...Turned into A Fateful Night

The pair walked to the nearby club; a place simply called The 9.0 after the quakes it was dreamed to create from the activity inside.

At the crowded gate Zoey gripped Tobias' hand and knifed through the crowd, only to be met by two bouncers that looked like bodybuilders. Tobias looked back nervously seeing the sea of glares.

"Uhh…Zoey, are you trying to put a target on our backs?" He spoke in a hushed whisper as a bit of sweat dripped off his brow.

"Hello good sirs! I'm the second to last act tonight. I'm just running a little late, and this here is my guest of honor." She held up a badge that made them move as soon as they glanced at it. Zoey then pulled Tobias into the club, where it felt like an entirely new world.

"How did-?"

"I need to separate from you for now Tobias, just mingle a bit and I'll see you very soon, trust me."

Zoey took off somewhere, leaving him by himself. The music has such a bass that you can feel every beat rumble in your chest. The lights flashed a rainbow of colors throughout the club.

Tobias takes it all in as he moves down to the dance floor cautiously.

He looks very awkward in an obvious way, he's dressed in a plain shirt, jeans and tennis shoes. His demeanor is that of someone who didn't get out much, he moved to one of the bar tables off to the side, letting out a sigh of relief.

"Hello sir, what can I get you?"

The voice made him jump, before turning to see it was just the bartender.

"Oh, just get me a glass of water please."

The woman bartender got him the water, topping it with ice even though he didn't ask.

Tobias took a sip, noticing no one else was really hanging around the bar like he'd expected, prompting the bartender to talk to him.

"So, what brings you to one of the biggest clubs in the city, just to get water?"

"Well, I was kind of dragged here suddenly because it's my birthday. My friend has something up her sleeve, and the headliner is one of my favorite artists."

He actually looked at the bartender; a blonde haired, blue eyed woman who is very pretty, she seemed like she'd get hit on a lot in her job.

"Oh, that makes sense. But you said she? Is she perhaps your girlfriend? A guy like you is going to get mobbed by ladies even dressed like that."

She chuckled at herself, but it wasn't a lie. Tobias had always been a woman magnet for as long as he remembered.

"No, she isn't. But she's pretty. She scares women away from me, I can't have guy friends because of my face."

The lights and music suddenly went out, causing everyone to collectively gasp.

"Zoey, do you know how to do anything without over the top dramatics?"

The DJ stage located in an upper balcony lit back up with Zoey standing behind it.

"Hello everyone! Welcome to the debut of The Zo Experience! This is my first time doing this so I hope I can give everyone a good time. But before we get this show kicked off, I'd like to make a special shout out. This person is my dearest friend, Tobias Matheson! He taught me how to use this equipment and made my debut tonight possible. Also, today is his birthday so give him a warm welcome up here!"

The spotlight suddenly turned to Tobias, making him nervous as the bartender tried to not burst out laughing behind him. He nervously stood up and waved as everyone sang him happy birthday on his way up to the stage. He stood at the mic, looking at all the faces in the crowd as they finished. Zoey nudged his shoulder giving him a moment to speak.

"Uhh, this is not my area of expertise. I don't like being at the center of everything. But, thank you for the celebration. However, we should be celebrating my dear friend who is going to perform, something I'm anxiously awaiting too. Then, of course, the main event that I get to bear witness to for the first time, the amazing OXOR!!! I wish you all a great night, full of fun, and please get yourselves home safe. Thank you."

He humbly took a bow as he stepped aside, letting Zoey take center stage as she took a deep breath. His hand patted her shoulder, giving a nod of confidence.

He remembered when she first asked, Tobias has always been very intuitive when it came to software, technology, and most gadgets. He helped her along for the better part of 2 years soon after they'd met.

This moment is massive for her, and the look on her face as she hits the music is so confident it felt cocky.

The lights flashed black and red as the heavy metal guitar riffs ripped in behind a fast beat. It was fast paced and high tension; the crowd got into it, matching the high intensity of the beat. Zoey smiled like a mad woman, rocking along to her own music.

Something new adds to it every few moments, a guttural roar, a softer undertone beat, up to a loud siren that signaled the end of the portion.

Zoey broke her concentration for a moment, looking at Tobias who fell into the vibe of the place, despite his usually reserved nature. She continued her set, pushing the pace of high energy intensity that electrified the room with lights that emitted darker reds, purples and grays, signaling a darker undertone.

When she finished, the crowd looked exhausted. There was a fear that grew in her that she overdid it.

The applause was loud as she and Tobias went to the back.

"I did too much!!!!" Zoey yelled in the hallway with her face in her hands. "OXOR is going to feel like I showed her up…"

Tobias caught his breath, putting his arm around Zoey and hugged her into him. "No, you did fantastic! You rocked the house, she can't be mad that you did well. She actually showed up the person she opened for initially."

They made it to the backroom, where OXOR sat with a gentle smile. A petite girl with blue hair, pink eyes with a pop looking skimpy outfit with a pink shirt accompanied with powder blue ripped pants with black boots.

"Hello."

Her voice is soft, almost soothing just from a single word. Zoey jumped behind Tobias immediately, putting him in an awkward position.

"Hi..nice to meet you OXOR. We're both huge fans of yours, Zoey is just scared that she showed you up."

