It Will Come Back

A Night to Remember

“How many drinks have I had?” I ask, glancing over at Ash with a slight frown. The room is spinning, but in the best possible way. The bass from the music vibrates through my chest, and I’m not sure if it’s the alcohol or the rhythm that’s got me buzzing.

Ash shrugs, his grin mischievous. “Does it matter? I got you, Lux. You don’t have to be responsible tonight. We can just have fun. We can have fun.”

I hesitate for a moment, glancing down at my half-empty glass, then back at him. A smile spreads across my face. “You’re right. I’m always so uptight and boring. This might just be the best night of my life,” I admit, my voice a mix of excitement and disbelief.

I sway my hips to the music, letting go of my inhibitions. My brown hair, damp with sweat from the heat of the crowd, sticks to my cheeks, but I don’t care. I’m too busy dancing, feeling every beat pulse through me, every note sending a jolt of energy through my veins.

Ash grabs my hand and pulls me closer. “I f*****g love this song!” I shout over the music, grinning like an i***t as we dance together.

The lyrics pulse through the speakers as I move with the lights, lost in the rhythm:

I keep on moving with the lights on,

I keep on moving with the lights on,

(With the lights on),

So come and play me just one more song,

I keep on moving with the lights on,

(With the lights on),

So you can’t scare me with the lights on.

“This song is old, but it’s gold!” I yell, laughing at myself as I shimmy, a little embarrassed. I look up at Ash, expecting him to be laughing along, but instead, his eyes are glowing—literally glowing—a deep red that seems to pierce right through me.

“Ash?” My voice catches in my throat as I stare at him, unsure if I’m seeing things.

He meets my gaze, his expression calm, almost too calm. “What’s up, sweetheart?” he asks, his voice smooth, almost too smooth.

“Your eyes… they—” I swallow, trying to steady myself. “I know this might sound crazy, but your eyes are red.”

Ash doesn’t flinch. He just watches me, a small smirk tugging at his lips. “You aren’t scared,” he says, not as a question, but as a fact.

My breath hitches, but I nod. “No. No, I’m not.”

He steps closer to me, his presence overwhelming. My hands, almost without thinking, find their way to his cheeks, feeling the heat radiating off his skin. “It really is magic in here,” I whisper, looking into his eyes.

“I told you it was,” Ash says, his grin widening.

I shake my head, a mix of awe and confusion bubbling inside me. “You said it was just an old wife’s tale. But your eyes… they’re beautiful. You are beautiful.”

Ash’s expression shifts, his eyes darkening slightly. “Inside, it’s far from pretty. Deep in here,” he murmurs, placing my hand on his chest.

I look up at him, doubt creeping into my words. “Now, I doubt that, Ash. I see light in you.”

His gaze softens. “You’re the first,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper.

I smirk, teasing him. “Of many to come?”

He smiles a little, but there’s something sad about it. “You know, you’re the beautiful one,” he says, his voice sincere, almost too sincere. “Your heart—it’s beyond pure.”

I shake my head, unsure of how to respond. “How so?”

“Your intentions are pure,” he says, his gaze never leaving mine. “You don’t fantasize about someone coming to rescue you. You fantasize about being the rescuer. Making a difference. God, if I wasn’t a… It doesn’t matter.” He stops, his words trailing off as if he almost said too much.

I grip his hand tightly. “If you weren’t a what, Ash? You can tell me.”

He looks at me for a long moment, a mix of sadness and affection in his eyes. “I really like you, Lux. I’m not supposed to, but I do. And I don’t think I can stop how I feel about you.” His voice cracks just slightly, and I feel my heart twist.

I smile softly, reaching up to touch his jaw gently. “Then don’t,” I whisper. “Don’t stop.”

He leans in, his lips capturing mine in a kiss that steals my breath away. It’s electric—alive with an intensity I wasn’t expecting. His lips move against mine, gentle yet demanding, and I feel like I’ve just been thrust into another world, one where nothing else exists. His hands are everywhere, caressing my skin, and my mind is spinning.

His tongue slips into my mouth, and it’s as if sparks fly above us, the world around us disappearing completely. I smile into the kiss, feeling like I’m floating, untouchable.

But then, suddenly, Ash pulls away, breaking the connection. “We need to go,” he says, his voice strained. “I… I shouldn’t have done that.”

I’m left standing there, confused and breathless. “Did I do something wrong?” I ask, my voice faltering as I take a step toward him.

Ash doesn’t look at me. His expression is distant now, clouded with something I can’t read. “This was a mistake. I shouldn’t have brought you here.” His words hit me like a punch, and I feel my heart drop.

“Wait,” I say, my voice shaking. “I’ll walk you home then. We don’t have to—”

“No, Lux.” He cuts me off, his voice soft but firm. “I have to go.” He doesn’t give me a chance to say anything else, and before I can even process what just happened, he’s turning away.

I stand frozen, my heart in my throat, trying to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions. The night had been perfect, but now… I’m left with nothing but questions.

Ash doesn’t look back as he walks out of the club, leaving me standing in the flashing neon lights, completely alone.