[Hi, new fic I decided to pick up, currently we are on the try period so I'll thank you if you can use your Power Stones here, as a gift I will give an extra chapter every +200 PS]
It was a deep, quiet night.
In the icy chill of December, New York's Chinatown lay still, an unusual silence replacing the usual hustle and bustle of the streets. Situated in Lower Manhattan, Chinatown spanned over forty streets, home primarily to Chinese-American residents.
At the edge of this vibrant community stood an old three-story brick building. Inside, a shadowy figure peeked through the gap in the curtains, observing the dimly lit street below.
Chinatown's architecture was a blend of Eastern and Western styles. Flying eaves and intricate rooftops mingled with tightly packed, boxy residential buildings. Narrow streets, lined with haphazardly hung Chinese signboards, felt suffocatingly claustrophobic.
Outside, a soft hum broke the silence.
A yellow taxi glided past, its pale headlights casting a fleeting, slender glow on the ceiling before fading into the distance.
The sound of the engine receding brought a sense of relief to Eren, who lay back on his bed. Moonlight seeped through the curtains, forming a single cold beam that illuminated the dim room. Eren lay with his hands behind his head, staring blankly at the ceiling, seemingly lost in thought.
One day ago.
Eren had been at his desk, immersed in coding for a client project, when a sudden dizziness overwhelmed him. When he came to, everything had changed—his body, his surroundings, and even his age.
After a few minutes of shock, disbelief, and confusion, he began accepting his reality. There was no other choice. He had to think quickly, or risk being thrown into a far worse situation.
When he woke in this strange new reality, he was not alone. Beside him lay a stunningly beautiful young woman.
Don't get the wrong idea...
It wasn't his girlfriend.
It was Gwen Stacy.
Yes, the Gwen Stacy—the academic star of Midtown High. Even with her golden locks disheveled, partially covering her youthful face, her radiant beauty was unmistakable. Neither Eren nor the body's original owner could fail to recognize her.
Memories—disjointed and incomplete—flooded his mind. These belonged to another Eren, the Eren of this world, with whom he now shared a name. Though fragmented, they provided enough context to help him grasp the basics of his situation.
He quickly realized that Gwen Stacy wasn't his girlfriend. In fact, they weren't even acquaintances. Their only connection was that they both attended Midtown High, an elite school.
But Gwen Stacy was the school's shining star—a top student admired by many boys, including the former Eren. By contrast, the old Eren was an unremarkable student, decent-looking but otherwise average in every way, someone who blended into the background.
Under normal circumstances, their lives would never have intersected. And yet, here they were, lying on the same bed in a shabby motel.
The situation quickly turned alarming. Both of them had been drugged with a powerful aphrodisiac designed to ignite uncontrollable desires.
If that weren't bad enough, an old-fashioned camcorder sat in the corner, its faint red light blinking ominously. The sight instantly doused Eren's drug-fueled haze.
A trap.
Or rather, a conspiracy.
With his heart pounding, Eren managed to suppress his rising panic and wrestle free from the dazed Gwen. Pressing his ear against the door, he caught snippets of conversation from outside.
"Henry, why does the boss want us to trap some kid with that chick? She's a real beauty. What a waste to let some outsider have her. If it were me, I'd—"
"Shut up, Bud. Unless you want to spend the rest of your life picking up soap in prison, keep it in your pants. That girl's dad is the precinct captain of the NYPD. If it weren't for the big boss backing us, even our boss wouldn't dare touch her."
"Exactly. Bud, don't screw this up. If the boss finds out, we can't protect you."
"Fine, fine, I get it. But why this kid? What's his connection to Chinatown?"
"He owns a three-story building there. The boss wants to expand his operations into Chinatown, and controlling this kid could give us leverage."
The overheard conversation confirmed Eren's suspicions.
Dressing swiftly, he tiptoed to the window. Calculating the height of the drop, he exhaled in relief. The second floor overlooked a trash-filled alley. A jump from here might hurt, but it wouldn't kill him.
As he prepared to climb out, his gaze fell on Gwen's serene face. If he escaped alone, what would happen to her?
Biting his lip, Eren made a decision. He locked the door, dragged a cabinet to barricade it further, and climbed out the window.
Using a nearby public phone, he called the NYPD.
As for taking Gwen with him? He simply didn't have the strength or means to get them both out safely.
Fortunately, Gwen's father's position ensured that her kidnapping quickly garnered significant attention.
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! For Only $5!!][www.p@treon.com/zaelum]
[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[Thank You For Your Support!]