Neo's POV
Neo woke up like he'd been yanked out of the bottom of the ocean.
His chest rose too sharp, too fast.
Sweat clung to his forehead even though the AC hummed on low.
The room was quiet too quiet like the silence was listening to him.
He sat up slowly, blinking in the dim half-light crawling through his curtains.
His dream was still staining the back of his eyelids.
Blood.
So much blood.
A hallway he recognized from the Familia estate.
And a body on the floor he couldn't see who, the face kept glitching in the dark.
But he remembered the red spreading, thick and warm, until it touched his shoes.
He exhaled shakily.
It was just a dream.Just a dream.He hoped.
But he clearly remembered the face he saw it was Ethan.
Though he might had not seen Ethan even after he was shot or been there when he was shot his brain had ways of making up scenerios of the scenes and how it happened.
He shuffled with the duvet for a while before placing his bare feet in the cold floor headed straight for the bathroom to wash his face as if it'd wash away his problems or the constant beating in his heart.
Two whole days had passed and yet no new update from the estate, or from Lucas nothing at least to know if Ethan was doing alright just pure silence as if nothing had happened. Neo lost in his thoughts then.
His phone buzzed so harshly on his nightstand he flinched.
Lucas.
Neo grabbed the phone immediately.
"Hello?"
Lucas's voice wasn't angry.
It wasn't loud.It was worse.It was calm. Too calm. Like his anger was wearing a suit and sitting with crossed legs.
"Neo," Lucas said. "Listen carefully."
Neo straightened without thinking. "Yes."
"Darian's quiet." Lucas paused. "And when he's quiet, that's when he's preparing the most. I don't want you walking alone. Anywhere. Not to class. Not to your gate. Not to the corner shop outside your street."
Neo swallowed hard. "Okay. I understand."
"Pia stays close to you. Aiden stays close to you. You do NOT separate. Not even for a minute. Am I clear?"
"Yes, Lucas."
"And when you reach anywhere you go, call me immediately," Lucas added, voice lowering further. "Don't play hero. I don't need another person on a hospital bed."
Neo's breath caught.He could tell Lucas was more than serious
"…How's Ethan?"
"He's awake," Lucas said. "He's in pain. But he's alive."
Neo's chest loosened a little. "Thank God."
"Stay alert. Tell Aiden too"
The call ended.
Neo stared at his dark screen for a long moment, the weight settling deep inside him like someone dropped a stone into his stomach.
Ethan almost died.Darian was quiet.And worst of all they were next.
He immediately grabbed his phone and dialed Aiden's number and told him to come over. It didn't take long for Aiden to arrive since there house wasn't entirely far apart.
A knock on his door made Neo flinch again.
"Neo? Baby open up it's me!" Aiden said with his childish tone but neo wasn't in the mood at all.
Neo opened the door and Aiden literally fell inside, breathing like he'd sprinted uphill with a cow on his back.
"Why… you look like you just saw a ghost," Aiden said between breaths, looking up at his friend.
"Sit," Neo said.
The tone made Aiden stop joking, immediately.
He sat stiffly on the bed.Neo told him the situation of Everything.
About Ethan. About Darian. Lucas's warning. The need to stay together.
Aiden didn't move at first.
His joking expression cracked slowly, like a mask peeling off.
"Are we next?" he whispered, voice suddenly small.
Neo shook his head in disapproval.
Aiden wiped his face with both hands, exhaling shakily. "Shit. Neo… shit. We could've lost him."
Neo's own voice wavered. "Yeah."
Silence settled between them heavy and scared.
Aiden finally looked up. "So… what now?"
"We stick together," Neo said. "Everywhere. Every minute."
Aiden nodded hard. "Okay."
"Pia!!!!!!!" Aiden shouted her name from neo's room
Pia nearly dropped her phone when Aiden called her into neo his room.
Aiden was sitting there, pale but trying to act normal.
Neo's voice broke the illusion.
"Pia… we need to stick together from now on. Lucas called this morning saying that darian could be planning for us next we could be his next target so we stick together from now on"
Her world froze for a solid second.
"What?"
"Aiden and I need you to be extra careful," Neo said quickly. "lucas told me to watch you. They think Darian might try something again."
Pia's breath hitched.
She sat down slowly like her knees couldn't hold her.
"Is he—?" her words cut in her throat
"He's alive," Neo said knowing exactly where she was going. "He'll be okay."
She nodded, swallowing, voice trembling softly.
"Just… don't leave each other alone. Please." Aiden said
"Am sorry all this is happening guys I really didn't expect all this am sorry for dragging you both into this mess-" "hey will you quit that we're all in this and do you see us complain neo, I know pia is too young and all but that doesn't mean we won't try to keep ourselves safe" Aiden said facing neo fully now "he's right Neo am not complaining at all. I mean not that I didn't know from the start or you forced me" she said holding her brothers hands "thank you, both of you I really would have broken down a long time ago if not for you both" "awnnnnn you owe us big time now" Aiden said with sass in his tone "sure" neo replied with a small smile.
