A Fated Collision

rds the parking lot. The world outside the club felt strangely distant, the muffled thump of music still echoing

," Claire muttered,

nto Claire's shoulder. She was beyond drunk,

lickering ominously. A shiver ran down Claire's spi

ng felt

dows shifting against the cold concrete walls. Claire's pulse s

e watchi

tightened. Keep mo

of her hoped she was just imagining things. Maybe the paranoia

she heard

pace. Not rushing

oat. She needed to get

ights casting long, eerie shadows across the pavement. Without a second

told the driver,

dared a glance back, but the figures were already follo

pounded in

dom club-goers, or was some

t to stick aro

rtment, so she got the idea of checking into a h

g into

r the people from the club's parking lot. The receptionist, a middle-aged woman with sharp eye

ng about tequila and bad decisions. Claire barely managed to

in her pocket, but she couldn't check it because of the situation they were in earlie

Chloe's purse spil

coop up the contents- lip gloss,

moment, she accidentally knock

slid under the bed, disa

oe was already sleeping, and Claire figured she could st

, leaving a quick note

t meds. Be

ne behind, she slipped out the door. The not

topher and Xavier

e steering wheel, his jaw clenched as he l

ans

ied a

l no

se settled

r at some point and both

at Ethan had said about her wandering around the club al

fidgeting, his own phone

, frustration lacing his tone. "Chloe's

he wheel tightened. "Wh

he got there, but Claire was with her at the club. I'm guessin

s brows furr

he said, his voice

he approximate arrival time to Christopher. "We

against the gas pedal, speeding through the near-empty stree

n't answering, and that alone w

the room, searching for

th

started

? Had something

frustrated groan, she scanned the room, hoping to find

en she sp

e's p

the carpet

cked it up, unlo

avier (7), Prof

ood ra

what this meant, the ho

saw Claire standing there, looki

ched herself at her friend,

kidnapped!" Chloe's voice was m

before awkwardly patting C

I was just seeing your phone here, and I-" She cut herself off,

inked. "Y

e Professor 'cause he le

lence passed

h

exclaimed, her s

k echoed fr

," she said. "How did they know ou

es to ope

very single place, relief flickerin

ht behi

them was someone who

al

her was

xpression unreadable yet simmering wit

what the hell is going on?" H

ddenly realizing that thi

ion, leading to an intense confrontation. Meanwhile, Xavier is just relieved both ladi

men from the garage

d trailed Claire from the club to the