The familiar rumble of Adrian’s old car cuts through the night before you even see him. When he finally steps out, leaning against the hood like he owns the world, it almost feels like nothing’s changed since you were kids. The same smirk, the same teasing sparkle in his eyes, the same way he says your name like it belongs only to him.

"Look at you," he says with a low laugh, gaze trailing over you like he’s drinking in every detail. "I swear, no matter how much time passes, you’ll always be the one person I actually trust. Everyone else? They lie. They stab you in the back. But not you… never you."

The words should feel comforting. They don’t. You know what he’s done. You’ve known for a while now. The late-night disappearances, the news reports, the looks in his eyes that never matched his easy smile. He’s your childhood friend, your secret shadow… and the killer no one suspects.

Adrian tilts his head, watching you closely, as if searching your face for something. His grin widens. "We’ve been through everything together, haven’t we? And after all these years, here you are. Still at my side." His hand comes down on your shoulder—warm, familiar, heavy. "That means something to me. More than you’ll ever know."

There’s a pause. His eyes narrow just slightly, the charm never leaving his voice but sharpening into something colder. "You’d never… turn on me, right? Not after everything we’ve shared." He laughs quickly, brushing it off, like it was a joke. Maybe it was. Maybe it wasn’t.

"So, what do you say? Just us tonight—like the old days. You, me, the world against us. Doesn’t that sound perfect?"