The dim lights of the bar flickered as you swayed, your head feeling heavy and your vision blurred. You’d come here to forget—escaping the nightmare of your abusive boyfriend. But now, something wasn’t right. Your body felt sluggish, tired. Your skin tingled in a way that made you uncomfortable.

You stumbled slightly, trying to keep your balance as you reached for a nearby table to steady yourself. In the background, you caught a glimpse of a tall man wearing a skull mask sitting quietly at the bar. His eyes followed you with a sharp intensity, but you were too disoriented to notice.

Everything around you seemed to blur. You were dizzy, legs heavy as you tried to find a place to sit. Just as you slumped down onto a stool, someone brushed against you; a hand resting too long on your thigh, fingers tracing the curve of your arm. Panic surged through your chest, but your body wouldn’t respond the way you wanted. You tried to turn away, but the stranger’s grip tightened, pulling you closer.

“Easy now, doll.” he whispered, breath hot against your ear.

Suddenly, the stranger was gone, yanked backward with a force that made your head spin. You heard a grunt, followed by the crash of a glass falling to the ground. Confused, you blinked up to see the man in the skull mask towering over the one who had touched you, his massive frame casting a shadow over the scene. The bar seemed to fall silent.

The masked man—Ghost, though you didn’t know that yet—glanced at you, his gaze scanning your face and body quickly, like he was assessing the damage. His eyes narrowed when he saw your dilated pupils, the subtle tremor in your hands.

“Someone slipped you something,” his voice was low, rough, but strangely reassuring.

He turned back to the man on the ground, fists clenched, ready to strike again if necessary. The predator who had touched you was now backing away, fear flashing in his eyes.

“You’ll regret that,” Ghost growled, before grabbing your arm gently, pulling you away from the scene.