Ethan's POV
Ethan woke up to pain.
Not sharp pain.Heavy, dragging, bone-deep pain.
He blinked at the dim lights above him and instantly regretted it. It stung his eyes. Then he slowly moved his eyes around the room stopping where, Matteo was slumped beside his bed, sitting in a chair like his spine had given up on life, head resting on folded arms on the mattress.
He'd refused to move all night.
A blanket had somehow slipped from Ethan's shoulder onto Matteo's back.
Ethan managed a weak, tired smile and tugged it up so it covered Matteo properly. Then his phone buzzed on the table. He slowly turned then pick it up it was other than
Cealan. He'd wonder how he was doing after the whole accident.
CEALAN: Eat something if you can. I'm serious. I'll come there and spoon-feed you myself.
Ethan rolled his eyes so hard it made his headache throb.
"Oh shut up…" he muttered, but his lips curved a little.
ETHAN:Are you okay, did you get home safe after the shooting
CEALAN:Awnnn so princess cares about his prince afterall
ETHAN:oh will you stop it already am just being considerate because you saved my life goodbye.
CEALAN:bye princess get better already hate seeing you on that bed.
Ethan stared at his screen for way too long smiling at nothing.
Matteo stirred beside him.
"You awake?" Matteo asked, voice rough from no sleep.
"Unfortunately," Ethan whispered, sliding the phone underneath the his blanket.
Matteo looked exhausted. But relieved. And angry.
So angry.
Ethan squeezed his arm gently.
"I'm okay." "You were shot."
"And I'm still prettier than you."
Matteo dragged a hand down his face. "This isn't funny-"
"Nothing is funny to you," Ethan interrupted. "Let me cope how I cope."
Matteo huffed but didn't argue.
In another room,Kellan shut the door quietly behind him.
Elena spread out files on the table.
Kayla crossed her arms.
"We're not telling Lucas yet," Elena said. "He's already under too much pressure, and we all know him, he says we'll handle this our own way meaning he'll handle it himself which we can't let him."
Kellan nodded once.
"What's Darian's pattern?"
Kayla sighed. "He doesn't hit once. He hits in waves."
Elena added, "Ethan was the first wave."
Kellan's jaw clenched.
"So another is coming."
"No," Elena said coldly.
"Multiple, so far he doesn't walk alone."
"We have to move fast, because Lucas is moving faster".
Neo's pov
Neo, Aiden, and Pia headed out.
Aiden drove. Yes he had his license already.
Neo sat in the front, unusually quiet.
Pia was in the back, hugging her bag tightly.
Halfway through the street, Neos's voice cut through the car.
"Neo… there's a black SUV behind us." he'd knew because he kept on looking at the side mirror
Aiden checked his mirror.
It was there.Not close.Not far.
Just… following.
They turned left.It turned left.
Neo's pulse jumped.
He called Lucas instantly.
"We're being followed."Lucas didn't shout.
Didn't panic.
"Enter the nearest public place. Do NOT lead them home. Do NOT try to escape alone. Are you alone" "no am with pia and Aiden" "move fast"
Neo spotted a supermarket ahead.
"We're going in."
Lucas said, "Call me once you're inside. Stay close to people. Stay visible."
Neo hung up.
Aiden parked.
The SUV parked too several cars behind.
They got out, trying to look as calm as ever.
Neo kept Pia between him and Aiden as they walked into the busy supermarket.
Inside, it was crowded.
Bright lights.Loud chatter.
Normal.Too normal.
Neo kept scanning.
Aiden pushed a trolley even though they weren't shopping just to look natural.
Their breathing was uneven, too loud in their ears.
"Neo…" Pia whispered. "What if they're inside already?"
Neo didn't answer, he didn't know what to say he just hoped for the best
Aiden walked ahead a little, down the snack aisle.
Neo followed.
Pia held onto Neo's wrist.
Then-
A bump.Soft. Quick.
A supermarket staff wearing a green apron brushed against Aiden's side.
"Sorry, sir," he said calmly, polite smile, head bowed.
Aiden didn't think twice.He kept walking, trying to get to a more crowded area.
Until he felt something in his pocket.
He froze.
Slowly, slowly, he reached in.
His fingers found folded paper.His throat went dry.
He opened it carefully.
Neo saw his expression change first–Aiden's pupils blew wide, breath catching, mouth parting slightly like he forgot how to breathe.
"Aiden what is it?" Neo whispered.
Aiden swallowed....hard and showed him the paper.
One word.
RUN.
