As Willy tried to put his arm around Emily's shoulder, she shrugged him off and stared off in the distance. He could tell she was deeply upset about losing the fight, but it was more than that. He knew that Amy had a crush on both Chloe and Daniel, and it seemed like she wanted to date them both at the same time. He couldn't understand it, but he knew he'd always be there for her, no matter what.
Willy turned to Emily, who was staring dejectedly at the ground, and nudged her playfully. "Hey, come on," he said. "It's not the end of the world. Plenty of other fish in the sea, and all that."
Emily looked up at him, a small smile playing on her lips. "Yeah, I know," she said. "It's just... complicated."
Willy laughed. "When isn't it with you?" he said. "I mean, seriously, I can barely keep track of your love life at this point. You've got a crush on Chloe, a crush on Daniel, and who knows how many other people you're secretly pining for."
Emily rolled her eyes. "It's not like that," she said. "I just... I don't know. I like them both, okay? And I'm not sure I could choose between them even if I wanted to."
Willy raised an eyebrow. "You do realize dating two people at the same time is called polyamory, right?" he said.
Emily frowned. "I know what it's called," she said. "But that's not what this is about. I just... I don't want to hurt anyone, you know?"
Willy nodded. "I get it," he said. "But sometimes, you just have to take a chance. You never know what might happen."
Emily sighed. "I guess," she said. "It's just hard, you know? Especially when I see Chloe and Daniel. It's like... like I'm not good enough, or something."
Willy put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, that's not true," he said. "You're amazing, and anyone would be lucky to date you. You just have to believe in yourself."
Emily smiled, a little more genuinely this time. "Thanks, Willy," she said. "You always know how to make me feel better."
Willy grinned. "What can I say? I'm a master of charm and wit." He paused for a moment, then added, more seriously, "But seriously, Emily. You're one of my closest friends, and I want to see you happy. So if there's anything I can do to help, just let me know, okay?"
Their attention was suddenly drawn to a peculiar sight unfolding before them. A group of 12 men, dressed in matching white shirts and helmets, emerged from the street, each astride a sleek and formidable hovar bike. The bikes, with their metallic bodies and glowing neon accents, seemed to hum with an undeniable energy, an embodiment of both power and danger.
The group parked their hovar bikes outside the nearby bar in a synchronized motion, their maneuvers indicating a level of coordination and unity that sent an inexplicable shiver down Anyone's spine. She couldn't tear her eyes away, curiosity mingled with the gravity of the moment. Something about their presence felt foreboding, like a storm brewing on the horizon.
Willy, noticing Amy's attention shift, followed her gaze and immediately sensed the tension in the air. His usual carefree demeanor faltered momentarily as he observed the group with a mix of caution and intrigue.
Whoa," he whispered, his voice filled with a mix of awe and apprehension. "You see those guys too, right?"
Emily nodded, her eyes trained on the group as they confidently made their way towards the bar's entrance. The air seemed to grow heavy with anticipation, the atmosphere thick with an unspoken warning.
Willy leaned in closer, his voice lowering to match the gravity of the moment. "Something about them feels off... dangerous," he whispered. "This is a tier 4 city, after all. Gangs like this aren't uncommon and the white swan do leave chaos in their wake."
As if on cue, a blood-curdling scream pierced the air, followed by the sound of shattering glass emanating from within the bar. Their collective hearts skipped a beat, the chilling reality of the situation sinking in.
Emily's gaze remained glued to the bar, her eyes narrowed with a mix of disgust and fury. Unbeknownst to everyone, Emily had been abused by a gang member when she was a child, lost her sight and her father left a year after, he just couldn't stop blaming himself but she had forgotten the memory due to a trauma serum. However, after she died, her memories had all come flooding back, along with the simmering rage she felt towards gangs and that gang member just so happen to be a member of the White swan.
Willy could sense Emily's unease and decided to do something to lift her spirits. He turned towards her with a mischievous grin on his face and said, "Hey, you know what would be fun? Let's go steal one of those hovar bikes and take it for a joyride!"
Emily leans in closer to Willy, her eyes shining bright with excitement. "Come on, Willy, it'll be fun. I just want to check out their hovar bikes," she says, her voice filled with a mischievous tone.
Willy sighs, his eyes heavy with worry. "But Emily, you know how dangerous the White Swan gang is. It's not worth the risk."
Emily rolls her eyes, a smirk playing on her lips. "Oh please, I can handle myself. Plus, have you seen those bikes? They're like something out of a sci-fi movie!"
Willy hesitates, but ultimately gives in when Emily pulls out a wad of credits and waves it in his face. "Fine, but we need to be careful. And why are we buying these masks?" he asks, pointing to the store display next to them.
Emily grins, her eyes shining with mischief. "Just in case we need to make a quick getaway. Trust me, Willy, it's better to be safe than sorry."
Willy shakes his head, a small smile forming on his lips despite his reservations. As they walk towards the bar, Emily put on her mask and brushes past him and whispers, "Race you to the bikes!" before darting towards the bar, with Willy following closely behind.
As Emily admires the hovar bikes, a shadowy figure emerges from the bar door. Dressed in a white shirt and plain black trousers, the gang member's appearance is nondescript. But the chain slung over his shoulder is a clear sign of his affiliation with the White Swan gang.
He approaches Emily and Willy with a toothy grin, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Well, well, well, what do we have here? A couple of curious Halloween kitties?" he says, his voice low and devious.
Willy took a step back, his breathing heavy with fear. But Emily stands her ground, a challenging glint in her eye. "We were just admiring your bikes. Is there a problem?"
The gang member chuckles, his grip tightening on the chain. "You know the rules. No outsiders allowed near our turf." He took a step closer, his eyes flickering with malevolence.
That's when he suddenly stopped, his eyes widening in surprise. A choked gurgle escapes his throat, and blood begins to seep from the wound on his neck. Willy had a confused glance as he notice Emily's hands, now sporting long black claws.
Before Willy or the gang member could even react, Emily had moved with lightning speed, attacking the gang member with a ferociousness that took him by surprise killing with a single strike. The man crumples to the ground, his body limp and lifeless and everything happened in less than a few seconds.
She spoke softly, her voice harsh and guttural. "Stay away from them," she warned him, before turning into a blur and darting into the bar, closing the door behind her. Willy was left standing alone, shaken by what he just witnessed.