Lucas burst through the door, his legs moving on pure instinct. He didn't stop to look back, didn't care about the groans or the weak form of Ryan slumped on the floor behind him. The only thing that mattered was getting out, getting free.
The cool night air hit his face, sharp and biting, but it was a welcomed compared to the suffocating heat inside. He ran, his boots slamming against the pavement, breath coming out in ragged bursts as his bloodied wrists and unraveling bandaged hand throbbed with every step.
The neighborhood was unfamiliar—nothing about it registered in his mind. The streets were dark, narrow, and winding, lined with old brick buildings and the occasional flickering streetlight. He glanced around, but nothing stood out. No signs, no landmarks. Where the hell was he?
His pace slowed slightly as he reached the corner, glancing down the empty road.
He wasn't in his usual part of town, and the disorienting layout of the streets made him pause for the first time since he started running. His heart was still pounding in his chest, but he forced himself to take a deep breath, trying to make sense of where he'd ended up.
A beat-up taxi, idling a few feet away, caught his eye. He hesitated for just a second before darting toward it, yanking the back door open and sliding in without a word.
"Where to?" the driver asked, barely glancing back.
"Take me to—" Lucas paused, his mind blank for a second, before blurting out, "Hartfield Street"
The driver raised an eyebrow, clearly confused, but Lucas's glare made him think better of asking questions. The taxi pulled away from the curb, and Lucas slumped back in the seat, his pulse still racing, the weight of what he'd just escaped from pressing heavily on his chest.
The taxi wove through the dark streets, each turn making Lucas more restless. His eyes darted to the rearview mirror, half expecting to see someone following, but the streets remained empty. The unfamiliar neighborhood slowly gave way to something more recognizable. The trees lining the road grew taller, and the houses became bigger, more spaced out. Finally, they turned onto Lucas's street.
The taxi slowed in front of his neighborhood, and Lucas caught sight of Dimitri's house down the road, its windows dark and silent. Without a word, he shoved a handful of cash toward the driver, who raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. The second the car stopped, Lucas was out, slamming the door behind him.
His heart pounded, but not from the running this time. He ignored the slight twinge of panic rising in his chest and headed straight for Dimitri's house, the one place that felt like a refuge, though he wasn't sure why.
The soft glow of light leaked from one of the windows. He could see Dimitri's silhouette moving inside, and for a brief moment, Lucas hesitated, his hand hovering near the door. But there was no going back now.
He pushed the door open without knocking, slipping inside before anyone could stop him. His breaths were shallow, and as soon as he was in the hallway, he froze, listening for any sound that might give away Dimitri's reaction. Nothing. Just the hum of the house around him.
Lucas moved quickly, his body feeling more like a shadow as he made his way to Dimitri's room, the one place where his mind could settle.
The place was dark, no lights shining through the windows like usual. The eerie silence unsettled him. His pulse quickened, and his mind raced with all the possible reasons for the sudden darkness. Had something happened?
Then, a loud crack pierced the quiet—a sound too sharp to be mistaken for anything else. A gunshot.
Without thinking, Lucas ran to the sound. His eyes darted around, scanning every corner, every shadow. Something was wrong. The air felt heavy, thick with the scent of something metallic—blood, perhaps.
"Dimitri?" Lucas called out, his voice low but tense as he made his way deeper into the house, each step more cautious than the last. He couldn't shake the sense of urgency, his heart racing as he strained to hear anything beyond his own rapid breathing.
Lucas's breath caught in his throat when he heard a crash in the distance, the sound reverberating through the darkened house. Instinctively, he took off in a sprint, his heart pounding in his chest. His boots thudded against the wooden floor as he navigated the narrow hallway, moving faster than his mind could process.
Without missing a beat, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the scalpel he had kept, the cold metal sharp against his fingertips. The familiar weight in his hand sent a surge of adrenaline coursing through him. His mind sharpened with a singular focus—whoever or whatever was causing that noise, he was ready for them.
The hallway seemed to stretch on forever, shadows dancing along the walls as he tore through the darkness. His grip tightened on the scalpel, muscles tensing as he neared the source of the disturbance. Another crash echoed, this time louder, closer.
Lucas's jaw clenched. **Dimitri.** He had to be close.
Lucas reached the door at the end of the hallway, his heart pounding as he kicked it open with all his might. The door flew off its hinges, crashing against the wall, and the scene before him sent a jolt of rage through his veins.
Kane stood in the center of the room, clearly furious. His nose was bloodied, and an obvious gunshot wound bled through the fabric of his shirt, the sight of it only adding to Lucas's fury. He had Dimitri pinned against the wall, a hand gripping his throat, choking him brutally. Dimitri's face was turning red, eyes wide with fear.
"Let him go!" Lucas shouted, his voice a raw mix of fury and desperation. The scalpel gleamed in his hand as he stepped forward, ready to confront Kane.
Kane turned slightly, a twisted smile forming on his lips despite the blood trickling down his face. "Ah, look who finally decided to join the party," he sneered, his grip tightening on Dimitri's throat.
"Get your hands off him!" Lucas barked, taking another step closer, the scalpel poised and ready.
Kane's eyes gleamed with a dark amusement as he looked at Lucas, his voice low and almost teasing. "You don't even know what he's capable of," he said, his tone sharpening with malice. "If you don't handle him now, I will—before he turns into something more dangerous for even you, my love."
Dimitri's face was ghostly pale, his eyes wide with terror as he gasped for breath. Each wheeze felt like a dagger to Lucas's heart. He could see the bruises forming around Dimitri's throat, the evidence of Kane's brutal grip tightening around his windpipe. Panic surged through Lucas, a fire igniting in his chest as he realized just how close he was to losing him.
"Dimitri!" Lucas shouted, desperation clawing at his throat. Without waiting for a plan to form, he lunged forward, his grip tightening around the scalpel. He thrust it deep into Kane's side, feeling the blade slice through flesh with sickening ease.
Kane's face morphed from arrogant confidence to sheer shock. He staggered back, a low growl escaping his lips as he clutched his side, eyes darkening with rage. But before Lucas could savor the moment, Kane swung around, fury radiating from him like a storm.
With a savage motion, Kane slammed Dimitri to the ground, the sickening thud reverberating in Lucas's ears like a death sentence. His grin twisted into something darker as he ripped the scalpel from his side, blood pouring freely, staining his clothes, but Kane didn't even flinch. "You'll pay for that!" he hissed, eyes blazing with unhinged fury. His gaze darted to Lucas, wild and dangerous. "I'll tear him apart before he gets the chance—before he becomes something worse for you." His muscles coiled like a predator on the edge of madness, ready to strike.
Lucas's heart pounded, but it wasn't fear for Dimitri—it was the thrill, the sick excitement flooding his veins. His lips twisted into a grin that didn't reach his eyes, wild with something dark unhingement. He took a step forward, chest heaving, feeling the rush of adrenaline fuel his growing frenzy. "You're not touching him again!" he snarled, his voice dripping with a manic edge, half-laughter, half-madness. His fingers twitched at his side, already imagining the violence that would follow. "Not before I do."
Kane lunged at Lucas, the ferocity of his movements almost blinding. Lucas barely managed to sidestep the attack, but Kane was quick, spinning around to follow him. The room felt small as Lucas dodged another strike.
The air was thick with tension, and Lucas could hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears. "Get up, Dimitri!" he yelled, knowing he was too weak to respond, but refusing to give in to despair. He had to protect him.
Kane advanced, his expression twisted with rage, blood dripping from his wound as he slashed the scalpel in Lucas's direction. Lucas barely evaded the strike, adrenaline coursing through him as he prepared for another counter.