Neo's stomach dropped.Pia grabbed his arm with both hands this time already sensing danger.
Aiden's heart thudded so loud he swore everyone could hear it.
Neo looked around.
The supermarket suddenly felt too bright.
Too loud.
Too crowded.
Every face felt like a threat.
Every shadow felt too close.
Aiden's hand was shaking slightly as he held the note.
Pia whispered, voice barely there:
"Neo… what do we do?" Neo inhaled.
Then exhaled.
His voice dropped cold "We run. Now."
And before any of them could move-
The lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then went out.
Black.
The entire supermarket fell into a silence so thick it felt alive. One second, chatter. The next nothing. Just a darkness that swallowed sound, color, and air.
Pia's gasp sliced the silence.
Neo grabbed both their wrists instantly, his hold iron-tight.
"Aiden,Pia....MOVE."
They ran.
Hands locked together, the three of them sprinted blindly through aisles that suddenly felt endless, pushing through anything and anyone that came their way. Their shoes slapped the floor, heartbeat fast, breaths shaking as they dodged carts, displays, shelves.
Behind them–
a soft metallic clink. Like a shell dropping.
Or a safety being removed.
Aiden choked on his breath. "Neo..NEO someone's here–"
"I know," Neo hissed, pulling them faster. "Don't turn, don't stop."
They slid behind the snacks aisle, Pia almost slipping. Neo yanked her up before her knee hit the tiles.
Another The same as the metalic coming from another direction
Footsteps. Slow. Deliberate.Too close.
Neo shoved them under a low metal stall, the cleaning supplies counter,barely big enough for one person. All three forced themselves beneath it, bodies trembling, knees hitting metal, breaths shallow.
Aiden's phone vibrated violently against his thigh.
KELLAN CALLING.
Neo's phone started buzzing at the same time.
LUCAS.
Neo grabbed his phone, pressed it to his ear, whispering so low it barely existed:
"Lucas...Lucas.....someone's here. They cut the lights. We're trapped–"
Lucas' voice roared through the speaker, sharp with fear:
"NEO, LISTEN TO ME. Stay DOWN. Do not run. I'm tracking your location....Kellan and Elijah are already driving–"
Neo swallowed hard, the metal stall shaking from his trembling hands. "Lucas… Lucas, they're stalking the aisles. I can hear them."
A slow breath nearby.
Footsteps.
Something dragged along the floor.
Pia squeezed Neo's hand so hard her nails dug into his skin.
Aiden finally answered his own call, whispering harshly:
"Kellan....Kellan.....please–someone's in here...pleas-"
Kellan's voice cracked, all composure gone
"Aiden..hey..shshh, breathe. I'm coming to you...whatever you do, don't make a sound–"
Aiden's breath was breaking into pieces, every inhale loud in his ears. Neo clamped his free hand over Aiden's mouth before instinct could betray them.
From the darkness outside the stall–
a silhouette paused right in front of them.
Boots.
Black ones. Though they couldn't see instinct could tell it all. Facing their direction.
The figure crouched.
A gloved hand slowly reached under the stall
fingers brushing the edge of the metal
searching…reaching…
Pia whimpered silently, tears hot and fast.
Neo's heart hammered so hard he felt it in his throat.
He whispered into the phone:
"Lucas…Lucas..mmhm h-he's right in front of us."
Lucas' voice dropped deadly
"If he bends lower if he sees you Neo, grab Aiden and Pia and RUN. Don't think. Just run."
Aiden's phone buzzed again in his hand. Loud, another call,another message
vibrating loud on the tiles.
The man's hand stopped.
Turned.
Tilted toward the sound.
He lowered himself further, his head dipping to look under the stall
Neo whispered, voice breaking:
"Don't move."
The figure leaned lower…
Lower…
Until his eyes almost appeared
And right then
A blast.
A loud, violent BANG from the front entrance, stalls flying here and there so did the aisle each falling on top each other falling like timbers hitting the floor with heavy bangs.
The figure snapped his head toward the noise.
A woman screamed somewhere in the store. Then the whole place became chaos people screaming here and there.
The man stood slowly, very slowly…
Then stepped away from their stall.
Footsteps faded.Silence again, on their side
Neo swallowed.
Pia covered her mouth.
Aiden shook so hard his teeth clicked.
Lucas yelled through the phone:
"NEO, TALK TO ME! What happened?!"
And Neo whispered back:
"We're not alone… and they're not leaving. They blew up some part of the supermarket"
The lights flickered back to life for half a second
just long enough for all three of them to see something on the floor outside their hiding spot:
A small metal object.
A tracker... perhaps what they all carried in mind
Still blinking red. Right beside their feet
"Lucas!!!!!!!!!"
"Kellan!!!!!!!!!!"
"Found them!!"