{ Mia }
Darkness pressed in around me. The air was thick, laced with the scent of damp wood and something metallic rust, maybe. My breath echoed in the stillness, the only sound aside from the faint hum of distant city life beyond the door.
As my eyes adjusted, shapes emerged from the shadows. Broken crates were stacked haphazardly against the far wall, their surfaces splintered and worn. A single flickering bulb dangled from the ceiling, swaying slightly as if disturbed by my sudden entrance.
I stepped forward cautiously, my sneakers scuffing against the grimy floor. Dust clung to the air, swirling in the dim light. The space was abandoned had been for a long time.
"You feel safe, cupcake?" Ace's voice murmured in my head, but I barely heard him.
Something wasn't right. The room felt… watched.
" Scarlett, scan for any lifeforms in here." I whispered under me breath.
My smartwatch buzzed and I heard Scarlett's voice through my earpiece." Scanning"
Beep.Beep.Beep.
"One person found. He's at your right."
My pulse spiked. A faint shuffle barely audible came from the shadows. Someone was here. Watching me.
I didn't hesitate. I lunged.
" Hey, stop it Mia, you're hurting me ."
I froze,that voice sounds familiar. I thought.
" Scarlett access lights."
The overhead light buzzed to life, revealing a disheveled figure pressed against the crates.
My breath caught.
"Cole?!"
" What are you doing here ?"
"Not bad cupcake, not bad at all." Ace emerged from the darkness clapping his hands.
My hands were still trembling as I stepped back, my pulse hammering in my ears.
Cole groaned, rubbing his arm where I'd grabbed him.
I swallowed hard. What was he doing here? And more importantly… how did Ace know him?
"Cupcake."
My head snapped toward Ace. The moment I saw him, the tension inside me cracked. Without thinking, I ran straight to him, wrapping my arms around his torso.
" Thanks" I muttered under my breath.
And gently he pulled off my wig and ruffled my hair. " It's nothing cupcake. I'm always here for you."
Slowly I let go of him .
"What's he doing here ?" I pointed at Cole's figure desperately trying to get up.
" He's my friend cupcake. I've assigned him to help me keep an eye on you when I'm not around." He smiled.
My stomach twisted. "So what, you've just been watching me this whole time? Without telling me?"
Ace sighed, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "It's not like that, cupcake."
"Then what is it like?" My voice was sharper than I intended. "Because from where I'm standing, it sounds a lot like spying."
Cole finally straightened, wincing. "Look, Mia, I—" He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's not what you think, okay?"
" Then what is it Cole?!" I asked my frustration bubbling over.
"I-I-I—"
"She's not ready yet Cole." Ace's cold voice came from above me.
"When will I be ready, Ace?" My voice cracked, my breath coming out in ragged gasps. My fingers curled into fists at my sides. "Every time I want to know something, you say I'm not ready! I'm sixteen!"
Ace ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly, like he was holding back words. "This has nothing to do with age, cupcake." His voice was softer, but the tension in his stance told me he was getting tired of my questions.
Cole looked at us confused." Ace? Who's Ace ? "
"Ace is the name I gave him since he refuses to tell me the real one." I said crossing my arms over my chest.
"Mia, I—" Cole hesitated, eyes darting toward Ace before looking back at me. "I wish I could tell you. But if I do, everything changes."
"Then tell me!" I demanded.
"Not now, Cole." Ace's voice was like a blade, cutting through the air.
I glared at Ace." Please. I want to know." I said as my eyes started to blur.
Suddenly a knock at the door sounded.
Ace's hand clamped gently but firmly over my mouth, muffling my sobs. I thrashed, trying to break free, but his grip was unyielding. His warmth contrasted the ice in his voice as he whispered, "Don't move, cupcake."
He quickly snapped his fingers and the room transformed into an apartment.
I blinked. Once. Twice.
The room grimy, dark, cold was gone. In its place stood a perfectly furnished apartment, the scent of damp wood replaced by clean linen and faint vanilla. My breath hitched. This wasn't real. It couldn't be.
My wide eyes snapped to Ace. "What did you do?"
He smirked. "It's just an illusion, cupcake. You can do way better."
What did he mean by that? That I could trick people too? That I had powers like him? No. That was impossible.
And yet… something deep inside me twisted. Like a locked door I was too afraid to open.
" Don't move cupcake we're invisible whoever enters can only see Cole . We're in a protective bubble." He smiled.
" A protective bubble?" I looked at him confused.
" You'll find out just search deep inside yourself."
The knock came again louder this time.
My breath hitched.
Ace's grip on me didn't loosen. If anything, it tightened.
Then, the door creaked open. Two figures stepped inside, their eyes scanning the room like wolves on a hunt.
My stomach twisted into knots.
"We're looking for this girl."
They held up a picture. My picture.
My lungs clenched. That was me. Taken outside my school. Someone had been watching me.
My legs begged me to run, but Ace's grip held me in place.
How long had they been tracking me?
My heart slammed against my ribs.
Cole smirked. "Oh yeah, I saw her. She ran in here. I locked her in the bathroom."
His voice was steady too steady. But his fingers fidgeted behind his back, tapping a frantic rhythm.
He was nervous. Just as scared as I was.
Would they believe him?
One of the men narrowed his eyes. "Locked in the bathroom?"
Cole shrugged, forcing a lazy grin. "Yeah, she freaked out and ran in. I slammed the door before she could get out."
My pulse pounded. Would they believe him?
The taller man nodded toward the other. "Go check."
My heart slammed against my ribs. If they opened that door and saw nothing…
Ace's grip on me tightened. His breath was steady too steady. Like he already knew what was coming.
Cole took a step back, motioning to the door. "Be my guest."
As soon as the men stepped through, Cole lunged.
In one swift motion, he shoved the door closed, twisting the lock.
BANG. The men inside pounded on the door. "HEY!"
Cole stumbled back, breathing hard. "That won't hold them for long."
" Cole alert my men let them take care of this ." Ace's cold voice rang through my ears.
"You—you just—" My words tumbled over each other.
"Saved your ass?"Cole finished, flashing a grin.
Ace sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Show-off."
BANG. BANG. The door shuddered under their fists.
Ace turned to me. "Cupcake, we need to go. Now."
"Go where?!"
"Anywhere but here," Cole muttered.