Jayden didn't go straight home.
He couldn't.
Amara's words followed him the whole way.
"If you're running from something… make sure it's not catching up to you."
He let out a breath, walking faster now, hands tucked into his hoodie.
"She don't even know…" he muttered.
But that was the problem.
She didn't know.
And if she ever did—
Things wouldn't stay the same.
The moment Jayden stepped into his building, the energy changed.
The hallway smelled like smoke and something stale. The flickering light above buzzed like it was barely holding on.
This was home.
Or at least… where he stayed.
He reached his door, unlocked it, and stepped inside.
Silence.
Too quiet.
Jayden frowned slightly.
"Yo?"
No answer.
He moved further in, eyes scanning the small space.
Then—
A voice from the corner.
"Took you long enough."
Jayden froze.
His head snapped toward the sound.
Three guys.
Sitting. Standing. Watching.
Like they owned the place.
Jayden's jaw tightened.
"…How you get in here?"
One of them smirked.
"You forgot where you from?"
Another leaned forward.
"You got people looking for you."
Jayden stayed calm.
Even though his heart rate picked up again.
"I don't know what you talking about."
The guy closest to him laughed.
"Don't do that."
A pause.
"Last night… you got lucky."
Jayden didn't respond.
Didn't need to.
They already knew.
"You running now?" one of them asked. "That what this is?"
Jayden stepped further into the room.
"No."
"Then what?"
He looked at all of them.
One by one.
"I'm thinking."
That answer threw them off for a second.
Then the one in the chair stood up slowly.
"Thinking get you killed out here."
Jayden tilted his head slightly.
"Moving without thinking get you killed faster."
Silence.
Tension.
The leader stepped closer.
Not aggressive.
But not friendly either.
"They not playing with you," he said quietly. "You embarrassed them."
Jayden's expression didn't change.
"That wasn't my plan."
"Don't matter."
A pause.
"You in it now."
That line hit differently.
Because deep down—
Jayden knew it was true.
"So what?" Jayden asked. "You here to help… or just talk?"
The guy smirked slightly.
"Depends."
"On what?"
"If you ready to stop acting like you above all this."
Jayden laughed once.
No humor in it.
"I ain't above it."
He looked around his apartment.
Then back at them.
"I'm just trying to get out."
That changed the mood.
One of the guys shook his head.
"Ain't no 'out.' Not for people like us."
Jayden's eyes hardened slightly.
"There is."
"Through music?" someone scoffed.
Jayden didn't back down.
"Yeah."
They exchanged looks.
Like they didn't fully believe him.
But they also couldn't ignore it.
Because they had heard.
People were talking.
The leader stepped back slightly.
"Aight," he said. "Do your thing."
Jayden narrowed his eyes.
"That's it?"
"For now."
A pause.
"But hear this…"
His tone dropped.
"If they come again… we not saving you."
Jayden nodded once.
"Wasn't expecting you to."
They moved toward the door.
One by one.
Before stepping out, one of them looked back.
"That girl you was with this morning…"
Jayden stiffened.
"…be careful."
The door closed.
Silence filled the room again.
But this time…
It was worse.
Because now—
Amara was part of it.
And she didn't even know.
Jayden ran a hand through his hair, pacing once.
"…Nah."
He shook his head.
"That can't happen."
He grabbed his phone, staring at it for a second.
Then locked it again.
Because one thing was clear now—
If he didn't figure this out fast…
He wasn't the only one in danger anymore.