00:00We don't run.
00:01That's the first thing Ethan says when I start grabbing my stuff.
00:04He stands in the doorway, blocking my frantic scramble, and says,
00:08We don't run. We fight.
00:11Are you insane?
00:12He's framing you. He's coming for me.
00:15What are we supposed to do?
00:18Exactly what he doesn't expect.
00:20He pulls out his phone, taps something,
00:23and suddenly the apartment is alive with sound.
00:26Voices. Dozens of them.
00:29Coming from speakers I didn't even know existed.
00:32What is that?
00:34Every conversation Victor Reyes has had in the last six months.
00:38Ethan's smile is sharp. Dangerous.
00:42The AI doesn't just predict death, Maya.
00:45It listens. It records. It remembers.
00:49You bugged him?
00:51I bugged everything.
00:53He walks to the console, starts pulling up files.
00:57I've been waiting for him to make a move.
00:59I just didn't expect him to move so fast.
01:03So what's the plan?
01:05He turns to me.
01:07That gray stare.
01:09Steady as a heartbeat.
01:11The plan is you stay here.
01:13Locked in.
01:15Surrounded by security that would make the Secret Service jealous.
01:18And I go to Reyes.
01:20No.
01:21Maya.
01:22No.
01:24I step toward him.
01:25You're not doing this alone.
01:27You're not martyring yourself for me.
01:29That's not how this works.
01:31And how does it work?
01:33I don't know.
01:34But not like that.
01:36He sighs.
01:37Runs a hand through his hair.
01:39For the first time, he looks almost...
01:42uncertain.
01:43I can't lose you.
01:45He says quietly.
01:47I've spent three years watching people die because I couldn't stop it.
01:51I won't add you to that list.
01:53You won't have to.
01:55I grab his hand.
01:57Squeeze.
01:59Because we're going to do this together.
02:01You, me, and your creepy murder AI.
02:05It's not creepy.
02:06It predicted my death down to the minute.
02:09It's a little creepy.
02:10He laughs.
02:12Actually laughs.
02:13And for a second, the terror loosens its grip on my chest.
02:18Okay.
02:19He says.
02:20Together.
02:22The plan is simple.
02:23Stupid.
02:24But simple.
02:26We're going to crash Victor Reyes' charity gala.
02:29It's the event of the season.
02:31Black tie.
02:32Open bar.
02:33Every powerful person in New York pretending they don't know each other's crimes.
02:38Ethan has an invitation.
02:40I have a dress he pulled out of nowhere.
02:43Seriously.
02:44Where does this man keep a size 4 evening gown?
02:47And we have a flash drive full of evidence that could bring down an empire.
02:52This is insane.
02:53I say.
02:55Staring at myself in the mirror.
02:57The dress is emerald green.
02:59Backless.
03:00Absolutely not something I would ever pick for myself.
03:03I look like a Bond girl.
03:05You look beautiful.
03:07I freeze.
03:08He's standing behind me.
03:10Adjusting his cufflinks.
03:12And he says it so casually.
03:13Like it's just a fact.
03:15Like he's commenting on the weather.
03:18That's the first time you've said that.
03:20First time I've meant it.
03:22I turn around.
03:23He's in a black tuxedo.
03:25Hair slicked back.
03:27Looking like every villain in every movie I've ever loved.
03:30Except he's not the villain.
03:32He's the guy who stayed up all night watching me breathe.
03:35Who gave me his bed while he slept on the couch.
03:37Who told me his darkest secret because I asked.
03:41Ethan.
03:42Yeah?
03:43If this doesn't work.
03:45It'll work.
03:47If it doesn't.
03:48I step closer.
03:50I just want you to know.
03:52I'm glad you stopped.
03:54That night.
03:55I'm glad it was you.
03:57He looks at me for a long moment.
03:59Then he reaches up.
04:01Tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
04:03His fingers brush my cheek.
04:05Warm.
04:06Gentle.
04:07Nothing's going to happen to you.
04:09He says.
04:10I promise.
04:11You can't promise that.
04:13I can promise I'll die trying.
04:16That's not comforting.
04:18It's not supposed to be.
04:19The gala is at the plaza.
04:21Because of course it is.
04:24Crystal chandeliers.
04:25Champagne towers.
