🌑 (Jay's POV)

Pain.

That was the first thing I felt.

A sharp, throbbing pain that made it hard to think, hard to breathe, hard to even open my eyes.

I tried to move—

But something stopped me.

My wrists.

Tied.

My breath hitched as panic rose instantly.

Slowly, I forced my eyes open.

The room was dim, barely lit by a flickering bulb above. Shadows stretched across the walls, shifting with every small movement. The air felt cold. Unfamiliar.

Wrong.

Where am I?

Then it hit me.

The street.
The car.
The hand over my mouth.

"No..." I whispered.

This wasn't a dream.

I tried to sit up, but the rope tightened painfully against my wrists.

Whoever tied this knew exactly what they were doing.

My breathing turned uneven as I looked around.

Empty room.

No windows.

No way out.

Then—

Footsteps.

I froze.

The sound echoed slowly, deliberately, getting closer.

My heart pounded as the door creaked open.

Light spilled in—

And a man stepped inside.

I didn't recognize him.

But the way he looked at me made my stomach drop.

Like I wasn't even a person.

Just something useful.

"Well," he said casually, leaning against the doorframe, "you're awake."

I swallowed, forcing my voice to stay steady.

"Who are you?"

He smirked.

"Does it matter?"

"Yes," I said, sharper this time.

He chuckled, pushing himself off the wall and walking closer.

"Bold."

I clenched my jaw. "Why am I here?"

Instead of answering, he stopped a few steps away, studying me.

"You ask too many questions."

"And you're not answering any."

A pause.

Then he laughed.

"Relax. You're not the important one here."

Something about that made my chest tighten.

"Then why am I here?"

His smile widened slightly.

"Leverage."

The word hit harder than anything else.

Leverage.

My mind raced.

Then one name formed instantly.

"Keifer..."

He didn't say yes.

He didn't say no.

But the silence told me everything.

My heart dropped.

No.

He can't come here.

Not because of me.

"Let me go," I said quickly.

"Not happening."

"Please—"

"Save it."

His tone turned cold instantly.

"You're staying right where you are."

I clenched my fists, ignoring the rope digging into my skin.

"Whatever this is," I said, forcing confidence into my voice, "he won't do what you want."

He tilted his head, amused.

"You sure about that?"

Silence.

Because I wasn't.

And he knew it.

"That's what I thought."

Keifer...

If this is about him—

He'll come.

Of course he will.

That's the problem.

My chest tightened painfully.

"No..." I whispered.

I couldn't let that happen.

I wouldn't.

💀 (Keifer's POV)

Something was wrong.

I didn't know what.

But I could feel it.

It started as a small thought—easy to ignore.

Then it grew.

Sharper.

Heavier.

Danger.

I leaned back slightly, staring at my phone.

Nothing.

No calls.

No messages.

But the silence felt wrong.

Too quiet.

Then—

A notification.

Unknown number.

I opened it.

We have her.

Everything inside me went still.

Another message came in.

Come alone.
Location attached.

And then—

A photo.

Jay.

Tied.

Unconscious.

My grip tightened around the phone.

For a second, everything around me disappeared.

All I could see was her.

My jaw clenched as something cold settled inside me.

Controlled.

Dangerous.

"...Kaizer."

There was no doubt.

I stood up immediately, grabbing my jacket.

No hesitation.

No second thoughts.

Because this wasn't a choice.

It never was.

If they thought, I wouldn't come—

They didn't know me at all.

"You shouldn't have touched her," I muttered.

And then I walked out.