chapter 3: Familiar Strangers

The night has always been a place of contradictions. It belongs to the dreamers and the lost souls, to the ones searching for escape and the ones running from themselves. Under the cold glow of the stars, secrets breathe freely, and masks slip on as easily as silk also Some people look at the night sky and see endless possibilities. Others see the weight of everything they'll never have. And then, there are those who stop looking up altogether because reality is easier to swallow when you don't search for something more Storm wasn't one of those people. She knew better than to wish on stars. She didn't need them to guide her. She had already carved her own path in the shadows, where no one could touch her unless she allowed it The night had always been her home. But tonight, it felt different. Colder Louder As if the city itself had been waiting for her return.

Storm opened her eyes. She was back. And for the first time in a long time, she felt alive.

The clock flashed 11:00 PM. She had to hurry.

If she didn't move fast, she'd be late

She cracked open the door and listened. Silence. But silence didn't always mean safety.

Ever since her sister ran away, her father had changed. He didn't break he refused to. Instead, he became stricter, watching her every move, setting rules, asking questions. It was like he was trying to control what he couldn't fix.

At first, she heard him cry at night, his pain filling the house. But over time, the sadness turned into something else fear.

That's when the pills started. First, just to sleep. Then, to forget.

They didn't stop him from checking on her, from making sure she was still there. Even through his haze, he noticed everything. That's why she had to be careful. One wrong move, one noise, and he'd be at her door.

Holding her breath, she waited…..Nothing.

Storm pulled the mask tight across her face, the familiar purple fabric feeling like a second skin. It had always been her shield her protection against the world. Her reflection in the mirror stared back at her, a stranger she barely recognized anymore. The girl who had once danced with freedom was now bound by secrets and lies. But tonight, those secrets felt heavier than ever.

She slipped into her clothes quickly a black skirt, black top, silver bell, necklace, and of course, the mask. It was her armor. She checked the clock: 11:30 PM. She was already running late. Her dad would be asleep soon, with his usual pills to calm him down. He wouldn't notice her leaving until the morning.

But still, she couldn't shake the feeling that tonight was different.

Storm glanced at the door…her escape route. The house was silent, save for the faint creaks of the old walls and the occasional sobs that seemed to haunt the corners of her memory. She didn't want to think about it…not now. Her hand hovered over the doorknob, hesitation creeping up her spine.

But Lily was waiting for her.She had to go.

As she stepped outside into the cool night air, she paused for a moment, looking up at the stars. The sky was clearer tonight, like someone had wiped the haze away. It felt like the universe was holding its breath. Storm's fingers brushed against her necklace, feeling the cold silver that had always been a part of her.

She quickly shook the thought away, stepping off the porch and into the shadows, where Lily's car waited at the end of the street.

Lily, as usual, was there before Storm, her car's headlights cutting through the darkness. She leaned against the hood, arms crossed, a look of concern in her eyes despite the smirk playing on her lips.

"Took you long enough," Lily said, her voice playful, though there was something serious behind it.

Storm gave a small smile. "I was just making sure everything was in place."

Lily watched her for a moment, her eyes searching. "You sure you're okay?"

Storm paused, her hand brushing over her silver necklace. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... ready to go."

Lily studied her but said nothing, then opened the car door. "Alright then, let's go."

Storm slid into the passenger seat, closing the door behind her. The engine started, and the car pulled away. The streets blurred past them as they left the house behind. Storm didn't speak, feeling the weight of the silence, but Lily seemed to have something on her mind.

After a while, Lily finally spoke. "You know, sometimes you can't run away from everything. Some things stay with you, no matter how far you try to go."

Storm looked at her, confused. "What do you mean?"

Lily didn't look at her, her eyes focused on the road. "I mean, you can leave the past behind, but it's still there. You can't really escape it."

Storm's heart skipped a beat. Was Lily talking about the same thing Storm was trying to forget? She didn't want to think about it now, not when she was almost free from the weight of her life.

But Lily's words lingered in the air, heavy and quiet, making Storm feel like she wasn't as far away from the past as she had hoped.

Before Storm could speak, Lily turned and gave her a small smile. "We're almost there."

Storm nodded, but inside, she couldn't shake the feeling that tonight was different. Something was waiting for her, and she didn't know if she was ready for it.

Lily's car slowed as they approached the club, the neon lights flickering ahead like a beacon. The music was already thumping from outside, the beat vibrating through the pavement, making the night feel alive. Storm could feel her heart racing in time with the music.

As they pulled up to the entrance, a couple of people stood around the door, laughing and talking. The bouncer, a tall guy with tattoos covering his arms, gave Lily a nod. She'd obviously been here before.

"Stay safe," Lily said as Storm opened the door, her voice sounding a little more serious than usual.

Storm gave her a quick smile. "I'll be fine."

As she stepped out of the car, the cool air hit her face. It was sharp, crisp, a sudden contrast to the heat of the car. She paused for a moment, looking up at the club. Everything felt different tonight. She couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was waiting for her inside.

The lights were brighter, the music louder, the people more alive than usual. It was like the club was calling her, and she couldn't ignore it. She pulled her mask down lower over her face, tightening it like a shield. It was a simple thing, but it made her feel safer like no one could touch her unless she allowed it.

Storm pushed through the crowd gathered outside and approached the door. The bouncer gave her a knowing look, his eyes flicking down to her outfit and then to her face. He didn't ask any questions, just stepped aside to let her through. Inside, the music was a wave, the bass pulsing through her veins.