04:27A string quartet playing something that sounds like money.
04:30Ethan walks in like he owns the place.
04:33Which, knowing him, he probably does.
04:36I cling to his arm and try not to throw up.
04:40Smile.
04:41He murmurs.
04:42You look like you're attending a funeral.
04:45I might be.
04:46Not helping.
04:48We weave through the crowd.
04:50I spot senators.
04:52I spot senators.
04:52Celebrities.
04:53A tech CEO who's been on trial for fraud twice.
04:56Everyone is smiling.
04:57Everyone is lying.
04:59Then I see him.
05:00Victor Reyes.
05:02He's shorter than I expected.
05:04Silver hair.
05:05Expensive suit.
05:06The kind of smile that doesn't reach his eyes.
05:09He's surrounded by sycophants.
05:11Laughing at something that isn't funny.
05:13That's him.
05:14I whisper.
05:15That's him.
05:17He looks...
05:18Normal.
05:20Monsters usually do.
05:22Ethan squeezes my hand.
05:24Then he lets go and walks toward Reyes like he's greeting an old friend.
05:28Victor.
05:29He says, voice warm.
05:31You look well?
05:33Ethan.
05:34Reyes spreads his arms.
05:36I was wondering if you'd show.
05:38Heard some nasty rumors about you.
05:41Something about a federal investigation.
05:43Just rumors.
05:45Ethan's smile is ice.
05:46You know how people talk.
05:48I do.
05:50Reyes's eyes slide to me.
05:52And who's this?
05:53An associate.
05:54An associate.
05:56Reyes takes my hand.
05:58Presses it to his lips.
05:59His skin is cold.
06:01You're very beautiful, my dear.
06:03How did Ethan manage to find someone like you?
06:07Craigslist, I say.
06:09Reyes blinks.
06:10Ethan coughs.
06:11She's joking.
06:12Am I?
06:13Reyes laughs.
06:15It's a hollow sound.
06:16I like her.
06:17She's got spirit.
06:19I've got a flash drive, too, I say.
06:21Want to see?
06:22The smile vanishes.
06:24What happens next is a blur.
06:26Reyes snaps his fingers.
06:28Two men appear.
06:29Huge.
06:30Bald.
06:31The kind of guys who break kneecaps for fun.
06:34Ethan steps in front of me.
06:36People are staring.
06:37Someone screams.
06:39Give me the drive, Reyes says.
06:42And I'll let you walk out of here.
06:44Go to hell.
06:45Wrong answer.
06:47One of the men grabs me.
06:48I kick him.
06:49He grunts, but doesn't let go.
06:51Ethan lunges, and gets a fist to the face for his trouble.
06:55Ethan.
06:55He staggers, blood on his lip, but he's smiling.
06:59You think I came here alone?
07:01He asks.
07:02Reyes frowns.
07:04What?
07:05The lights go out.
07:06When they come back on, the room is full of FBI agents.
07:10It's over in minutes.
07:12Reyes is on the ground, screaming about his lawyers.
07:16His men are in cuffs.
07:18The guests are frozen.
07:20Champagne glasses still raised.
07:22Like they're not sure if this is part of the show.
07:25Ethan is beside me.
07:27His lip is split.
07:29His eye is swelling.
07:31He looks like hell, and he's never been more beautiful.
07:34You planned this, I say.
07:36I planned this.
07:38You didn't tell me.
07:39I didn't want you to worry.
07:41I was worried.
07:43I know.
07:44He cups my face in his hands.
07:46But I needed you to be brave.
07:48And you were.
07:49You were incredible.
07:51I kicked a guy in the shin.
07:54You kicked a guy in the shin while wearing heels.
07:56That's heroic.
07:58I laugh.
07:59It comes out wet.
08:00Hysterical.
08:01I'm crying.
08:02When did I start crying?
08:04The prediction, I say.
08:0711.47 p.m.
08:08It's 11.46.
08:10He looks at the clock on the wall.
08:12Then back at me.
08:13I know.
08:14So this is it?
08:16This is when I die?
08:17No.
08:18He pulls me closer.
08:20This is when the model was wrong.
08:22Wrong?
08:23I changed the variables.
08:25I changed everything.
08:25His forehead touches mine.
