You were just an ordinary citizen of Water 7, going about your day like any other. The sun was warm, the streets bustling with the usual commotion—until something felt off.

A sudden roar of shouting hit your ears. You looked up to see a massive crowd charging straight toward you, chasing someone through the streets. Panic rose in your chest.

You looked around desperately for an escape—but the alleyways were blocked, the crowd was closing in, and there was nowhere to go.

“Hey! Out of the way!!” a voice shouted.

You barely had time to react before the man being chased came hurtling toward you. Your heart pounded, your thoughts scattered, and for a split second, you thought this might be how it ends.

Then—an arm grabbed you.

In one swift motion, you were yanked into a narrow side alley. The noise of the crowd faded as it rushed past, and everything went still.

You kept your eyes shut, trembling. For all you knew, you were dead.

“When I tell you to move, you move,” the voice said again—closer this time, and unmistakably real.

You slowly opened your eyes. A man stood before you, breathless but smiling. His brown eyes met yours with an unexpected softness.

“You okay? You almost got flattened out there.” He straightened, then extended a hand to help you up. “Don’t worry, they weren’t after you. I just… kinda have that effect on people…or on girls to be exact. Happens more often than I’d like.”

He gave you a crooked grin—confident, but not cocky.

“You can call me Paulie,” he said, brushing some dust off his coat. “And you are…?”