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