The hum of tires on pavement fills the silence. Imani stares out the window, distant. Maya drives, one hand on the wheel, the other clutching a half-finished iced coffee.
MAYA
(smirking)
"So… how's the fugitive?"
IMANI
(sighs)
"You're hilarious."
MAYA
"Seriously, though. I gave you half the ICU's inventory last night. Sterile wraps, injectors, a full bag of fluid—do you know how hard it is to walk past two security checkpoints with a duffel full of stolen hospital gear and not look shady?"
IMANI
"Yeah. I was kinda hoping you'd forget about that part."
MAYA
(glancing at her)
"Oh, no. That's the kind of thing you remember when your job's on the line and you're sweating through your scrubs hoping the cameras don't catch the bag labeled 'suture kits.'"
Imani lets out a weak chuckle, but her shoulders stay tense.
IMANI
"Look, I'll make it up to you. I just… I didn't know who else to call."
MAYA
"Imani, chill. I'd do it again. You know that. But we need to be careful. If we both start acting weird, someone's gonna notice. Especially her."
IMANI
(smirking slightly)
"'Her' as in—?"
MAYA
(mocking voice, chewing exaggeratedly)
'"Ladies, if you could maybe stop talking and maybe do your jobs, that'd be great."'"
(beat)
"God, I swear she stores gum in her cheek like a damn chipmunk."
IMANI
(laughs under her breath)
"She's been chewing the same piece since orientation."
They both laugh, and for a moment, the tension breaks.
Then Maya's voice softens.
MAYA
"But seriously… we walk in like it's any other night. No weird side-eyes, no sneaking glances. We get in, do the work, clock out. Easy."
IMANI
(nods slowly)
"Right. Act normal. No reason for anyone to think we were hauling off black-market trauma supplies for a guy in a… you know."
The hospital looms just ahead, fluorescent lights casting long shadows as Maya turns into the employee entrance. Imaniexhales, preparing herself to play the part—just one more nurse on just another shift.
Then—
CRASH.
A deafening impact slams into the front of the car, metal groaning as the hood crumples inward like foil. Maya screams and slams the brakes, the car jolting to a sudden stop.
A shadow looms in front of them, rising with unnatural grace from the crushed hood.
VICTOR HALES.
Fully armored in the gleaming, black-red sheen of the Red Winter suit, eyes glowing white behind the mask. Steam hisses from the vented shoulders as his boots settle into the broken frame.
Inside the car, both women are frozen.
MAYA
(barely a whisper)
"What the hell is that—"
IMANI
(snarling)
"Drive, Maya. Drive!"
But before Maya can react, the passenger-side door is torn clean off, ripped from its hinges like paper. Imani screams as Victor's armored hand clamps around her torso, yanking her from the seat with terrifying speed.
IMANI
(struggling)
"LET GO OF ME! MAYA—!"
She thrashes, punching at the armor with everything she has. It's like hitting stone.
Maya leaps out of the driver's side, grabbing the tire iron from beneath her seat.
MAYA
"HEY! PUT HER DOWN!"
Before she gets three steps, Victor raises his gauntlet and fires a sharp, concussive energy blast.
WHAM.
Maya is sent flying across the lot, her body slamming into a parked car before crumpling to the ground, unconscious.
Imani watches in horror as her friend goes limp.
IMANI
"NO—!"
But Victor has her. He tightens his grip, the thrusters on his back roaring to life. In a burst of wind, flame, and force, he launches into the sky, disappearing into the night with Imani held captive beneath his arm.
Below, the broken car hisses smoke, and Maya lies motionless on the pavement,