Lightning

Chapter Three

Forever 21 they say.

But I had just turned the age and I already felt way over it.

"Is this really necessary? " I asked Tatiana as she pulled my hair into a high ponytail.

"Very necessary. We are gonna find you a hot guy to take home tonight" She clapped excitedly as if the idea was good.

I had no interest in men. I wasn't gay, but I didn't think my distaste for the opposite gender will ever shake. They are the reason why I'm in this mess after all.

"You know how I-"

"I know I know," she interrupted. "That's why we are gonna get you drunk enough so you don't remember the incredible birthday s*x you had with a stranger. "

I crinkled my nose at the very thought. "That does not sound enticing" I mumbled as I pulled on my boots.

I was dressed up for the most part, but I still had my Aella touch. I liked my style so screw whoever didn't.

"You'll thank me later" she simply shrugged as I grabbed my purse from her bed.

"Babe leave the girl alone" Tatiana's fiancé, Eddie, said as he entered.

I smiled at them as he dropped a kiss on her forehead. I was never the mushy type, but I always loved their relationship and how sweet they looked. Eddie was basically the only guy that I could stand being around because of his easy going personality and his love for my best friend. He made her happy and that's all that mattered to me.

We all met in our first year of college, and they only got closer. He proposed two months ago, and I was really looking forward to their wedding at the end of the year. That was another reason why I wanted to have this cursed thing behind me as soon as possible.

"Happy birthday Aella. " He beamed as he handed me a small box.

"Awe Eddie you didn't have to" I cooed as he placed it in my hand.

"Oh it's nothing. " He waved me off. " I know there's something going on with you that seems dangerous since nobody knows, so I wanted to give you a little something that might help"

This piqued my curiosity, so I quickly unravelled the bow and opened the box. My eyes darted from him to the box in confusion, since there was a lip-stick nestled in there.

"It's not what you think" He chuckled. "Here let me show you"

I watched keenly as he pulled the top off, and I was met with a small spray head.

"It's pepper spray and..." He trailed off excitedly before twisting the bottom end, and I saw a small blade emerging. It couldn't do much, but if I swung hard enough, I could probably slit a neck or damage an eyeball with it. It made me love the stupid lipstick thing more.

Depend on me to get excited about violence on my birthday.

"Thanks Eddie, I love it" I said as I gave him a short hug.

"Anytime. And be safe you two" He warned as Tatiana dragged me from the room and to the front door.

Well here comes my night of 'fun', drinks and an uncomfortable amount of people.

I should be locked up for celebrating such a wretched day.

But then again, there's a lot of things that I should get locked up for anyways.

***

"You're such a buzzkill!" She whined as he pushed another shot towards me.

"I've had enough TT. And so have you" I quickly snatched the drink from her hand as she tried to down another one. She was on the verge of being drunk, and as far as I can see, that will not end well.

The club was never a place I minded, since it gave me a chance to let loose and lay all my problems on the dance floor or drown them in some liquor. But I really wasn't feeling it tonight.

"Okay what do you want to do?" She finally asked, causing me to perk up at this.

"Leave" I answered quickly, but she simply shook her head. I would've ditched a long time ago, but her friend was my ride.

"No! " She groaned loudly. "You need to find a guy" She clicked her tongue at the roof of her mouth as she scanned the crowd.

I watched her carefully as she analysed each man before shrugging or shaking her head. I didn't even know why she bothered. It wasn't as if I would actually hook up with a stranger.

One learns from their mistakes.

"Ou ou how about him? "She asked eagerly as she discreetly pointed at a guy sitting on the other side of the club.

He was incredibly handsome, but he didn't look like the type of guy I would've CONSIDERED dating.

"Nope" I simply said as I spun on the stool, turning my back to the direction he was in.

"Come on Aella he's totally checking you out. Can't you just live for once?" She whined.

"I'll live when I want to"

She was silent for a while, so I assumed she had dropped it. But then I heard a loud squeal from beside me.

"Well you're about to live it up because he's coming this way"

"What?! "I snapped as I whipped my head around. Indeed, he was approaching us.

"You called him over" I accused with narrowed eyes.

She did a little fake gasp which I saw through completely. "I did not!" she bellowed over the loud music.

"Yes you did"

"I didn't! "

"You did! "

"Goodnight ladies," a strange voice greeted from behind me. I slowly turned around and was met with deep brown eyes that held nothing but happiness and life in them. Totally opposite from my own life.

Tatiana, at that moment, took off-- leaving me and the stranger alone. I made a mental note to murder her later, but for now I had to let this guy down gently.

"I'm not interested" I announced without a hint of remorse in my voice, and I noticed that I completely shocked the guy.

Good.

"Whoa there I'm not trying to sell you anything" He laughed nervously as he held his hands up in mock surrender. "Just trying to introduce myself. I'm Mason. And you are?.. "

I eyed him carefully, but decided against telling him my name. "I don't tell my name to strangers"

"If you tell me then we won't be much of strangers anymore " He urged.

