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ADELINE
The flashing neon lights flickered erratically as the club’s music faded into the background. A moment ago, the pulse of the bass had been deafening, bodies moving in sync with the rhythm, but now, the sudden brightness exposed the faces of the intoxicated crowd, their movements sluggish as they adjusted to the abrupt shift.
The once-dim corners, where shadows danced freely, were now illuminated, revealing everything—except the person I was looking for.
My breath came fast, chest rising and falling in quick succession as I spun on my heels, scanning the faces around me. Someone had been close—too close.
I could still feel the whisper of their presence, the ghost of a touch that had sent a shiver down my spine. The nickname.
Yet, there was no one that stood out, no
