Deadly Date
1088 Words
STELLA
I double-checked my phone, ensuring that the location tracker app was on before slipping it into my bag. As I sat down for breakfast, my mother placed a plate in front of me, her brows furrowed with concern.
“Are you sure about this trip? You’ve never gone out alone with a boy before,” she said, watching me closely.
“I’ll be fine, Mom,” I replied, taking a bite of my toast. “I already sent you the location link. You can check anytime.”
My father sighed, his fingers tapping against his coffee mug. “Just be careful. And call us if anything seems off.”
“I will,” I reassured them with a small smile.
After finishing breakfast, I grabbed my bag and stepped outside. The morning air was crisp, the sky painted in soft hues of blue, with white clouds drifting lazily above. As I reached the bus stop, I shifted on my feet, glancing down the road.
Then, right on time, the sound of a bike engine roared through the quiet street.
Kieran pulled up beside me, his signature confident smile in place. He extended a helmet toward me. “Hop on and hold me tight, okay?”
I hesitated for a second before slipping the helmet on and settling behind him. At first, I barely held onto the edge of his jacket, but the moment he accelerated, my instincts took over—I grabbed his waist tightly.
The wind rushed past us as the city blurred behind. The road stretched ahead, lined with towering trees that swayed in the gentle breeze. At first, my grip was tense, but slowly, an unfamiliar thrill filled my chest. The crisp morning air brushing against my skin, the speed, the open road—it felt… freeing.
As we rode through winding paths, the scent of fresh earth and blooming flowers filled the air, mixing with the faint pine from the nearby forest. Sunlight peeked through the trees, casting golden patterns on the ground. The occasional chirping of birds became noticeable whenever Kieran slowed down at a turn.
An hour passed before we finally arrived at the entrance of a dense forest. Tall trees stretched high, their shadows dancing along the earth. The air smelled of damp earth, birds chirped in the distance, and a narrow dirt path led deeper into the woods.
Kieran turned to me, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “There’s a waterfall inside. It’s my favorite place.”
I glanced around, my fingers brushing against the strap of my bag. The forest looked untouched, peaceful… but also eerily quiet. “Are you sure it’s safe?” I asked.
Kieran chuckled. “I wouldn’t bring you here if it wasn’t.”
I wasn’t entirely convinced, but I followed him regardless.
As we walked deeper, the sunlight filtering through the trees became softer. The forest felt… different, like a place outside of time. The silence was thick, interrupted only by our footsteps crunching against fallen leaves.
Suddenly, Kieran hesitated. Then, he did something unexpected—he extended his hand toward me, almost shyly.
I blinked, caught off guard. For a second, I debated whether or not to take it. Then, after some thought, I slipped my hand into his. His palm was warm, his grip firm yet careful.
We walked side by side, and for a moment, I allowed myself to enjoy the quiet.
Then—he suddenly stopped.
His fingers tightened around mine, his posture shifting. The air around him grew tense.
“What is it?” I whispered, feeling a creeping unease settle in my stomach.
Before he could answer, figures emerged from the trees.
They surrounded us in an instant, their eyes cold and unreadable. Knives gleamed in their hands—except for one man, who stood farther back, holding a gun.
My breath hitched. My body locked up in fear.
Kieran stepped in front of me, his grip on my hand tightening before pushing me behind a tree. “Stay there,” he ordered firmly.
I clutched the rough bark, heart pounding as I peeked through the side.
Kieran moved fast, dodging attacks and striking with an ease that was almost inhuman. I had known he was strong, but this—this was something else. He fought like someone who had trained for battle his entire life.
Then, a sharp sound cut through the air—a soft click.
My gaze snapped toward the source.
A man, gun raised, aimed directly at Kieran.
Panic surged through me.
I moved without thinking, my body reacting before my mind could catch up. I yanked Kieran backward just as the shot fired. The bullet missed by a hair.
Then, another gunshot—this time from a different direction.
I barely had time to react before Kieran grabbed my hand, urgency flashing in his eyes.
“Run!” he shouted. “We need to reach the waterfall—my friends are there!”
His friends? A flicker of confusion crossed my mind. Why were his friends at a place that was supposed to be private?
But I had no time to dwell on it. The only thing that mattered was escaping.
We bolted, crashing through the undergrowth. But the men were fast. Too fast. Their movements were calculated, their chase relentless.
Then, one of them pulled something from his belt.
A bomb.
Everything inside me went cold.
The man tossed it toward us. It landed close, the ticking sound filling the air.
Before we could react, someone tackled us to the ground, pinning us down. Thin rope coiled tightly around us, binding our arms and legs together. We struggled, but the knots only dug deeper into our skin.
Then, the man who tied us stood up and ran—just as the bomb’s valve clicked open.
The explosion was only seconds away.
I barely had time to think.
I turned to Kieran and did the only thing my body allowed me to do—I grabbed him and hugged him tightly, squeezing my eyes shut as fear swallowed me whole.
A deafening blast tore through the air.
The ground trembled beneath us. Heat rushed past my skin, burning, but… distant. It didn’t hurt.
Instead, my body felt weightless, as if I were floating. My limbs turned heavy, my thoughts slipping like sand through my fingers.
Kieran…
I wanted to call his name. But my lips wouldn’t move.
Darkness crept in at the edges of my vision, pulling me under.
Then, everything disappeared.
- Writer
