The club buzzed with its usual chaos, the music pounding in Lena's chest as she leaned against the bar, eyes locked on Rick from across the room. She and Tara had spent the evening preparing for this moment, casting glances his way, hoping to draw him over.
But to their confusion, Rick had veered off toward a different girl—a tall brunette with bright red lips and a bored expression. Tara nudged Lena, her face puzzled. "What's he doing with her?" she murmured. "Thought he had eyes on us all night."
Lena narrowed her eyes, watching as Rick laughed at something the other girl said. "Maybe he's playing hard to get. Or he's trying to mess with us."
Tara scoffed, a flicker of irritation flashing in her gaze. "His loss. Hope he's ready for the disappointment."
The night ended with a strange tension lingering in the air, and as they left the club, the crisp night air bit into their skin. The streets were empty, lit only by streetlights casting pools of yellow across the cracked pavement. They walked side by side, their heels clicking against the concrete, lost in their thoughts about the night's unexpected turn.
Without warning, the rumble of a van broke the silence. It sped toward them, headlights blazing, and screeched to a halt just ahead, cutting off their path. Three men, their faces masked, jumped out, their movements quick and coordinated.
"What the—" Tara stammered, but the first man was already lunging toward her. Lena grabbed her arm, stepping forward instinctively, her body tensed.
"Run, Tara!" Lena shouted, adrenaline kicking in as she pushed her friend back. But Tara barely had time to move before two of the men grabbed her, their grips like iron.
"Get the fuck off me!" Lena snarled, twisting free from the first guy who reached for her. She drove her elbow into his face, feeling the sickening crunch as it connected with his nose. He staggered back, cursing, but another one was already coming at her, grabbing her from behind.
Meanwhile, Tara struggled in the grip of the other two, her face flushed with panic. "Lena! Help me!" she screamed, kicking against them, but they were too strong.
"Let her go!" Lena yelled, fury boiling in her veins as she fought. She swung wildly at the masked man holding her, her nails raking down his cheek. He grunted in pain but didn't let go, just gripped her harder.
One of the men shoved Tara into the van, slamming the door shut behind her. Lena saw her friend's wide, terrified eyes through the window, her mouth open in a silent scream.
Lena lunged forward, desperate to reach Tara, but the third guy grabbed her ankle, yanking her back with a rough force that sent her sprawling onto the pavement.
"No! Tara!" Lena screamed, clawing at the ground, struggling to get free. She twisted around, fury and despair mingling in her gaze as she glared at the man who held her. She could hear the van's engine roar to life, and her chest tightened in desperation.
She didn't think—she just reacted. With a scream of pure rage, Lena twisted around and grabbed the guy's throat, digging her fingers into his skin. He gasped, surprised, but she didn't let up, squeezing harder. "You bastards… you took her!" she hissed, her voice a venomous whisper as she pressed her thumb into his windpipe. His eyes bulged in fear as he struggled, gasping for breath, but she didn't care. She didn't stop until he was limp, his body slumping against the ground.
Her hands shook, but there was no time to think about what she'd done. She looked up, frantic, scanning the street for any sign of the van. But it was gone, swallowed up by the darkness.
"No… no, no, no!" Lena stumbled forward, her breathing heavy, her eyes darting wildly as she tried to make sense of the emptiness around her. She ran down the road, calling Tara's name, her voice echoing into the cold night.
After what felt like an eternity, her knees buckled, and she fell to the middle of the street, her hands pressing against the asphalt as her chest heaved with sobs. Tears streamed down her face, raw and hot against her cheeks.
"Tara…" Her voice broke, barely a whisper now. The silence pressed in on her, thick and suffocating, as the reality settled over her. She'd failed. They had taken Tara, and she had been powerless to stop them.