"But I don't know you "

"But you can"

"You don't give up don't you? "

"Nope" He smirked, and surprisingly I had to try real hard not to let my lips curve.

But in that moment, my eyes landed on something quite unusual but very familiar. A man was speaking to a young girl, and she looked barely awake. I watched as he whispered something in her ear and she nodded lazily, no doubt not even knowing what he was saying.

"You have an accent. Where are you from?" Mason suddenly asked, pulling me from the scene for a quick second.

"I was born in Holland. I moved here when I was sixteen" I rushed out, my eyes still on the man who was now picking up the girl on wobbly feet.

"That's cool. I'm already addicted to your voice" He mumbled in a tone I didn't recognise, but I was too invested in what I was watching to answer.

The man gripped her tightly, and as if he was in a rush, he dragged her from the room. That was my cue to get a move on, and I quickly jumped from the stool and mumbled a quick 'bye' to Mason; but he held my hand, hindering my movements.

"I didn't catch your name" He said hopelessly. In my attempts to get away, I quickly told him.

"You can call me Lightning" I rushed out as I pulled my hand from his grip.

"That's hot" He mumbled huskily, but I was gone in a flash.

I noticed that the man led the girl through the backdoor of the club, so that's where I went. I caught them just as he and some other guy were forcing her in a black SUV. It was obvious that she was scared and struggling, but she was too light headed and weak to win against two men.

"Let her go! " I shouted as I ran down the steps, stopping a few feet away from them.

"Who are you? " One of them asked, and I narrowed my eyes on them.

"I said let her go" I gritted out through clenched teeth.

"You have no business here princess. I suggest you leave" A bulky dude threatened as he stepped closer to me.

He took out a gun and pointed it at me with a victorious smirk on his face. He must've thought he had won, but I never went anywhere unprepared.

I stuffed my hand in my boot and whipped out my knife, and with no hesitation, I threw it straight into his left eye. He screamed out in pain and dropped the gun, which I quickly retrieved and pinned him to the ground.

His friend, who was in the club, pointed his own gun at me, but I dug my foot in the man's neck and pointed the gun at him on the ground.

"Give me the girl, and I won't shoot your friend" I growled lowly as the man writhe beneath me.

He looked unsure, so I unlatched the hammer block on the gun, seeing both their eyes widen. If he thought I wouldn't shoot, then he had another thing coming.

"What do you want? " He asked, his eyes blazing with hate.

"The girl. " I simply replied as I squeezed my finger more and more on the trigger.

He cursed softly under his breath before pushing the girl towards me. I caught her with one hand then released my foot from Blindy's neck. The man from the club quickly retrieved his friend and put him in the car. But I'd be damned if I was letting them get away without knowing who sent them. This is my second chance.

Just that moment, a confused looking Tatiana emerged from the back door and I almost praised her for her perfect timing. Both men got in the car and sped out of the dark alley behind the club.

"Take her! "I quickly shouted to my friend. "Get her a cab so she can get home safely"

I was glad that she knew the intensity of the situation and acted swiftly. I looked around for any means of transportation, and I spotted a very drunk man wobbling onto a bike.

"Can I borrow this for a second? Thanks" I rushed out quickly as I grabbed the keys from the man.

"Hey that's miiine! " He slurred as his eyes drooped.

"I'm doing you a favour here friend. Come back tomorrow and you'll find your bike right here"

I quickly handed him off to Tatiana also before hopping on the bike and speeding off.

It took a while for me to spot the black SUV, and I sped through the cold night as I chased them.

The aim was to follow them to where they were going so that I could have a better lead on the boss, but unfortunately for me, they spotted me.

The driver swerved the car all over the road, trying to throw me off course, right before he quickly took a sharp turn. It took me completely off guard, but I recovered quickly and caught up with them. Luckily, it was almost one in the morning, so not many vehicles were on the road.

I swerved quickly when a shot was fired at me, and I cursed underneath my breath when I saw that Blindy was shooting at me.

I dug the gun I took from him from my waistband and fired also. Luckily, they had sound suppressors, so the sound of gunshots wouldn't wake the city.

I aimed for the rear view mirror that he was using to see me, successfully shattering it to pieces. He stuck his head out the window as his friend took another sharp turn, but this one I was expecting.

"Leave us alone you crazy b***h! " Blindy shouted through the midnight breeze, but that was the last thing I was gonna do.

I shot at his head, and he quickly ducked it back inside after firing a couple shots at me. I managed to dodge all of them, but as quickly as I could blink, I was thrown from the bike as he punctured my tire with a bullet.

I landed with a thud as I rolled onto a sidewalk, and the bike skidded away to the other side of the road. They sped off into the night, and I was left yet again at a dead end.

But luckily for me, I managed to memorise the license plate number.