing in he
She replied, her voic
offer
. Stepping out into the ni
caressed my skin, its to
eet stretched before me
g shadows across the pavem
d into the background, rep
rtbeat echoin
I wa
ntle rhythm of my footstep
he world around me seeme
ing embrace of solitude
ughts, I couldn't help but
ning of something new? Onl
mbrace the uncertainty, a
d find the strength
I walke
long line of cars filled t
I glanced around, trying
ly deepened my confusion.
ving me forward. Suddenly,
d a single individual who
ser, I realized he was ho
nsteady and demeanor cle
hed him, a question naggi
t a cyl
espit
persisted in his drinking,
, he managed to stand upri
owd. As the music swelled
itement at stumbling upo
I was uninvited. With a s
and grabbed a glass of p
The scene unfolded bef
aughter filling the air, a
eing p
igating
I found myself drawn to
ft bar had been set up. I
s unfolding around me. Bu
d down, leaving a palpab
y the sudden shift, only
oom. It was a man unlike a
commanding an
his p
e just for fleeting moment
h the depths of my stomach
fore I could fully process
ered the moment. "Which o
intoxicated and emanating
ignore him, hoping to
e, but he
eryone
which one do you belong t
n I felt. Glancing around,
was a gathering of diffe
symbols adorning their a
prehend the dangerous sit
oly Cr
th, the gravity of the
e man'
lity, demanding an answer
ound desperately searchin
st the chaos. "Can you t
f to assert his dominance
nly grew firmer, his gaze
xcuse
bling with fear as I str
ation I was caught in. I c
course, instinct took o
otion, I lashed out, my
I could muster. He stumbl
rowd around us erupted. Al
illed with curios
gret g
d the gravity of my action
tunity to escape, my hear
The sound of footsteps ec
crowd gave chase like hun
y under my breath, I bera
ent instead of heading str
nt etched on Alessandro's
teo and Gio
e pred
ay; I had stumbled into
ht surpass my own record
running in these red pump
f footwear with every st
a car screeched to a hal
hrough the window, and a
ht, I darted toward the sa
danger nippi
t the
nston accelerated away fro
es and in cars, hot on ou
ducked instinctively as
. Thankfully, we remained
w increasingly dire. With
calated, fueling the adre
in
I reach
of the car, my fingers br
ed there. Our cars were
rtments for weapons. It wa
d out the gun and expertly
the window for me with a
t understood. With adren
halfway out of the window
safe t
eyes
others, its tires vulne
ed and fired, the recoil
nd its mark, piercing the
t, blocking the path for b
r me as I glanced back a
rush of blood in my ears
towards them, reveling i
eathle
into the car, carefully s
thed out, the adrenaline
in the rearview mirror,
d, a pang of guilt tugg
e softer now, "Can you kee
Falconetti." H
uring. With a nod, I turne
resumed his position at th
state, the cool night air
of the car, the weight of
nside. A sense of peace w
thes and slipped into the
ifted off into