Scream My Name
Adrian was pacing back and forth in the VIP room, a glass of whiskey resting untouched on the table.
Ethan sat nearby, still processing the night's events and the shock of what Adrian had just gone through.
He had never seen his best friend this broken.
Adrian's surprise for Celeste—the carefully planned romantic gesture—had been met with nothing but empty space. Celeste hadn't come.
It was a heart-wrenching blow, and Adrian didn't know how to process it.
"You okay?" Ethan asked, breaking the silence as he glanced at his phone.
Adrian didn't answer right away, his eyes focused on the glass in front of him. He had to swallow back the overwhelming surge of emotions. "I just wanted to show her, you know? That I wasn't giving up. I just wanted a chance to prove I could make things right."
Ethan gave him a sympathetic look. "Man, you've been doing all the right things, but Celeste... she's complicated. She's not the same person you left behind. You know that, right?"
Adrian sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know. But it doesn't make it any easier."
Ethan nodded. "You'll figure it out. But for now, maybe we both need a drink. It's been a hell of a day."
Just as Adrian was about to lift his glass, the door swung open, and a familiar voice called out, "Adrian?"
Adrian froze, his heart sinking as Emily walked in, looking as polished and charming as always. Her smile was gentle, but there was something calculating in her eyes. Adrian's chest tightened, but he forced a smile, too tired to engage.
"Emily," Adrian said, his voice flat. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard about what happened earlier. Thought I'd come check in on you," she replied, sitting down across from him. "You look... well, you look like you need some company."
Adrian didn't respond. He could feel her eyes on him, assessing, like she always did. But tonight, he couldn't muster the energy to engage with her.
"How's your drink?" Emily asked, her voice soft, but there was a teasing edge to it. "You know, I thought maybe we could talk, just the two of us. Get some things out in the open."
Adrian shook his head. "Not tonight. I just... I just want to forget about everything for a while."
Emily didn't push, instead sitting back with a soft sigh, her eyes drifting to Ethan. "How's your boy here doing?" she asked, giving Ethan a playful wink.
Before Ethan could respond, his attention shifted to his phone screen. "Hold up. Adrian," he said, his voice suddenly serious. "You need to see this."
Adrian looked over, his brow furrowing as he saw what was on the screen.
A selfie. And in the picture, Celeste—looking disoriented, her hair mussed—was leaning against a man's shoulder.
The caption read: "Chillin' with a beautiful woman.
Best night ever." Adrian's chest tightened, his stomach churning with an unfamiliar sensation.
"What the hell?" Adrian muttered, his voice low with frustration.
Ethan immediately stood up. "That's Celeste. She's at the same bar."
Without waiting for another word, Adrian shot up from his seat, ignoring the concerned look from Emily. He stormed out of the VIP room, his mind racing. How could Celeste be here? After everything? After she'd ditched him earlier?
He didn't even bother to think. He just needed to get to her.
Outside the room, Adrian approached the bar manager, who was busy organizing some drinks.
"Who's in the VIP room next door?" Adrian demanded, his voice rough with impatience.
The manager looked at him, startled by the force in Adrian's tone. "I'm sorry, sir, but we can't disclose information about our guests' privacy."
Adrian clenched his jaw, frustration boiling over. He was about to demand an answer when Emily appeared behind him, placing a calming hand on his shoulder.
"Adrian," she said softly, her voice firm. "Stop. You need to respect her choice. You know this is what she wants."
Adrian whipped around, his eyes blazing. "What the hell are you talking about? She—" He stopped, his chest tightening as memories of Celeste's words and the coldness of her actions flooded back.
Emily's gaze softened as she gently turned him towards her. "Let her go. You can't keep chasing her like this. She made her decision. You've got to respect that."
Adrian's chest ached. She was right, in some ways. Celeste had chosen to walk away. But that didn't make it easier. And seeing her so close, in another man's company, it hurt more than he'd ever expected. He turned away, unable to face the truth head-on.
"I need some air," Adrian muttered, his voice tight with emotion as he walked out onto the balcony. He lit a cigarette, inhaling deeply as the cool night air did little to calm his racing thoughts.
Meanwhile, in the VIP room just next door, Celeste was slowly coming to her senses. Her vision blurred as she woke up, her hands bound to the back of the chair. Panic surged through her, her heart hammering in her chest as she tried to move, but the restraints were too tight.
She looked around frantically, her surroundings unfamiliar. Then, her gaze landed on the man sitting in front of her—a man she didn't recognize. He was smiling, though the expression wasn't kind. It was twisted, dark.
"Glad you're awake," the man said, his voice smooth but tainted with malice. "I was starting to get bored."
Celeste's heart sank as the realization hit her: she had been abducted on her way out.
The man leaned closer, his eyes glinting with something unsettling. "I've wanted to get my hands on Adrian's woman for a long time. You've been in my thoughts for a while now. And I've always hated him—how perfect his life is, how everyone admires him. Well, I've had enough of it."
Celeste's throat tightened. She wanted to scream, to call out for help, but her mouth was covered by a cloth, rendering her voice useless. She kicked out at the man, struggling to free herself from his grip, but he was far too strong.
Tears began to slip down her cheeks as she pleaded silently for mercy. She was desperate, afraid. The man was enjoying her fear, feeding off it, until he finally removed the cloth from her mouth.
"I want to hear you beg," he sneered.
Celeste's breath hitched, and she tried to push him away again, but he was relentless. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her body trembling with terror.
"Please," she whispered, the words escaping her lips before she could stop them. "Please let me go."
The man grinned, his hands starting to undo the zipper on her dress. Celeste's body froze, fear consuming her.
The moment she realized the danger, her mind screamed for help.
Celeste's heart pounded in her chest as she screamed, "Adrian!"
She called out Adrian's name, the one word that had been on her mind all along.
For a split second, everything went still.
And then—
The VIP room door swung violently open.