Diamant's POV
The city blurred past my windshield.
Every traffic light.
Every intersection.
Every passing second felt like an hour.
My phone vibrated.
I answered before the second ring.
"Report."
The head of security spoke immediately.
"We've located Mr. Noah's phone signal."
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel.
"Where?"
"It was moving south through the city."
"Was?"
A brief pause.
"...The signal stopped near the Central Underground Subway Station."
My expression darkened.
"Stopped?"
"Yes, sir."
"Why?"
"We're trying to determine that now."
The call ended.
I immediately changed direction.
The subway.
Noah hated crowded places.
He preferred walking over public transportation whenever possible.
He wouldn't willingly head there.
Not at this hour.
Unless...
My thoughts froze.
Someone must have taken him.
The possibility settled heavily in my chest.
Aiden Frost.
If this is your doing...
The pressure inside the car changed.
My pheromones leaked despite my control.
Cold.
Heavy.
Violent.
"I warned you once."
My voice was barely above a whisper.
"If Aiden Frost is behind all this..."
My eyes hardened.
"...I'll make sure I finish him properly this time."
I pressed harder on the accelerator.
The engine roared into the night.
Noah's POV
My legs burned.
Every breath scraped against my lungs.
I had been running for what felt like forever.
I didn't dare stop.
Not while I imagined security searching every street behind me.
Not while I imagined Diamant returning home.
Not while I imagined him realizing...
I was gone.
The thought almost made me slow down.
Almost.
Instead, I kept running.
Only when I saw the illuminated entrance to the underground subway station did I finally stop.
I bent over slightly, trying to catch my breath.
The cool night air stung my throat.
"...I need..."
I inhaled sharply.
"...to calm down."
I adjusted the backpack on my shoulder before making my way down the long escalator.
The deeper I descended...
The quieter everything became.
Too quiet.
I reached the platform.
Then frowned.
It was empty.
Completely empty.
No passengers.
No station staff.
No security officers.
Not even the distant sound of an approaching train.
I slowly looked around.
The station itself was modern.
Bright overhead lights reflected off polished concrete floors.
Digital arrival boards still displayed train schedules.
Everything looked operational.
So...
Why was nobody here?
It was late.
Yes.
But subways didn't become deserted just because it was nighttime.
People still traveled.
Workers.
Students.
Night-shift employees.
There should've been someone.
Anyone.
A strange feeling settled in my stomach.
"...This is..."
Wrong.
The silence pressed against my ears.
Loud.
Far too loud.
I took another cautious step.
Click.
The sound echoed across the empty platform.
I froze.
Then...
BANG!
A deafening gunshot shattered the silence.
My body reacted before my mind did.
Another shot.
Then another.
Then dozens.
Gunfire erupted from every direction.
Concrete exploded beside me.
Glass shattered somewhere overhead.
Metal screamed as bullets ricocheted across the station.
I dropped to the floor instinctively.
My backpack slid from my shoulder.
"No..."
My breathing became uneven.
Not again.
Please...
Not guns...
I clamped both hands over my ears.
My eyes squeezed shut.
The sound was unbearable.
Every gunshot slammed into my chest.
Not because I have a traumatic experience with Guns.
I just Hate lound noises.
I couldn't move.
Couldn't think.
Couldn't breathe.
The world became nothing but noise.
And fear.
Then...
Footsteps.
Someone was coming.
Closer.
Steady.
Unhurried.
I curled into myself even tighter.
The gunfire continued.
Then...
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
The rhythm changed.
Different gunshots.
Shorter.
Controlled.
One after another.
Then...
Silence.
Absolute silence.
My breathing was the only sound left.
I still couldn't open my eyes.
I was too scared.
Too afraid of what I'd see.
The footsteps returned.
Stopping directly in front of me.
A shadow settled over my body.
Strong arms carefully lifted me from the cold floor.
I flinched.
But there was no pain.
Only... warmth.
I was carried a short distance before being gently lowered onto one of the metal waiting benches.
Whoever it was knelt in front of me.
I could feel their presence.
Close.
Protective.
Then a familiar voice spoke softly.
"It's alright now, Noah."
The voice was calm.
Steady.
Gentle.
"Everything is okay."
I knew that voice.
But...
It couldn't be.
Slowly...
Very slowly...
I lowered my trembling hands.
My breathing remained uneven.
My eyes opened only a fraction.
The blurred figure in front of me gradually came into focus.
White hair.
Calm blue eyes.
A familiar face I hadn't seen in years.
My lips parted.
"...Kael?"