The bar was buzzing with music, laughter, and the low hum of conversations blending into one another. Maya sat quietly at a corner table, half–lost in her own thoughts. A glass of soda rested in front of her; she had barely touched it. The air smelled of beer, perfume, and something faintly smoky, a mixture she had grown used to in places like this.
She was watching the crowd without really watching when Sofia appeared. Sofia never just walked into a room—she entered as if the whole place was waiting for her. Her golden hair caught the dim lights, her steps light and confident. She leaned over the table, eyes sparkling with her usual lively energy.
“There you are, Maya!” Sofia’s voice carried a teasing excitement. “Come on, let’s go downstairs. The bar is full of hot guys tonight, and we’re not wasting this chance.”
Maya tilted her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips. She answered in a calm, steady tone that always seemed to balance out Sofia’s playful chaos.
“You always say that, Sof. You think every night is a hunting night.”
Sofia laughed, sliding into the seat next to her for a moment. “Because it is! Look at me, I could score any one of them.”
She wasn’t wrong. Sofia had that kind of beauty that turned heads without even trying—slender but strong, her eyes lively and inviting, her smile a weapon on its own. Sofia walked with a rhythm that matched music even when none was playing.
But Maya was beautiful too, in a quieter, subtler way. Her dark hair framed her face gently, her calm eyes holding a strength people rarely forgot. Where Sofia’s beauty was bold and sparkling, Maya’s was soft yet striking, the kind that drew someone in slowly and stayed with them long after.
Sofia tugged at her arm. “Don’t just sit here analyzing me like you always do. Let’s go! Tonight could be fun.”
Maya sighed, shaking her head lightly. “Fine. Lead the way. But you’re buying me fries later.”
Sofia grinned, triumphant. “Deal.”
The two girls made their way down toward the main bar area. The music grew louder, the crowd thicker. People were laughing, flirting, shouting over the beats. Sofia was in her element, tossing her hair back and flashing smiles that got instant responses. Maya followed, more reserved but not invisible, her eyes quietly observing.
They had barely been there ten minutes when Sofia suddenly stopped mid–sentence, clutching her stomach with a dramatic expression.
“Oh no. Beer. I need the restroom. Now.”
Maya rolled her eyes, arms crossed. “You have the bladder of a five–year–old.”
“Don’t judge me,” Sofia said with a grin. “Come with me. Pleaseee.”
Reluctantly, Maya followed. What was supposed to be a quick walk turned into an annoying trek. The restrooms weren’t even in the same building—it felt like forever as they crossed a dimly lit corridor and finally pushed open the heavy doors that led to another section.
When they finished and were heading back, that’s when it happened.
A group of men leaned against the wall outside, their eyes following the two girls. Their smirks said more than their words ever needed to.
“Where you going in such a hurry, sweetheart?” one called out, stepping closer.
Sofia immediately tensed, clutching Maya’s arm. Maya squared her shoulders, her voice calm but firm. “We’re not interested. Move.”
The men laughed, the sound sharp and ugly. One of them moved faster than she expected, shoving Maya hard enough that she stumbled and hit the ground. Pain shot through her side, and before she could push herself up, another man had already grabbed Sofia’s wrist.
“Let me go!” Sofia shouted, twisting in his grip.
Maya tried to rise, fury boiling in her chest, but her body wouldn’t cooperate. For a moment, it felt hopeless—two girls cornered with no one around to help.
Then, from the distance, a voice cut through the night.
“Hey! Leave them alone!”
A figure approached quickly, her steps confident, her voice sharp with anger. As she drew closer, the dim light revealed her face. It was Malina.
Maya and Sofia knew her—she was their senior from university. Cold, mysterious, never much of a talker, Malina wasn’t the type you got close to. Yet, one way or another, she always ended up crossing paths with them, like tonight.
Around her knuckles, she wore a metal punch. She didn’t hesitate. With one swift strike, she sent the first man stumbling back, clutching his jaw. Another swung at her, but Malina dodged easily and answered with another brutal hit. Within moments, the men were retreating, muttering curses as they disappeared into the night.
Maya lay on the ground, shaken, trying to catch her breath. Sofia rushed to her, kneeling at her side, but it was Malina who reached down and offered her a steady hand.
“You okay?” Malina asked, her voice softer now.
Maya nodded weakly, though her legs trembled when she tried to stand. “I… I think so.”
“Come on,” Malina said. “Let’s get you back inside.”
Between the two of them, they half–carried Maya back into the bar. The lights, the music, the chatter—it all felt distant now, muffled under the weight of what had just happened.
They reached a table where three men were already sitting. One of them, Pablo, was familiar—Maya and Sofia recognized his face from around, though his name wasn’t one they knew. Across from him sat two tall, striking men. Their presence was impossible to ignore, even in the chaos of the bar.
Malina helped Maya into a chair, her movements careful. As Maya settled in, her eyes drifted almost unwillingly toward one of the men across the table. His gaze met hers, steady, unreadable. Something stirred in her chest—something she couldn’t explain, not yet.
She looked away quickly , but the feeling lingered.
And that was how it began.
