{ Ace }
The night was alive with the sounds of pursuit heavy boots slamming against the pavement, distant sirens wailing like a warning. The city blurred past, neon lights flashing in my peripheral vision, but all I cared about was the girl running beside me.
Mia's breath was ragged, her strides uneven. She wasn't used to running for her life. Not like I was.
A sharp whistle cut through the air. Damn it. They were coordinating.
I risked a glance back two shadows peeled off, cutting left, trying to get ahead of us. Trapping us.
Not happening.
I snapped my fingers. Instantly, the alley behind us twisted, stretched impossibly long, the walls warping into endless darkness. A simple illusion. One that would keep them running in circles for at least a few minutes.
"Left," I ordered.
Cole took the turn hard, nearly dragging Mia with him. I stayed close behind, listening. Watching.
A rusted fire escape loomed ahead. A dead end.
They thought they had us cornered. They thought wrong.
I flicked my wrist. The metal ladder rattled, then shot downward as if someone had kicked it loose. "Climb," I told Mia.
She hesitated. "Ace, I—"
"Now." My voice was sharper than I meant, but we didn't have time for fear.
Cole boosted her up, and I followed, taking the rungs two at a time. Below, voices cursed, guns cocked.
They were going to shoot.
I exhaled and snapped my fingers again. The air thickened, shimmered just as the first bullet fired.
Clink.
The bullet stopped midair, hovering like it had hit an invisible wall. The second shot met the same fate.
Mia's eyes widened. "Ace—"
"Keep climbing."
The strain was already gnawing at me, but I didn't let it show. Holding illusions was one thing. Manipulating reality? That was something else.
Cole reached the roof first and pulled Mia up. I was right behind them, landing smoothly as I let the barrier drop. Below, shouts of confusion rang out.
"They won't stay lost for long," Cole muttered.
I knew.
I turned to Mia, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Are you hurt?"
She shook her head, but she was still breathing hard, her hands trembling.
I exhaled slowly, then reached out just a simple touch against her temple. "Breathe, cupcake."
The tension in her shoulders eased. Her pulse steadied.
It was the only thing I could give her right now.
But it wouldn't be enough. Not for what was coming next.
{ Mia }
My lungs burned. My legs felt like lead. Every breath came out in ragged gasps, but I kept running. I had to.
Ace was ahead of me, his movements effortless, like the shadows bent to his will. Cole was at my side, gripping my wrist, practically dragging me forward.
Behind us, the city howled. Footsteps pounded against pavement. Shouts echoed off the buildings. They were closing in.
I stole a glance back—and my stomach twisted. Two figures peeled off, darting down a side street. Cutting us off.
"Ace—" My voice barely came out.
"I know."
He didn't stop running. Didn't even look back. He just snapped his fingers.
And the alley behind us... shifted.
I blinked. What was—?
It stretched longer, impossibly long, the walls warping like melted glass. The men chasing us? Gone. No, not gone—still running, but in circles.
An illusion.
Ace did that.
I barely had time to process it before he barked, "Left."
Cole yanked me into a sharp turn. My sneakers skidded against the cracked pavement, my heart hammering.
And then we hit a dead end.
A rusted fire escape loomed overhead, the ladder pulled up, too high to reach.
Trapped.
Cole swore. I spun to face Ace. But he was already moving, already flicking his wrist like he was brushing away a thought.
Metal groaned.
The ladder snapped downward.
"Climb," he ordered.
I hesitated.
"Ace, I—"
"Now."
He never raised his voice. But this time, something sharp cut through the word, like a warning.
Cole hoisted me up first. My fingers slipped against the cold metal as I scrambled up, my arms burning. Ace followed right behind us.
Then—click.
The sound of a gun.
A scream caught in my throat.
A shot fired.
Clink.
The bullet stopped.
Midair.
I gaped. The second shot froze, too, hanging there like it had hit an invisible wall.
Ace didn't even look back.
"Keep climbing," he said, his voice steady, like this was normal.
I had no choice but to obey.
Cole reached the roof first, pulling me up. I collapsed onto the cool surface, my chest heaving. Ace landed beside me, smooth, effortless, like gravity meant nothing to him.
Below, shouts of confusion rang out.
"They won't stay lost for long," Cole muttered.
I swallowed hard. I already knew.
Ace turned to me, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. His touch was warm, but his eyes were unreadable. "Are you hurt?"
I shook my head. But my hands were trembling.
He exhaled softly, then pressed his fingers to my temple.
"Breathe, cupcake."
Warmth spread through me, steady and calm. My racing pulse slowed. The fear still sat heavy in my chest, but it wasn't suffocating me anymore.
Ace pulled back, watching me carefully.
I wanted to thank him. To say something.
But deep down, I knew this wasn't over.
Not even close.