The city at midnight was alive. Too alive. Neon lights bouncing off wet streets, puddles reflecting colors like some cruel prank, street sounds echoing like they were narrating my doom. I should've been in bed, curled up with Mr. Whiskers glaring at me, maybe crying into a cup of instant coffee. But no. Instead, I was here, in the middle of a street I barely knew, clutching my backpack like it could shield me from… well, everything. And of course, Ethan Drake, smirking like he owned every neon-lit corner of the city, was right there.
"Ready or not," he said, voice low, teasing, dangerous and proactive,"your challenge begins now."
My brain short-circuited. Ready? Me? Absolutely not how could i. I tried to take a breath, but it came out jagged and shallow. My stomach flip-flopped. My heart… my heart… oh god. I tripped slightly over the curb. Classic Zara.
"Uh… yeah… totally ready," I muttered, voice cracking slightly. My cheeks burned. Of course, he noticed. His smirk widened like he knew exactly how panicked and confused I was.
System alert: Task: Navigate Midnight City with Ethan Drake. Objective: Survive. Reward: Mystery.
Survive? My stomach sank. Coffee had failed me, sleep had failed me, my life had failed me… and now this.
We started walking. He didn't hold my hand, didn't even speak much. But every step we took, our shoulders brushed. Sparks? Panic? Both? My chest betrayed me every single time. Stop thinking that, I told myself. Didn't listen.
The streets were quieter than I expected. Empty except for a stray cat, the distant hum of neon signs, Few taxis parked and my own panicked footsteps echoing back at me. Perfect setting for… whatever the hell this challenge was supposed to be. My phone buzzed.
Tip: Trust no one… except maybe the system.
I groaned so loudly it probably echoed. "Oh, great. Thanks, system. You are really helpful."
Ethan chuckled. The sound low, smooth, and maddening. "You talk to yourself a lot, don't you?"
"I… maybe. Not really. Okay, yes. Shut up, Ethan." My brain was leaking panic everywhere.
His smirk. That smirk. Sparks again. My knees weak, my stomach doing another somersault. I don't know why.
We turned down a narrow alley. Neon bounced off wet walls. My bag slipped off my shoulder twice. He picked it up for me. Close enough that I could feel warmth radiating from him. Why was this legal? Why was it… driving me insane? Why am i so much into him?
System alert: Romance Meter +2.
I threw my phone back into my bag. Hallucinating. Definitely hallucinating.
Then a shadow moved. My stomach lurched. Ethan grabbed my arm, steadying me. Sparks. Panic. Everything simultaneously hit me.
"What was that?" I whispered.
"Probably nothing," he said smoothly. "Or maybe part of your challenge or something."
Of course. Terrifying, exciting, and yes… slightly romantic.
We crouched near some crates. Shadows forming shapes on the wall. My eyes darted, trying to make sense of them. Click. It made sense. I pointed it out.
"Not bad," he said slowly. "Maybe you're better than you think."
Praise from Ethan Drake. Dangerous. Wrong. And yet, my heart didn't care and my cheeks were the proof.
Phone buzzed: Task Progress 50%. Next: Someone or something unexpected will appear.
I froze. Heart hammering. Oh no. Oh god no.
Ethan smirked. "Looks like your challenge is just getting started from here, Zara."
And from the far end of the alley, a figure stepped forward.
My stomach sank. My chest raced. My brain screamed. I felt my heart racing at full speed. I had no idea if I was terrified… or completely, hopelessly drawn in.
The alley smelled like damp concrete, old garbage, and… fear? No, maybe it was just me who frozed of fear for a moment. My hands were sweating. My bag swung too heavily. My shoes squeaked on the puddles. I tripped slightly over a tiny rock. Ethan caught my elbow. Sparks. Heat. Panic.
The figure moved closer. I could make out the glint of a neon bracelet. Harper Lane. College rival. Oh. Fantastic.
System alert: New Task: Negotiate or defeat Harper Lane. Reward: 500 points + mystery.
I blinked. "Seriously? I can't even deal with Ethan right now and you have this second trouble ready for me…" I muttered, voice cracking slightly.
Ethan's smirk widened, teasing. "Looks like your challenge got… competitive," he said. Sparks. Panic. Literally sparks in my chest.
Harper crossed her arms. "Thought you could escape me, Cole? Think again."
I swallowed. "Uh… hello?" Smooth, Zara. Real smooth.
System alert: Romance Meter +3.
Ethan leaned just enough to whisper, "Relax. Don't worry I've got your back… kind of."
Kind of? My chest betrayed me again. Sparks. Panic. Desire. Brain meltdown.
The alley held the next system object: a glowing puzzle box. Harper lunged. My stomach lurched. I froze. Ethan grabbed my hand, gripping tightly. Sparks flew. My brain short-circuited.
"Zara, go!" he commanded. My legs moved, shaky, tripping slightly over my bag. Ugh. Focus.
System alert: Task Progress 25%. Romance Meter +4.
Harper was fast. Ethan dangerously close. Glowing box… city night… chaos. My chaos. Their chaos. And the system? Definitely loving this.
I lunged for the box, adrenaline ripping through me. My hands almost touched Ethan's. Sparks. Heat. Panic. Brain overload. Heart attack.
Phone buzzed: Tip: Trust no one… except maybe the system.
I blinked, trying to breathe. My chest racing, hands sweaty. Ethan's smirk widened, teasing me, daring me. Sparks again. My stomach did somersaults.
Harper smirked. Rivalry forming over glowing neon boxes. My life officially chaotic. Heart racing. Brain short-circuiting. Hands trembling.
Ethan's hand brushed mine. Sparks. Panic. Confusion. Desire. Ugh, I hate this. I love this. I don't know.
System alert: Task Progress 50%. Next: Rooftop challenge awaits.
The glowing puzzle box pulses, Harper smirks, and Ethan's hand lingers… Zara's chaos is about to go vertical. Midnight City just got hotter, and her heart is not ready for what's coming up next.