08:28You changed everything.
08:30The clock ticks.
08:3111.47.
08:32I'm still here.
08:34Looks like your AI isn't so smart after all.
08:37I whisper.
08:38Looks like.
08:39He smiles.
08:41Or maybe it just needed a different ending.
08:44Six months later.
08:45I'm sitting on Ethan's couch.
08:47Our couch now.
08:49Eating takeout and watching the news.
08:51Victor Reyes is going away for life.
08:54Prometheus AI has been cleared of all charges.
08:57And somewhere in a data center in California, a machine is learning that not everything can
09:02be predicted.
09:04You know, I say.
09:07Your AI never told me what happens next.
09:10What do you mean?
09:11I mean, it predicted my death.
09:14But it didn't predict.
09:16This.
09:17I gesture around the apartment.
09:19Us.
09:21Whatever we are.
09:22We're us, Ethan says.
09:24That's enough.
09:25Is it?
09:27He sets down his chopsticks.
09:29Looks at me with those gray eyes.
09:31Softer now.
09:32Warmer.
09:33Like the storm finally passed.
09:36Maya Chen.
09:37He says.
09:38You are the most infuriating, stubborn, beautiful person I've ever met.
09:43You make me laugh.
09:44You make me sleep.
09:46You make me want to be the kind of man who deserves you.
09:49I'm also really good at karaoke.
09:51I know.
09:52I've heard you.
09:54Rude.
09:55He grins.
09:57Actually grins.
09:58It transforms his whole face.
10:00I love you.
10:01He says.
10:03The words hang there.
10:04Simple.
10:06Terrifying.
10:07True.
10:08I love you too.
10:09I say.
10:10Even though you're a creepy AI whisperer with control issues.
10:14I prefer visionary.
10:15I prefer pain in the ass.
10:18He kisses me.
10:19And for a moment, everything is perfect.
10:22Then my phone buzzes.
10:24A notification.
10:25From the Prometheus AI.
10:27New prediction available.
10:29I look at Ethan.
10:30He looks at me.
10:32Don't.
10:33I say.
10:34I have to.
10:35It's probably just going to say I'm going to die again.
10:38It won't.
10:40How do you know?
10:41He picks up the phone.
10:43Reads the message.
10:44His face goes blank.
10:46Then, slowly, he starts to laugh.
10:48What?
10:49I demand.
10:50What does it say?
10:51He turns the screen toward me.
10:53Prediction.
10:54Maya Chen will live a long, happy life.
10:57Estimated death.
10:5811.47 p.m.
11:0072 years from now.
11:02Cause.
11:02Old age.
11:03Surrounded by family.
11:04I stare at it.
11:06Then at him.
11:0772 years.
11:0972 years.
11:11That's...
11:12a lot of years.
11:13It is.
11:14With you?
11:15He takes my hand.
11:17Kisses my knuckles.
11:18Smiles that rare, real smile.
11:20With me, he says.
11:22If you'll have me.
11:24I think about it.
11:26Really think about it.
11:27The man who saved me.
11:29The man who scared me.
11:31The man who taught me that fate isn't written in stone.
11:34It's written in choices.
11:35Yeah, I say.
11:37I'll have you.
11:38And somewhere in the dark, the machine hums.
11:42Learning.
11:43Growing.
11:44Rewriting the future one variable at a time.
11:47But it doesn't matter anymore.
11:49Because I'm not afraid of the clock.
11:52Not when I've got 72 years to prove it wrong.
11:55The end.
11:57Thanks so much for listening.
11:59If you enjoyed Ethan and Maya's chaotic, death-defying romance, smash that like button,
12:05comment your favorite moment.
12:06Was it Craigslist or that 72-year prediction?
12:10And subscribe with the bell on so you never miss a new story.
12:14Share it with your bestie who needs a fictional billionaire in her life.
12:18Rate this story out of 10 in the comments.
12:20I'm hoping for at least a 9, but I'll accept Ethan can ruin my life as a valid answer.
12:26And don't forget to vote for the next story.
12:29A. Fake fiancé who ruined my life.
12:33B. Detective bodyguard who arrested me.
12:36Or C. Billionaire boss.
12:39Secret rival hacker.
12:40Drop your pick below.
12:42See you in the next one.
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