{ Mia }
I crouched behind a stack of metal crates, pressing a hand to my bleeding shoulder. My breath came in ragged gasps, but I forced myself to stay quiet. I needed to think. I needed a plan. Because I knew one thing for sure.
They weren't done hunting me yet.
" You can't run forever, sweetheart. You're mine." A sharp voice hissed in my ear.
I closed my eyes tightly imagining the warehouse, Ace's tight but sweet embrace. How it felt, how it smelled, everything.
A strange pull tugged at my body, like being yanked through water. I gasped, and when I blinked, the dark hallway was gone.replaced by the familiar walls of the warehouse. I was back.
" Calm down Ace. Mia's brave, she's strong. Don't stress." I heard Cole's voice ring through the room.
" Ace !" I screamed eagerly running towards him.
I quickly spread my arms and squeezed him tightly.
" Cupcake?" He pulled back sounding surprised." Cole, tell me you see her too." He sniffed.
I looked up at him.Ace's eyes shimmered, his jaw tight as he quickly wiped a hand over his face. "You're crying?" I asked, voice barely above a whisper.
" Oh cupcake. I'm so glad you're alright. " He sighed and enveloped me in a tight hug. The smell of peppermint enveloped me.
I felt warm and fuzzy inside.
" How did you escape?" Cole asked.
Ace glared at him. " Not now Cole." He growled.
I pulled away from Ace, my heart still hammering. "I don't - I don't understand. How did I get here?"
Ace exchanged a glance with Cole, something unspoken passing between them.
"You tell us," Cole said, arms crossed. "One second you were missing, and now poof."
I swallowed hard. My hands trembled, my fingertips buzzing with leftover energy. "I... I was running. He was right behind me I felt something cold, like a shadow crawling over my skin. And then—" I hesitated. "I thought about being here. I felt a pull. And suddenly, I was."
Ace let out a slow breath, running a hand through his dark hair. "Mia, that's not just running. That's teleporting."
Teleporting? My stomach lurched. My mind reeled. I had never done that before. I didn't even know I could.
Why now?
Ace pulled away just enough to look me in the eyes. His expression was serious now.
"Cupcake… we need to talk."
I stiffened. "About what?"
Cole let out a breath. "About who you really are."
My stomach twisted. "What do you mean?"
Ace hesitated, then glanced at Cole, like he wasn't sure how much to say.
"You think this is the first time you've teleported?" he said finally.
I frowned. "What? Of course it is. I would've known if I could do that!"
Cole shook his head. "No, Mia. You've done it before. When you were a kid."
I froze. My mind blanked.
"What are you talking about?" My voice came out shaky.
Ace sighed, rubbing his face. "You don't remember, do you?"
A memory just a flicker surfaced. A bright light. My own voice screaming. A man's shadow reaching for me before, before—
I gasped.
No.
No, that couldn't be true.
My body trembled, hard.
" A-Ace? W-what was that?" I asked my mind realling from shock.
" A recovered memory..." Ace whispered hugging me tighter.
Tears stung my eyes and I clutched Ace's shirt tighter.
" It's alright cupcake. Let it all out." He whispered against my hair.
" How did you know ?"
Ace hesitated before speaking. Too long.
"Why do I feel like you already knew about this?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
Cole sucked in a breath. "Mia…"
Ace exhaled sharply. "It's complicated."
Anger bubbled up in my chest. "No, it's not! Either you knew, or you didn't. Did you?"
Silence.
The air felt heavy between us.
"You did," I whispered, taking a step back. My stomach twisted. "How long have you known?"
Ace looked away.
Cole ran a hand through his hair. "Since we met you."
The words hit me like a slap.
"You knew I could teleport? Before I even did?" My voice shook. "And you didn't tell me?"
Ace sighed. "We were trying to protect you—"
I laughed bitterly, but it felt hollow, like something inside me had cracked open. "Protect me? From what, Ace? Myself?"
His jaw tightened. "You don't understand—"
"Because you never let me understand!" My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I didn't care. My hands were shaking, my chest tightening with something I couldn't name.
Ace took a step toward me, but I flinched, and he froze. His expression flickered hurt? Regret? I didn't know, and I didn't care.
Cole crossed his arms, his usual smirk gone. "We were waiting for the right time to tell you, Mia."
"The right time?" I spat. "You don't just forget to tell someone they have powers, Cole!"
"That's not what happened."
"Then what did?" My voice was hoarse now.
Ace ran a hand through his dark hair, his shoulders tense. "It's not just about the teleportation, Cupcake. There's more."
My stomach churned. "More?"
Ace and Cole exchanged a look. The kind of look people give when they know something you don't.
I hated it.
I clenched my fists. "What else aren't you telling me?"
Ace exhaled through his nose. "Mia… I'm—"