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brock had no idea what was going on and despite not exactly being happy with her, he still didn't want anything to happen to her. brock cared a lot about the woman on his arm. he pulled her closer, arm coming around her waist as he held her against his chest. "be quiet." he breathed out as the two of them made it into the bunker. "i don't know what's going on but i think we should stay quiet until we figure it out." he pulled his phone out to use the light and shifted further inside. "let me see if i can find the radio."

Luana pressed herself against Brock's chest, her breath shallow as she tried to stay silent. The warmth of his body against hers was comforting despite the tension between them moments ago—right now, survival mattered more than their argument. She nodded against his shoulder, her fingers gripping his shirt lightly as she whispered, "Okay." Her eyes adjusted slowly to the dim glow of his phone, watching as he moved deeper into the bunker.

Sahana's worry faded a little after hearing Luana. At least she wasn't completely crazy. That line about Brock not controlling her thoughts really got to her. She needed someone outside this whole disaster to tell her that. "Thanks." She said it in a gentle whisper, but it meant way more than she could express. Knowing Levi would be safe should have helped, but it just made her think about how bad things were getting. She peeked toward the cafe's main door. "We gotta work out where he's got those chain keys stashed."

Luana nodded, her expression shifting from reassurance to determination as she leaned in closer, keeping her voice low. "We'll find those keys." She promised, her tone steady. "But we need to be smart about this—Brock isn't careless. He wouldn't leave them lying around." She glanced toward the door as well, her mind already racing through possible hiding spots. "Do you have any idea where he might keep them? His office? A safe-house? Somewhere only he has access to?" Her fingers tapped lightly against the table, restless with urgency. "And we need to move fast—before Levi's condition gets worse."

Nothing about this situation felt right and his mind kept rejecting what he'd seen because these things weren't real but they needed cover before that monster decided to hunt them. Pulling Diamond behind him, he focused on not making any sound while his heart pounded against his ribs. A part of him wanted to laugh because they were fleeing from some monster at a gathering where the most dangerous thing should have been small talk about money. "Just stick right next to me and don't do anything quick." The building looked so close but felt impossible to reach when any dark spot might be hiding that creature. He prayed whoever was inside wouldn't think they were crazy when they came running in looking terrified.

His grip on her felt firm but gentle, the only steady thing as they moved as softly as possible. Diamond didn’t argue this time—he was in charge, and for once, she didn't mind not being in control. She simply nodded and did as she was told. Her heart pounded with adrenaline and fear, her steps in time with his. Every shadow, every noise…everything felt ominous as they hurried closer and closer to the building. It was like they were trespassing; two guests who stumbled into a world where danger was real. And yet, it felt as if they would never find peace again.

She had to laugh at that—not a sarcastic scoff, either. She didn't know what she'd expect to hear when he opened up, but 'top quality everyday nonsense'? That actually made her snort. "Top quality coffee, I can get behind. The nonsense part, though…" She gave him a quick sideways once-over, then smirked. "…I dunno, you look like a high-maintenance kind of brooder to me. But I'll take your word for it."

dilara sighed. maybe she was right. she just needed to be patient but it was hard seeing so many people around devil's junction in relationships. she wanted that too. "anyone who likes pineapple on pizza is a psychopath and no one can convince me otherwise." she stated firmly and then laughed. "as fun as that sounds, i do want love too, you know? we both deserve that, i think. we're both catches."

Diamond grinned, flipping her hair over her shoulder with a playful flick. "Damn right we’re catches." She said, nudging Dilara with her elbow. "Like, have you seen us? We’re smart, hot, and emotionally available—at least on the inside." She smirked. "And whoever doesn't call pineapple on pizza a crime?" She shook her head dramatically. "Honey, that’s not a red flag—that’s a whole damn warning siren. But seriously…" Her voice softened just a notch. "Love’ll come when it comes. Probably when we’re too busy being fabulous to notice." She winked. "Until then—we post like we’re dating ourselves…because honestly? We kind of are."

dion sighed, immediately pinching the bridge of his nose. "that's not what i said, diamond." but the only thing that she was going to hear was what she wanted to hear and not he was actually saying. "that's not what i said. i said that your career choice isn't sustainable. at the end of the day, it's only going to last so long and then what? what are you going to do after that?" it was like talking to a wall and he knew it but he loved his sister and he just wanted what was best for her.

