Episode 2: Death God

Mira backed away from Wade, her breath unsteadies, her body trembling as fear clutched her like an unrelenting vice.

Wade turned to the door, peering outside to check if the men who had been chasing her were still lurking. His jaw tightened when he saw them coming back, their eyes scanning the crowd like wolves hunting their prey. Without hesitation, he locked the door, his pulse quickening.

When he turned back, his gaze fell on her.

She looked so fragile, delicate, like a porcelain doll on the verge of shattering. Her jet-black hair cascaded over her shoulders, a striking contrast to her snow-white skin. Her lips, deep red, trembled slightly, and the sleek black gown she wore hugged her figure, accentuating curves that only seemed to add to her vulnerability. She was stunning, yet broken.

"I'm sorry I had to do that," Wade said, breaking the tense silence. "I had to make them believe we were together." He hesitated, watching her closely. "Do you mind me asking who those men were? Why were they after you?"

Mira lowered her gaze, gripping the fabric of her gown as though holding herself together.

"I was sold to this place…" she whispered. Then, lifting her desperate, tear-filled eyes to his, she pleaded, "Please… don't let them find me. I'll do anything."

Her mind raced. If she had to surrender herself, she'd rather do it with this man, the one who saved her, than to the monsters outside that door. At least with him, it would be her choice.

Without another thought, she moved toward him, pressing herself against his chest. Her hands trembled as she reached for the straps of her gown, slowly slipping them down her shoulders.

Wade's breath hitched. His body stiffened in shock.

"What are you doing?" His voice was laced with disbelief.

Mira hesitated for a second before whispering, "Paying you… for saving me." She began to undress, offering herself in the only way she knew how.

But before the gown could fall further, Wade reached out, catching the thin straps and pulling them back up over her shoulders. His touch was gentle yet firm.

"You don't have to do that."

His voice was softer now, filled with something Mira didn't expect kindness.

She swallowed hard, searching his expression for judgment, but found none.

"We'll stay here until they're gone," he assured her.

"When the time is right, we'll leave quietly without them noticing."

For the first time that night, hope flickered in her chest.

But hope was fleeting.

Before they could act on their escape plan, the door burst open.

Mira gasped as several men stormed inside the nightclub's bouncers, towering and merciless. The bar manager stood in the doorway, smirking.

"There she is," he said.

Mira barely had time to react before rough hands grabbed her, yanking her away from Wade.

"Let her go!" Wade shouted, shoving one of the men aside. He tried to fight them off, but he was outnumbered. The bouncers were massive, trained to handle resistance without hesitation. One of them drove a fist into Wade's stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Another kicked him hard, sending him crashing to the floor.

Mira screamed.

Before they could hurt him further, Wade's friends rushed into the room. They shoved between him and the bouncers, breaking up the fight.

"What the hell is going on?" one of them demanded. "We are quest here!"

"They attacked me," Wade growled, his lip bleeding as he struggled to get back on his feet. "They were taking her against her will!"

The bar manager scoffed, stepping forward with an air of arrogance.

"Your friend here is trying to touch already sold goods..." he sneered, nodding toward Mira, "and at a very high price."

One of Wade's friends grabbed his shoulder in warning.

"Wade, stop this," he said firmly. "She's a sex worker. You don't want to get involved in this kind of business."

Wade froze. His blood ran cold at the casual way the words were spoken.

She is… a sex worker?

Slowly, he turned to her.

She stood motionless, head bowed, arms wrapped tightly around herself as if trying to disappear.

She didn't deny it.

She didn't defend herself.

But Wade saw the truth in her trembling frame, in the unshed tears clinging to her lashes.

This wasn't a choice.

This was survival.

And yet… he hesitated.

His mind screamed at him to stay, to fight, to take her and run, but his feet refused to move.

His friend's grip tightened on his shoulder, urging him away.

Slowly, he turned to the door where she had been only moments ago.

She wasn't there.

She was gone.

Resignation settled in his chest like a heavy weight.

Wade clenched his jaw, yanked his arm free, and without another word, he left.

Mira was alone.

Her captors wasted no time. They dragged her through the dimly lit hallways until they reached a luxurious private suite. Inside, a massive waterbed sat in the center of the room.

The man who bought her would be arriving soon.

Panic clawed at her throat. She needed to escape. But how? Even if she did, where would she go?

Even the man who saves her had looked at her differently the moment he heard what they called her.

A sex worker.

If she let this happen… what would her future be? A lifetime of strangers, serving men night after night, until she had nothing left to give?

A life worse than death.

Her heart pounded. No. She wouldn't let them break her.

She had prayed for Death to claim her. 

But little lady, that is not how it works.

Even I, the Death God, am not allowed to claim the soul of a candle that still burns brightly.

Mira's gaze darted across the room, searching, desperate. Then she saw it, the balcony.

The city lights twinkled beyond the glass doors, an endless world stretching far beyond this nightmare.

She forced herself to move, stumbling toward it with shaky legs.

She opened the doors, stepping onto the ledge. The cool night air kissed her skin, carrying with it the distant hum of the city below.

Her fingers tightened around the railing.

Was this her only way out?

Her lips parted, but no words came. No cries for help, no pleas for mercy. Just silence.

Tears spilled freely down her cheeks as she tilted her head back, gazing at the starless sky.

She had prayed for an escape.

And tonight, tonight, she would take it.

With one final breath, Mira closed her eyes…

And jumped.