Chapter Sixty Two.

It had been an hour since they arrived at the club—and surprisingly, Xena didn’t hate it.

The bass thumped beneath her feet, the lights flashed in a kaleidoscope of colors, and the crowd swayed like a single, pulsing heartbeat. For once, she felt… *alive.*

What helped most was Anya—who hadn't left her side even for a second. She danced only with Xena, swatted away any drunk or sleazy man who tried to get close, and turned every situation into something laughable.

Still, Xena couldn’t ignore the way men *looked* at her.

Hungry. Like wolves circling prey.

Lips licked. Eyes raking. Some whispered to each other as she passed.

She hated it. But Anya made it bearable.

Now, they sat at the bar, catching their breath. Anya ordered something strong—of course—and Xena stuck with something soft. She needed one of them to be sane by the end of the night.

"And that fucker," Anya slurred slightly, waving her drink as she spoke, "thought *he* could break my heart? Bitch, I broke it first!"

Xena giggled. Tipsy Anya was a riot.

“Honestly, you’re cute when you’re drunk.”

“Damn right I am.”

Just then, a voice spoke. "You’re not from around here, are you?"

Xena turned her head to find the bartender staring at her—not exactly in a creepy way, but she realized now he’d been sneaking glances all evening.

“She’s not,” Anya answered casually, tossing back her shot. The bartender nodded, offering Xena a small smile.

She returned it politely.

But the warmth of that moment didn’t last.

A sharp shiver slithered down her spine. Cold. Uneasy. Her smile faltered.

She turned, slowly scanning the crowd behind them.

Nothing out of place.

But the feeling was *there.*

She wasn’t just being stared at. She was being *watched.*

Closely.

“Are you okay?” Anya leaned in, frowning.

“I don’t know… I—I feel like we’re being watched,” Xena whispered, her voice low and uncertain.

Anya’s expression sobered as she looked around.

“Don’t be shocked,” the bartender chimed in, casually wiping down the counter. “This club’s got a rep. Lots of creeps. Girls complain all the time.”

Xena’s hand gripped her glass tighter.

No… this wasn’t just some sleazy creep from the club.

This was different.

Deeper.

*Darker.*

“Anya?” Xena turned toward her slowly, voice soft but urgent. “Can we go home?”

Anya looked at her, and for once—she didn’t argue.

“Sure, sweetie, we can—” Anya didn’t get to finish.

Her eyes locked onto two large men weaving through the crowd, heading straight for them. Black suits. Earpieces. Purpose in their stride.

Her blood ran cold.

“Let’s go. Now,” she said sharply, grabbing Xena’s wrist and pulling her off the stool.

Xena stumbled after her as they pushed through the writhing bodies on the dance floor. Sweat, strobe lights, pounding music—it all blurred together in a dizzy haze.

Xena looked back, frowning. *Were those men… following them?*

“They’re after us,” Anya hissed, confirming her worst fear.

*What the hell? Why?* Xena’s heart thundered in her chest.

*God, I hate this mafia shit.*

They burst out the back door of the club into a dimly lit alley, cool air hitting their skin like a slap. The bass from inside thumped faintly through the walls.

“Why were they after us, Anya?” Xena panted, looking around the empty alley.

“We’ll talk later—just keep moving,” Anya said, glancing over her shoulder.

Then—

“Shit.”

The two men appeared at the alley’s end like shadows with purpose, blocking their exit.

Xena instinctively grabbed onto Anya’s arm. “Anya? What do we do?” Her voice trembled.

Anya’s jaw clenched. Her eyes never left the men.

“You—stay behind me,” she said with quiet fire.

Then, in one swift motion, she slipped off her heels and gripped them like makeshift weapons.

Xena’s mouth fell open. *Was she insane?*

“They’ll have to earn it if they want us.” Anya muttered darkly, stepping forward.

And for the first time… Xena realized Anya wasn’t just a flirty, rebellious seductress.

She was dangerous, too.

Anya didn’t hesitate.

She launched at the first guard just as he raised his gun, twisting her body with precision. With a sharp swing, the heel in her hand cracked against his wrist, knocking the weapon to the ground. Before he could recover, she drove her elbow into his jaw with brutal force. The man staggered back, groaning in pain.

Anya smirked, fire in her eyes.

But the second guard was faster. He lunged and yanked her by the hair, dragging her head back before slapping her hard across the face.

Anya stumbled, disoriented. A metallic taste flooded her mouth.

She was bleeding.

“Oh my God—Anya!” Xena cried out in horror, frozen in place.

Anya slowly turned her face, wiping the blood off the corner of her lips with the back of her hand. Her expression shifted. No more games.

Only rage.

“You shouldn’t have done that.” she whispered coldly.

Her eyes darkened—gone was the playful Anya Xena knew.

This was someone else.

Xena’s heart pounded as she stared in disbelief.

*Who is she really?*

Anya stepped forward like a storm about to break.

And this time, she wasn’t holding back.

♠︎♠︎♠︎

With a final, savage swing, Anya drove the heel of her shoe straight into the guard’s eye. He let out a guttural scream before collapsing onto the cold alley floor.

Silence fell.

Anya stood amidst the carnage, chest heaving, blood spattered on her cheek, her once-fun aura now twisted into something wild. Unhinged. Dangerous.

Xena stood a few feet away, her eyes wide in shock and awe.

“Anya…” she breathed, slowly stepping toward her. Relief flooded her—Anya was alive. She had survived. And she had protected her.

But then—

***BANG!***

The sound of a gunshot echoed through the alley.

Xena froze. Her breath caught in her throat.

A voice followed—low, smooth, but laced with danger.

“Tell me I didn’t miss all the fun.” the man drawled.

Xena turned, her heart dropping.

A tall, sinister-looking man stepped out of the shadows, flanked by several others. The smirk on his face was cold, his eyes calculating and cruel.

Xena’s gaze darted back to Anya—just in time to see her crumble to the ground.

“Anya!” she screamed, rushing to her side. She dropped to her knees, her hands trembling as she tried to hold her.

Blood was seeping from Anya’s shoulder.

She had been shot.

Xena’s vision blurred with panic. “No, no, no... Anya, stay with me...Please!”

But Anya’s eyes fluttered weakly, her body going limp.