Her irritation flared, eyes narrowing. "Oh, so now I need life advice?" She folded her arms defensively. "You're only a few years older than me, Dion." It wasn't just the age difference that bugged her. It was that 'I know best' attitude he always seemed to take. "I know what I'm doing. I'm not blind. I don't need someone talking to me like I'm a naive little kid." She glared at him, tone sharp as she added. "Especially not my self-righteous big brother. I got this."

it was hard for her not to focus on the man in front of her. bianca was in love and now that they were taking a step forward in their relationship. "mm, i like the way you think." she giggled at the feeling of his lips against her skin but it didn't take long for her to realize there was something more going on when her coffee mug hit the floor. "what the-" she paused, looking around and furrowing her brows at the scene outside.

Kai heard the sound of shattering glass and turned around at once, immediately putting himself between Bianca and the front door of the cafe. He scanned the street, searching for a sign of the source of danger. But the street was strangely empty, not a single face in sight. Suddenly, a sound from the back of the cafe caught his attention – the sound of a door being pushed open and footsteps rushing out in the opposite direction. His eyes snapped towards the noise. "Stay behind me!" He ordered briskly, keeping himself between Bianca and the incoming danger.

"Assumptions are bullshit." Kai agreed, his own breath labored from the relentless run. He runs a hand through his disheveled hair, frustration evident in his expression. "And believe me, I want to keep breathing just as much as you do. I've got a girl to get home to." He added glanced at the darkness ahead, calculating their options. "I know a place—an old, abandoned warehouse. Not easily spotted from the main road. It's isolated." Kai eyes the shadows cast by the trees, his mind focused on their escape. "Can you hang in there a little longer?"

His eyebrows raise, genuine surprise in his eyes as Jordan insists—no, actually insists—that she owes him. The look shifts to something more like curiosity, like he's trying to figure out what she'll say next. "Debt, huh?" He replies, one corner of his mouth quirked up in a half-smile, "I thought you were gonna buy me a drink?" He pauses a beat, then adds, "But seriously though—I'm just glad your meeting went well. No debts here."

"You really do," she flashed him a smile. This wasn't something Hayat would make up either. If he gave her the creeps, she'd call Alev to give her a ride and have her car towed. "Good. I don't want to be a nuisance." She had just taken a seat when a rumble, shook the building. Cans of oil, wrenches and bolts scattered to the floor. That immediately got her attention. "Is there a tornado warning that we'd missed?" She asked, her eyes scanning around aimlessly. Illinois didn't get earthquakes, at least that was what she knew. So then what the hell was going on? Before she could ask that question, a hulking shadow like figure appeared. Okay, maybe it glided over, but who cares? Right now, they needed to get out of there. "I don't mean to alarm you, but I think we should run if you want to stay alive."

Diego jerked upright as the ground shuddered—not just a small tremor here, but a full-blown rumble that had tools and oil containers clanking everywhere. He caught that flicker of panic in Hayat's eyes, mirrored his own wariness. Tornadoes weren't common in Illinois, not like this, and whatever was going on, they didn't have time to figure it out yet. "Tornado?" He questioned, more to himself than anything, turning just as the hulking shape loomed. He reached out instinctively, grabbing her wrist. "Fuck! Right, right. I'm following your lead."

because at the end of the day, that is what he believed. now that he knew the truth, he really felt like she might have been using him. that realization hurt him but before he could actually process everything that he was feeling, the sound of the radio blasting the news filled the room. his brows furrowed as he pushed himself up from his desk, "come on! we've got to find somewhere safe." he ordered and grabbed her hand without a second thought, his legs carrying her toward a bunker in his house that was built for dangerous situations. "we have to hide. whatever those creatures are won't find us there, i promise."

