The light of the TV bathed the living room in an intimate, warm glow, casting long shadows across the walls. Hyperion, his arm wrapped firmly around my shoulder, rested his head on mine as we watched the film. I snuggled closer, enjoying the comfort of his presence. The movie was a romantic comedy, perfect for a night in together. Hyperion leaned in to kiss my forehead. I closed my eyes and smiled, content in his embrace. The world outside felt so far away.

Together, we laughed at the jokes, and he held me tighter whenever a sad moment came on screen. I felt his chest rise and fall with his breath, and my breathing synced up with his. The soft glow of the TV illuminated Hyperion's face, and I couldn't help but think how I was the luckiest girl in the world to call him mine.

He was everything I had been looking for in a partner - sweet, kind, and always there for me no matter what. Even when the world felt like it was falling apart, I knew I could count on Hyperion to be my rock, my stability, my home. And as we watched the film together, snuggled up on the couch, I felt a warm sense of peace knowing I had found my person.

Suddenly, I woke up. My head was pressed against the side of the cold bus window, my mind filled with the thoughts of Hyperion. The man I loved turned out to be a hitman, but for who? That still remained a mystery.

As the bus pulled to a stop to pick up more passengers, one came to the back where I was. He was a guy, looked like my age—if not older—and had a big red duffel bag, “Mind if I sit here?” I glanced up at him, clutching my shoulder as I nodded.

The man sat next to me, “Tell me your name. Mine’s Darius.” Darius had a warm smile and apparently an English accent, noticing my bleeding shoulder. He winced and grabbed a first aid kit, gently taking off my jacket.

“Emberly.” I muttered, letting out a small hiss of pain as an alcohol prep pad pressed against my stab wound.

He nodded softly, “That’s a really pretty name.” I couldn’t help but crack a small smile. “Where’re you headed, yeah?”

I shrug, “Where are you?” Darius paused his work on my shoulder and smiled.

“I’m actually here to visit some family. Wanted to surprise them before I took a trip to France.” He said, continuing the care to my shoulder, “Now let me ask you this; how did you get this nasty scar?”

My breath hitched, contemplating if I should really tell him. I didn’t so I went with some lame excuse, “I accidentally grazed my arm on a sharp pole.” I shrugged.

“You shrug an awful lot.” Darius chuckled, finishing the stitch, opening up his duffel bag, “You want some crisps?”

I squinted and looked at him as if he had three heads, making my hair swish against the window, “A what?”

“Here.” He handed me a bag of chips.

After that, we chatted for a while. I was losing the thought of Hyperion minute after minute. Darius told me some of his memories back in Camden Town. He introduced me to some other food back in his hometown. Before I could eat another piece of a chip, the bus halted to a stop, nearly launching me into the seat in front of me if it wasn’t for Darius gripping onto my hood.

“What was that?” He mouthed, looking at me as the windshield shattered against the driver.

“Where is Emberly Griffin?” The familiar warm, yet disdainful voice thundered through the bus. Everyone was looking around, they knew my name, not my face.

Hyperion slithered through the sharp glass shards still intact in the windshield, going down the bus and eyed the passengers to look for me. Eventually, he reached the back of the bus. He pulled out his gun, aiming it at my head and earned many gasps from the people.

Pressing his finger against the trigger, Darius knocked the wind out of him, making Hyperion stumble back, “Damn, dude!” I exclaimed with wide eyes and an agape mouth. I jumped over Darius’ lap and slammed Hyperion back to the ground, making him grunt.

My hand reached for the rock that shattered the windshield. I raised it above his head, ready to make a dent into his head. I did. Darius was watching the whole interaction with widened eyes.

I turned to him, “If you wanna come with me, you can.” I sighed, dropping the stone and kicked the legs of the man I loved. I hopped out the window, hauling my backpack over my shoulder and ran towards the East River. Darius quietly followed. Each and every passenger were filming us. That wasn’t awkward at all.

As we ran, a well known black van with a white hat on the sides went over the speed limit, chasing us.

“Who’s that?” Darius called out running beside me.

I glanced at him, “I’ll explain later.” I took his hand and sprinted towards a dark alley. Several men jumped out of the van in black and white suits following in pursuit.

We took sharp turns left and right before bolting into the dock of the East River. It was filled with tourists and their children wearing playful shirts and colorful ones too so the men in black and white suits were a huge contrast. There were people with rented boats and some boarding on a ferry.

“There!” Darius pointed at the last people about to board the ferry. We zoomed past the crowd awing the boat with hushed words of admiration.

I shoved past the people and tugged at Darius’ hand. I could tell his legs were about to give out, “Try running faster!” I spoke up. He tried running faster to grip my hand before the men in black and white could catch him.

I reached his hand and thrusted him toward the ferry. He tumbled on the deck, grunting as the iconic horn of the ferry blasted, signalling that it was about to leave. It parted from the dock just before I could reach it. I jumped as far as I could, losing my gun from my bag. My stomach landed against the railing as I let out a soft “oof.”

Darius helped me on and checked if I was alright. I was until a huge — really huge — purple helicopter hovered above us. A ladder dropped down, a woman with a black jumpsuit coming to the floor of the deck.

The woman smirked and held out her gloved hand toward us, “Miss me, sis?”