Her head cocked at the pair, silently evaluating something before nodding to herself. She got up to her feet, showing how short she is, even with her boots she's only about 5'2. She passed Tobias and gave Zoey a huge hug, patting her back.

"Don't be nervous. You were an absolute natural, I loved the energy in your performance! Keep it up, if you keep improving I'll bring you on as my tour mate in the future."

Zoey melted into tears, hearing that from someone so talented gave her the huge confidence boost she needed.

After OXOR released her and patted her shoulder, she looked up to Tobias.

"As for you, happy birthday and I hope you enjoy your first live show. Also, if she learned from you..even if you don't perform, you should produce."

With that, she gave a wink and walked into the hallway.

Once she was out of earshot Zoey exploded with joy. "THAT WAS SO AWESOME! SHE SAID SHE'D BRING ME ON A TOUR ONE DAY! TOBIAAAAS THANK YOUUUU!!!"

She jumped up and down around Tobias with the biggest smile on her face, before hugging him tightly.

"You're the best, I could never ask for more. Before you try to give a modest excuse, I'm going to say this. No matter how little you believe you've done, to me, you've done a thousand times more. You can never downplay that."

Tobias' expression showed how unprepared he was for her statements. Between shock and embarrassment his face turned slightly red. "Uh, thank you. I honestly don't know what to say, except.."

His voice trailed off, and his befuddled expression turned to a smile. "Let's see the show of our lives!" He hoisted her up in his arms, making her yelp in surprise.

He jogged out of the room out to the main floor with Zoey in hand.

"What's gotten into you all of a sudden?!"

"Heat of the moment!"

Tobias hustled them into the center floor as the show began. Bright pink and purple lights flashed as a slow ambience of music began to play, slowly hyping up into a fast paced techno beat. Everyone jumped in unison along to the rhythm, OXOR already had the audience.

She lends her vocal tone along with the music only further proving her talent.

From that moment on, it felt like the night melted away. Tobias and Zoey were having so much fun they'd lost track of everything.

For Tobias, it gave him the much needed relief from the hellish work schedule he puts on himself. For Zoey, it felt like she'd broken through Tobias' steel shell.

By the concert's end they were exhausted. The pair exited the club holding the other up. Tobias broke out of Zoey's grasp, opting to take her hand in his. A gesture that made her blush softly.

"H-hey what are you doing?"

He smiled softly, before pulling her into his body and leaning down to kiss her warmly. She was caught off guard, but she melted and returned the kiss, holding onto him tightly.

For a brief moment, they felt like the only people in the world with their feelings for each other finally pouring out after three years.

From the depths of a dark unlit alley, came the reality of the world around them.

In a brisk flash two masked men pulled them away from each other.

Zoey was grabbed and had a gun pointed at her head. Tobias was pulled back and briskly knocked down on the solid concrete ground.

"Sorry to break up your love fest but we want your money, we saw you walk out of that Paradise hideaway so we know you have money. Cough it up or she dies tonight!"

The masked individual that has Zoey spoke with a powerful aggression, it almost felt personal. Tobias was nervous as Zoey tried to squirm to no avail.

"Just give them money, Tobias, they'll let us go if we do." She spoke reasonably despite the intensity of the situation.

Tobias slowly got to his feet, he seemed to know something she didn't by looking at both the men, who were dressed in all black.

Without hesitation, Tobias pulled a handgun from his pocket and shot the assailant with Zoey right in his wrist, making him lose his grip of the gun in hand.

Zoey pulled away with ease, leaving the man who cried out in pain. She slipped behind Tobias, who still had his gun at the ready.

"What the hell?! You asked for a death wish now man!" The other assailant was close enough to lunge at Tobias and grab his arm.

"Zoey, run!" Tobias said in desperation.

She is hesitant at first, but she listens to him begrudgingly. After only a few moments, she turned around seeing him on the ground getting beaten down. She gritted her teeth, turning back without a second thought.

She approached the two men with confidence, making them turn their attention to her.

"Well, you gonna save your boyfriend, little lady?"

"You should've ran when you had the chance. Now we'll kill you both."

Zoey looked at Tobias trying to drag himself to his feet. "Tobias. Whatever you see, please don't be afraid." Her words sounded like they lost emotion.

She refocused on the two assailants who tried to jump her in a brief distraction. A black aura arose out of her, as black horns, and wings grew off of her, her teeth looked shark-like, her eyes blackened with red slits.

The assailants stopped in fear, turning in an attempt to escape as they ran past Tobias, who stood frozen in fear of what Zoey turned into.

Her demeanor seemed different somehow. A sinister smile crept across her face, whilst a black aura seemed to radiate from her. She walked past Tobias casually, giving him a kiss on the cheek before blitzing towards their assailants on the run.

She grabbed the one he shot first, and slammed his face against the wall, while he was crying from fear.

"Oh shush! Where's that big talk you had, you wanted to have your way with me right? I could smell it….so how about I have my way with you!"

Her voice has an ominous but almost elated tone to it. With an evil grin, she broke his arm like a twig, before biting and ripping out his jugular while he screamed, leaving him to bleed out on the ground.

She chased after the other, leaving Tobias with the horrific sight that's already replaying in his mind.

"Wha-what is she? Why did she kill them so gleefully?! I can't stay, I don't want to know what she'll do to me!"

He ran away with all of his might, hoping to get home before she got him too.