The second the lights went out, panic slammed into me like a crashing wave. The room disappeared, swallowed by darkness, and every childhood fear I thought I had outgrown came rushing back. My chest tightened. My pulse pounded in my ears.
I moved before reason had a chance to stop me. One moment, I was sitting there, stiff and tense, and the next, I had latched onto Tyler like my very life depended on it.
Oh, crap!
My fingers gripped the fabric of his shirt tighter than I realized. His warmth seeped through, grounding me for just a second before reality crashed in — panic rising for an entirely different reason now.
What was I doing?
It took exactly a few seconds for me to realize what I had done. My arms were wrapped around his, my face half-buried against his shoulder. I froze, too embarrassed to move but also too scared to let go.
"Kz...?" His voice was low, surprised. Amused?
I cleared my throat, refusing to lift my head. "Uhh... I hate the dark."
He let out a small laugh, but with the power out, I couldn't see his face — I only heard it in the way his breath slipped out, amused, as if he were smiling.
My eyes widened in surprise, a flicker of panic and slight annoyance surging within me as heat rushed to my cheeks. I opened my mouth, then shut it again, unsure whether to speak or flee.
This again? Why do I keep making stupid scenarios when I meet this person? It's like the world is mocking me.
My internal screaming felt endless.
Let go. Let go. Let go.
But my arms refused to move.
Maybe if I let go now, he won't notice how tightly I've been holding on. Maybe if I just casually shift away, it won't be weird. But what if he already noticed? What if he thinks I'm completely ridiculous? What if he can feel my heart wildly beating out of my chest???
I swallowed hard.
God, why does this always happen when he's around?!
Then, the flashlight from his phone clicked on, and I quickly pulled away. I cleared my throat, avoiding his gaze as he placed his phone upside down on the table, the flashlight beaming toward the ceiling. He turned toward me.
"Kz... Do you have a rechargeable light we can use?"
"Yeah, I do. It's in... hmm." My brain scrambled for an answer. "It's—"
I pushed against the couch to help myself up, shifting my weight onto my right foot in an attempt to go to my room. As I struggled to wiggle off the seat, Tyler suddenly grasped my right hand, holding it firmly in place.
"Kz! Just sit tight. Stop moving and let me help." His voice was steady but insistent. "I'm just going to grab Tequila and some stuff from my place. I'll be right back. Uhh, if you don't mind."
I hesitated, looking at him with concern. Even with the glow of his phone's flashlight, the room remained cloaked in darkness. He must have sensed my unease because he suddenly squatted in front of me, his hands resting lightly on my leg.
"I'll leave my phone here. Let me borrow yours so I can use its flashlight," he said, standing up and looking away as he cleared his throat. "That means I have to come back, right?"
I stared at him, momentarily stunned. It took me a few seconds to process what he was doing.
Why was I hesitating? It's not like he was going to check my phone... right? No. Of course not. Focus, Kz.
I shook my head wildly, chasing away the intrusive thoughts. My phone was password-protected. Any messages or notifications wouldn't even show on the lock screen.
Reluctantly, I handed it over. He took it with a nod of confirmation, then turned toward the door.
When he opened the door, the storm exploded into the room, rain lashing against the walls. The storm brought more than just rain. It carried the scent of mud, rusted metal, and something almost metallic, like a warning in the air. The balcony door rattled violently, and for a second, it felt like the entire apartment might just rip apart. The wind howled, and the rain poured relentlessly — a dangerous combination that could easily worsen.
Tyler yanked the door forcibly, struggling against the powerful gusts that pushed back against him. My thoughts tangled together, a whirlwind of what-ifs and worst-case scenarios.
I wanted to protest, to insist on going with him. But given the situation, I would only be a burden. So instead, I swallowed my fear, called my dogs, and beckoned them closer. At least with them beside me, I wouldn't feel so alone in the dark.
The wind banged against the balcony door, and panic clawed at my chest. Lucky's ears perked up, her small body trembling at every loud thud. In contrast, Cleo remained calm. I wrapped my arms around them, burying my face in their furry head and pressing a reassuring kiss to each of them.
My gaze fell on the gauze firmly taped to my injured knee. "Why did this have to happen now???" I muttered under my breath. Frustration burned inside me. Pushing against the couch with more force, I steadied myself on my right foot. Pain flared through my knee — sharp and insistent — but I gritted my teeth and pushed forward. Now was not the time to be weak. I hopped toward the emergency groceries I had bought earlier, rummaging through the bags in search of a painkiller. I refused to let this injury stop me — not in a situation like this.
Digging through a plastic bag containing medicines, I finally found a pack of paracetamol. I grabbed a bottle of water, twisted the cap open with shaky hands, and swallowed the pill. Sometimes, just knowing I had taken something for the pain was enough to calm my icy nerves.
Then suddenly — BANG!
A powerful gust of wind slammed the door open, sending a powerful force of rain crashing inside.
Before I could react, Tyler stumbled through the threshold — breathless, drenched, his clothes soaked through and clinging to his skin. Water dripped from his hair, trailing down his face like sweat.
In his arms, Tequila was wrapped in a tiny raincoat, but it did little to hide the way she shivered — from the cold, from fear, or maybe both. Her small body trembled, her fur damp and clinging to her frame.
Her wide eyes darted around the room, filled with a quiet, frozen shock like she couldn't believe what she had just endured to get here.
She squirmed slightly in Tyler's hold, then let out a soft, pitiful whimper. Tyler's face was taut, his expression drawn tight with barely restrained urgency.
"Kz..." Tyler panted, struggling to catch his breath. "I... I don't mean to scare you, but the situation outside is getting worse. The first floor is already nearly flooded, and if this keeps up... it might even reach my apartment."
A gasp escaped me. My heart pounded violently in my chest, a sharp, icy dread sinking into my stomach. My mind blanked. For a moment, all I could hear was the deafening roar of the storm outside — the furious wind rattling the windows, the pounding rain against the glass.
Flooded.
The first floor was nearly flooded.
And if it kept going...
The word hung in the air, thick and suffocating. The chill clung to my skin, sending shivers down my spine.
I sucked in a breath, but it felt like I was breathing underwater. This wasn't just a storm anymore. This was survival.
My mind whirled, racing through everything I knew about floods.
How fast could the water rise? Were we even safe on this floor? What if we got trapped? What if the power never came back?
I looked at Tyler. Wide eyes. Pleading. Searching for reassurance I knew he couldn't give.
I swallowed. My throat dry.
This isn't happening.
My apartment wasn't on the first floor, but Tyler's words clung to me like a warning siren —distant yet impossible to ignore.
The wind screamed against the windows. Rain pounded like fists against the glass as it trembled.
I tried to shake the thought away, pressing a hand to my chest, forcing myself to breathe.
I tried to speak. Nothing came out.
My hands clenched the fabric of my shirt, knuckles white. My legs wobbled. My injured knee pulsed— piercing and relentless — but I barely felt it.
The words tumbled out in a whisper.
"What... what do we do now?"
Tyler's expression darkened. He turned toward the door for a split second, then back to me, his gaze steady.
"First—" he exhaled slowly, his voice low, certain. "We survive the night."