As the final guests trickled out, I slipped through the exit, my mind racing. My breath came in short, furious bursts. I needed air. I needed—
The sleek black car was parked at the curb, waiting for me. Calvin was supposed to pick me up, but I didn’t see him. Something felt off.
Then, the screech of tires tore through the night.
A black van skidded around the corner and halted in front of me.
Panic gripped my chest.
Before I could react, the van doors slammed open.
"Get her!"
Masked men lunged toward me.
I turned on my heel and ran. My dress clung to my legs, my heels clicking against the pavement. I had no direction, only desperation.
“Don’t let her get away!”
Adrenaline propelled me forward. I turned down a narrow alley, gasping for breath.
A rough hand clamped around my arm, yanking me back. I screamed, thrashing against the iron grip.
A cloth pressed against my face. The sickly-sweet scent of chloroform invaded my senses.
"No—!" My plea faded as the world around me dissolved into black.
---
When consciousness returned, I was slumped in a cold metal chair, my wrists bound behind me. A dim light flickered above, casting eerie shadows on the cracked concrete walls.