LILIANA.
Okay. So, this is officially not a vibe.
"No re-entry" he says flatly.
I blink at him. Once. Twice. Then I smile.
"Cool", I say cheerfully. "Were no re-entering. We're exiting. Very different concept. Opposite directions. Revolutionary. I know."
Anastasha's fingers tighten around my wrist. I can feel the tremor in her grip-controlled, contained, but there. That's when I know this isn't just wrong. This is dangerous.
"I'm not asking" she says, voice calm in a terrifying way. Which is a first for me. Considering she has never really been in this type of situation before. "Move" she says. Her voice calms.
The Guard does not move. Instead his gaze flickers past us.
I glance over my shoulder to see the chauffeur approaching-still polite along, still smiling along with two more guards, who were definitely not there five minutes ago.
'Ladies' he says smoothly." There seems to be a lot of commotion over here. Why don't we make our way back to our seat? We will just consider this a misunderstanding"
"Oh" I laugh, too sharp, a little too loud." Amazing. Because I was just about to say the same thing- about your entire existence."
Anastasha Shifts beside me, subtle, strategic. She is calculating distances. Exits. Weights. Distribution. I know that look.
"You dosed our drinks", she says quietly
The chauffeur doesn't deny it.
"That was… not part of your concern", he replies. "you we instructed to enjoy the concert"
"Funny" I mutter. "Because kidnapping usually comes with at least a disclaimer"
The guard in front of us steps closer.
And that is when I see it.
The briefest lift of fabric.
The unmistakable black grip on a gun.
Subtle and definitely intentional. A threat dressed up as a flimsy excuse of etiquette.
Anastasha exhales through her nose.
"…Liliana," she murmurs
I grin.
"well rookie, Kelvin did say to treat it like field training"
The chauffeurs voice hardens. "Sit. Down. Now"
I tilt my head "how about a counter offer?"
And then, I dive my knee straight up.
The guard barely has time to grunt before Anastasha moves_ fast, Brutal, precise. She twists his arm, slams him into the railing, and suddenly the VIP section erupts into chaos.
People scream.
Someone drops a drink.
And all hell breaks loose.
One of the guard's lunges for me. Big mistake.
I duck, grab the edge of the chair, and slam it sideways into his ribs. He stumbles, and I follow through, elbow cracking into his jaw.
"Personal Space" I hiss "Learn it."
Another grabs Anastasha from behind.
She flips him.
No- literally flips him.
I hear bone hit floor and wince. "Damn Rookie, are you sure this is your first hiest?"
She doesn't answer. She is already moving again.
The chauffeur backs away, barking orders into his earpiece.
"Contain them- do not let them leave the premises."
A guard reaches for his weapon.
I don't think.
I react.
I grab his wrist twist hard and drive my heel down his foot. The gun clatters across the floor, skidding under a table.
Anastasha kicks it out of reach and throw herself onto another attacker.
The music it still playing.
That's the insane part
Bass thunders. Lights flash. No one realizes the fight ten feet above is even happening yet alone real.
We bolt.
Straight through the VIP door.
The hallway beyond I narrow, dim, industrial. Concrete walls, emergency lights, the echo of footsteps slamming behind us.
"Left!" Anastasha snaps.
I follow without question.
We sprint, lung burning, legs heavy but still obeying. Someone grabs my jacket- I spin and shove them into a wall.
"Hand to yourself" I shout.
Another guard lunges at Anastasha.
She meet him head-on
They collide hard. He is trained- I'll give him that- but she is acient, furious and done being polite.
She drives him back, knee to stomach, palm to throat, and slams his head againt the hall.
He drops.
We keep running.
Alarms start blaring.
Red lights flash.
We burst through a service door and nearly collide with a startled staff member.
"Sorry!" I yell. "emergency Cardio!"
The exit sign glow like salvation.
We shove through the door and the hit air hits us like freedom.
The parking lot stretched wide and chaotic, cars parked tight, people laughing, unaware.
The mesic from inside still roars faintly muffled now.
There! I gasp pointing.
Our car sits three rows down. Footsteps pound behind us as we bolt toward the car.
We reach the car and my hand are shaking as I fumble for the keys. I unlock the dor, yank it open and dive inside.
Anastasha slams the door shut just us something hits the window. I turn the key and the engine roars to life.
Tires screech as I slam the accelerator.
We peel out of the parking heartbeat hammering, the concert light shrinking behind us.
For a long moment, neither of us speaks.
Then I laugh.
Wild. Breathless. A little hysterical.
"Okay… So. That was not normal." I say.
Anastasha stares straight ahead, jaw tight.
"You think?" she says hysterically.
"Whoa, relax rookie" I say calmly.
Almost our body realized we were safe, we could start to feel the effect of the drugs.