Noah sat across from Sarah, holding a cup of coffee he hadn't touched. The coffee had gone cold, just like her eyes.
She looked calm. Not angry. Not sad. Just… done.
His phone buzzed on the table.
[Email from: OrionTech HR Department]
Subject: Final Interview Results
He didn't want to open it. He already knew what it would say. But he opened it anyway.
"We regret to inform you that your application was not successful…"
The words blurred in front of his eyes.
He looked up at her.
Sarah had already figured it out.
"You didn't get it, right?"
Noah slowly shook his head.
She let out a long breath. Not mean. Not cold. Just tired. Tired of waiting for him to change.
She reached into her purse and pulled out a gold-trimmed envelope and slid it across the table.
He frowned. "What's this?"
"I'm getting engaged," she said quietly.
He blinked. "To who?"
"Johan."
The name hit him like a punch. Johan. Her parents had mentioned him before. Rich. Successful. Son of her father's business partner. Noah had never taken it seriously.
"I thought you hated him," he said, his voice shaking.
Sarah gave a small smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"It's what my family wants."
"You don't even love him."
"That's not the point anymore." She took a sip of her cappuccino and looked straight at him. "I'm not inviting you. So please… don't come."
Noah felt like his chest dropped into his stomach.
"Sarah, wait—please. We can talk about this."
"There's nothing to talk about," she said softly. "You're a good person, Noah. But you've been stuck in the same place for years. Hoping things will change without doing anything."
"Just one mor—"
"I waited," she interrupted. "I waited for a future with you. But the truth is, you're always waiting. For the right job. The right moment."
She stood up, fixed her coat, and looked down at him like she had already moved on.
"I hope you find someone better than me, Noah. I really do."
Then she walked out of StarDucks and out of his life.
Noah stood up.
"Sarah—!"
She didn't look back. The door shut behind her, and it felt like something inside his chest closed with it.
Hours passed.
He walked around the city with no direction. Rain started falling slowly, then harder, soaking his hoodie and clothes. He didn't care.
He passed closed shops, couples laughing under umbrellas, neon signs over liquor stores and ramen shops. He kept walking until his legs hurt.
When he finally got back to his apartment, everything felt too quiet.
He dropped his keys on the table, took off his shoes. The room still smelled a little like her perfume. It always stayed longer than she did.
On the shelf, there was a photo of him and Sarah from a summer carnival two years ago. She had kissed his cheek right when the photo was taken. He remembered how she laughed.
Noah walked over, picked up the photo, and threw it at the wall.
The glass shattered across the floor.
He dropped to his knees.
Losing the job. Losing her. Being left behind. Everything hit him at once. His hands shook. His chest hurt.
But he didn't scream.
He just cried quietly on the floor surrounded by broken glass and broken memories.
And in the dark room, he whispered,
"Why wasn't I enough?"
Noah didn't remember falling asleep.
He woke up on the floor, cold and stiff. The sky outside was pale blue and the city was starting to wake up. Cars, distant horns, rain tapping against the window.
His phone buzzed near the couch.
He ignored it.
He slowly stood up. Glass was still on the floor around the broken photo. He didn't clean it.
He didn't care.
After a long shower, he put on a hoodie and jeans and checked his bank app.
Balance: $4.27
He stared at the number.
Then he laughed once. Dry and empty.
"Perfect."
He left the apartment with no plan.
He had applied to more than fifty companies in two months. Only two interviews. OrionTech was his last hope. And now that was gone too.
He walked downtown past bakeries and stores opening for the morning rush. People moved around him like he didn't exist.
He stopped at a crosswalk.
A big LED screen on a bus stop flickered.
"Feeling hopeless? Change your future Through Us."
There was a QR code under it.
Noah stared at it for a moment, then scanned it.
It opened a website asking if he wanted to apply for a job.
He tapped Yes without thinking.
The site asked for personal information—name, age, address, boring stuff. He filled it out without really thinking.
Upload complete.
"Your application has been received. You will be contacted within 48 hours."
He laughed quietly.
"Yeah right. Another scam."
He put his phone back in his pocket.
The only thing he could afford was a pack of cigarettes, so he bought one.
The only thing in the world that didn't care about him.
.
.
(Next Morning)
"You have a courier," a muffled voice came through the intercom, followed by knocking.
"Leave it at the door," I shouted from the toilet.
"I can't. It needs a signature."
I sighed, pulled my pants up, and went to the door. A delivery guy stood there holding a large flat package.
"Sign here."
I scribbled something that looked like my name and took the package.
"Thanks."
I closed the door and put the box on the kitchen counter. No labels. No logos. Just a plain brown box.
Weird.
I cut it open. Inside the big box was a smaller box and a red envelope.
I opened the small box first.
Inside was a silver ring with a purple gem. The gem was deep purple, and when I tilted it, something flashed inside. An engraving, but I couldn't see it clearly.
"The hell is this?" I muttered.
Then I opened the red envelope. Thick paper, gold trim. Inside was an appointment letter. Fancy words saying I had been selected and was expected to show up.
It sounded more like an order than a job offer.
Under the letter was a black card that looked expensive. The letters on it seemed to glow.
Eclipse Nightclub.
I flipped the card. There was an address and a time.
Tonight.
"What the hell is this? Some kind of joke?" I said, tossing the card on the counter.
Then I picked up the ring again. The purple gem glowed faintly, and when I looked closer, I finally saw the engraving inside.
A fang.
Cold sweat ran down my back. My gut told me to throw it away.
But my hand moved on its own.
I put the ring on my finger.
The ring tightened instantly.
"Fuck!" I hissed. The ring dug into my skin like claws. The gem flashed bright purple and suddenly it felt like fire was running through my veins.
My knees gave out and I grabbed the counter to stay up.
Then I heard a voice. Calm. Smooth. Almost amused.
[HOST SYSTEM ONLINE]
[Welcome, Subject #7]
[Compatibility Confirmed]
"What the fuck…?"
Text appeared in front of my eyes like a hologram only I could see.
[System Functions Unlocked]
➤ Mood Scan
➤ Relationship Tracker
➤ Penis Optimization
I stared at the floating text, breathing hard. My heart was beating like crazy, but at the same time I felt… different. Lighter. Stronger. More awake.
The ring pulsed like it had a heartbeat.
I looked at the card on the counter again.
Eclipse Nightclub.
The gem glowed again like it was reacting to the name.
I swallowed and laughed nervously.
"This… this is insane."
But deep down, I already knew.
I had just gotten myself into something really bad.