She stepped into the club, the familiar sights and sounds immediately swallowing her up. People were dancing, laughing, and losing themselves in the rhythm. Storm's heart beat faster as she made her way deeper into the crowd. She didn't need to think about anything else when she was here. The mask, the clothes, the loud music it all made her forget. It was the only place where she didn't have to carry the weight of the past.

But tonight, even as she danced through the crowd, she couldn't escape the feeling that something was off. Something was watching her, waiting. The air in the club felt different. The lights shone brighter, almost too bright, making it hard to focus on anything.

She shook off the feeling and walked toward the bar, ready for the night to begin. But deep down, she knew tonight was different. And she wasn't sure if she was ready for whatever it was that was waiting.

The moment Storm stepped behind the DJ booth, the crowd's energy shifted. The music changed, and the room seemed to pulse with anticipation. She adjusted her mask, This was her world, her domain. The crowd had been waiting for her the Diva was back.

As her hands hovered over the controls, she felt a surge of excitement. She could feel the energy of the room building, every pair of eyes on her. Storm hit the first beat, sending a wave of sound crashing over the crowd. The bass dropped, heavy and intense, vibrating through the floor, the walls, and right into her chest. People began to cheer, hands in the air, feet moving, lost in the rhythm.

She didn't need to look up to know the crowd was hyped. The screams, the calls for her name, the claps in time with the beat they were all the confirmation she needed. She was the queen of this world.

Storm's fingers danced over the turntables, the familiar movements flowing easily, her body swaying with the beat. The music was more than just sound to her it was a language. She spoke in drops, in buildups, in every transition. The crowd responded, louder and louder with each new track.

The crowd was ecstatic, singing along, shouting her name as if they couldn't get enough. She grinned beneath her mask. This was her moment. She had the power to make them all feel alive, and it felt damn good. They didn't know her real name, didn't know the girl behind the mask. To them, she was the DJ The Diva Storm.

The crowd continued to roar in appreciation, their joy becoming her own. She was back. And she wasn't going anywhere.

The night had moved fast, and Storm's shift was almost over. The club pulsed with energy, music vibrating through her body, guiding her every move. She had a deal with Adrien her boss, had promised to pay her after the shift.

Her hands moved expertly over the turntables, pulling the crowd into a frenzy. The music held its usual magic, and for those three hours, everything felt right. But as the clock ticked down, something felt different tonight Then, just as she was about to wrap up, she saw him.

Zane.

He stood by the back door, leaning casually against the wall, his sharp eyes scanning the room. But when they landed on her, everything changed.

Their gazes locked, and Storm felt a jolt of electricity shoot through her. The music around her seemed to slow, as if the entire club had fallen into a trance. It wasn't just the usual intensity between them…there was something else in his eyes. A softness. A pull so strong, it made her breath hitch.

Zane's stare didn't waver. It was as if he was seeing her for the first time—really seeing her. Like she was more than just another face in the crowd. More than a mystery to solve. His gaze held her in place, as if he was memorizing every detail She could feel it The weight of his stare The silent conversation between them.

It wasn't playful It wasn't teasing. It was something deeper, something unspoken. And it terrified her.

Time stretched impossibly long, the world around them fading. Storm felt exposed, as if he could see right through her, unraveling the secrets she had spent so long protecting.

And the worst part?

She could feel herself unraveling too.

Adrien's voice shattered the moment. "Great job tonight, Storm."

Storm barely heard him. She nodded, but her mind was still tangled in Zane's gaze, still feeling his presence like a ghost lingering in her veins.

She packed up her things, but the weight of his stare didn't leave her.

Lily's voice pulled her back. "Ready to go?"

Storm turned to see Lily standing at the door, her expression calm, but her eyes filled with quiet concern.

"Yeah," Storm breathed. "Let's get out of here."

The two of them slipped into Lily's car. The low hum of the engine was a welcome contrast to the chaos of the club.

Lily broke the silence first. "You were amazing tonight. The crowd loved you."

Storm forced a small smile. "Thanks."

Lily glanced at her, studying her carefully. "You good? You seem... distant."

Storm hesitated. She didn't want to talk about Zane not now. Not yet.

"I'm fine. Just tired."

Lily didn't push. Instead, she smiled. "You always know how to light up a room, Storm. Don't let anyone make you doubt that."

Storm let out a slow breath, relaxing slightly. Lily always knew what to say. She didn't ask for explanations. She just understood.

But as they drove through the quiet city streets, Storm's mind drifted back To Zane To his eyes To the way he had looked at her…not just with curiosity, but with something deeper. Something undeniable That look wasn't normal And it scared her.

When Lily dropped her off, Storm made her way inside, locking the door behind her. The silence of the house was deafening after the pulsing beat of the club.

She sank into her bed, pulling the covers around her, exhaustion washing over her.

But for the first time in a long time, sleep didn't bring peace.

Zane was the only thing on her mind She turned into her side, squeezing her eyes shut, but his gaze was burned into her mind. The way he looked at her like she was a puzzle he was desperate to solve. Like he already knew a piece of the answer but couldn't quite put it together. It made her uneasy. It made her curious She hated that.

Somewhere across the city, Zane sat in his darkened room, elbows resting on his knees, fingers raking through his hair.

"Storm"

The name pulsed in his mind like a song stuck on repeat. He had seen countless girls before flirty, confident, mysterious. But none of them had ever stayed in his head. None of them had ever made him feel like this.

The way she moved, lost in the rhythm of the music, was intoxicating. But it wasn't just that. It was her eyes.

Those eyes.

Something about them felt familiar, like he should've known them from somewhere else, like he was missing something big. It unsettled him.

Zane exhaled sharply and leaned back, staring at the ceiling.

He had never been the type to obsess over a girl. Yet here he was mind spinning, pulse racing thinking of nothing but her.