Luana stumbled slightly as Brock pulled her along, but quickly found her footing and kept pace with him. The urgency in his voice and the gravity of the situation hit her with full force. She followed him to the bunker, a mix of fear and trust guiding her steps. Once inside the dimly lit bunker, Luana took a moment to catch her breath as Brock shut the door behind them with an echoing clang. The air in the confined space felt heavier, the tension palpable. "What the hell was that?"

Sahana couldn't stop thinking about what she saw in that basement, all those bruises and chains stuck in her head now. "He's conscious but just barely." And now she was sure she'd be scarred for life. "He's covered in bruises. I can't tell if he's getting any food or water." The thought hit her that maybe Brock was starving him too. She'd been so focused on not losing it when she saw him chained up that she forgot to look for signs he wasn't eating. "I've spoken to Sterling about this and he's working to get him out, but it somehow feels like I'm betraying Brock."

Luana's eyes narrowed as Sahana relayed the information about Levi to her, her jaw clenching involuntarily in concern at the mental image of his injuries. Anger flickered across her face momentarily before she managed to restrain it. "I don't think you're betraying anyone, dear." She reassured, her voice firm but gentle. "You're doing what needs to be done to help someone in danger. Brock doesn't get a say in your conscience." Her gaze was unwavering as she looked into Sahana's eyes. "We will get him out, I promise. But we have to tread carefully."

Right when Lucian was about to make a retort about his golden life, a noise that was out of his world shrieked around them. Whatever made that sound was further back in the garden. It was half growl, half screech. Movement caught his eye by the hedge maze and whatever it was definitely wasn't human. No way this was actually happening, but his eyes were telling him to move his ass. "I have no clue what that thing is but we need to get the hell out of here right now." He reached out and grabbed Diamond's arm without thinking twice. Then, he hauled her toward the main walkway back to the building. As the creature crept towards them, he pressed his pointer finger to his lips and silently told her to be quiet.

Diamond's breath caught—suddenly, all that confidence vanished. She didn’t argue, didn’t sass back. The second she saw the thing move through the shadows—too fast, too wrong—her survival instinct kicked in harder than any influencer hustle ever had. Lucian’s grip on her arm was firm, urgent, and she let him pull her forward without protest. Her phone nearly slipped from her hand as they stumbled onto the path, but she clutched it like a lifeline—because even now? This could be content…if they lived to post about it, that is. She pressed a hand over her mouth to stifle a whimper when he signaled silence, eyes wide in the dim garden light. Her heart pounded so loud she was sure whatever that thing was could hear it from miles away. But beneath the fear—the real terror of something not human hunting near them—one wild thought flashed through: "If I die with 200K followers or if I die with ten… doesn't matter." And for maybe the first time in years…being seen felt less important than just being alive...

Diamond's smirk only widened as he replied. "Mysterious brooder is definitely your vibe," She said, raising an eyebrow. "And please, your biggest uncertainty is your stove? That's...the mystery?" She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I'm sure that's the thrilling drama your four followers eagerly await." She leaned against the bench, her lips curving into a sly teasing smile. "You know, you're not actually being invisible right now. Talking to me kind of blows your 'unnoticed' thing out of the water. Don't you think?"

Luana laughed softly, amused by Min-sung's self-doubt. "Well, I can assure you, I don't think you're terrible at your job." She reassured him, a hint of mirth in her tone. The again, she hadn't exactly seen him on the job, but that was besides the point. "And my exclusive table privileges are quite accidental. I'm a lawyer and the co-owner is a friend of a friend. It's all about the people you know, isn't it?" Her gaze met his, her expression friendly but curious. "And what brought you into the medical business development sector, if you don't mind me asking?"