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“Lies! All lies!” I admit, throwing up my hands in defeat. “Welcome to the nightmare.”

She opens her mouth to question me again, but I shake my head.

“Lex, there's no time,” I tell her. “I'll explain everything later, I promise. Just - come on!”

She frowns at me for a beat longer before she falls into step beside me again, and we pick up the pace once more. The walls are too narrow, the ceiling too low; my own heat too loud inside my head as I move as fast as I can, hand-in-hand with my best friend.

We turn another corner, and I could cry at the sight of the glowing red EXIT sign overhead and the huge fire exit doors beneath it.

Salvation.

I lunge for the doors, grabbing the handle, pushing against it, and -

Nothing.

I blink. Then slam my shoulder against it, trying again.

Harder.

Still nothing.

“Shit.”

I spin, breath wild in my chest, searching foranything- another door, a stairwell, a window -

But it’s just me, my scent; and the sound of fresh footsteps echoing behind me.

“Damn,” a voice drawls a beat or two later.

Kai rounds the corner with the easy confidence of someone who’s never had to chase something he didn’t catch - open jacket flaring, shirt clinging to his chest, hair a mess of waves and intention.

A grin is already stretched across his face; wide, wicked, andferal.

“You run fast for someone in heels.”

Lexi, bless her feral little soul, screams and throws a punch.

It lands. Square in his cheek.

Kai stumbles back a step, eyes wide, touching his face like she just handed him a blessing.

“What the - where did you - did you just HIT me?!”

“I thought you were about to lunge!” she shrieks. I watch as her chest rises and falls before she shakes her head. “You can’t just prowl around corners like a damn jungle cat with bedroom eyes!”

He blinks. Rubs his jaw.

Thengrins.

“Wow. That's hot.”

“Oh my god,” Lexi hisses, waving her hand in the air. “Now my knuckles smell like aftershave and bad decisions.”

“You’re welcome,” Kai says.

“I’m gonna need antibiotics.”

Kai flashes her a grin, teeth bright and dangerous. “You free next Saturday?”

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