The Five Evolution

『"Too Formal?"』

Amara stood in front of the mirror for the third time, not entirely sure what counted as "right." She adjusted one of her earrings, stepped back, then immediately stepped forward again.

The dark green dress she’d settled on wasn’t extravagant by Institute standards, but it fit her well. It was elegant without trying too hard.

The fabric hugged her frame before flowing naturally toward her knees, and her hair was styled to fall over one shoulder.

Sophia would probably call it boring. The thought made her smile.

Then a knock came from outside. Amara took one final breath and opened the door.

Ethan seemed to forget how words worked as he stood there speechless, long enough that Amara noticed.

His eyes widened ever so slightly before he recovered. "You look... nice, Miss Murray," he finally managed.

Amara felt heat rise to her cheeks. She tilted her head, giving him a graceful smile as she took in his sharp dark tailored suit. "You clean up nicely yourself, Mr. Bass."

Ethan looked good. Annoyingly good.

A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Ready?"

"Lead the way."

***

The vehicle waiting outside looked expensive enough to buy a small house. Ethan walked ahead and opened the rear door.

Amara arched an eyebrow. "A gentleman?"

"I have a reputation to maintain," he grinned.

She tucked one of her locs behind her ear. "You have a reputation?"

"Barely."

She laughed softly and slid into the seat. Ethan followed moments later, and the driver closed the door behind them.

"Where to, sir?" he asked after settling into the driver’s seat.

Ethan gave an address on paper, and the vehicle pulled away.

Amara watched the city lights drift past through the window. After several minutes she finally turned toward him. "So."

"So?"

"So, where are we going?"

"It’s a surprise."

Amara groaned dramatically. "I hate surprises."

Ethan scoffed. "No you don’t."

"I hate bad surprises," Amara rectified. However, Ethan just smiled at her.

She folded her arms. "You realize this only makes me more curious."

"I know."

"You’re enjoying this."

"I am."

Amara rolled her eyes affectionately and returned her attention to the window.

***

Twenty-five minutes later, the car stopped. Amara stepped out and immediately understood why Ethan had been so secretive.

The restaurant looked less like a restaurant and more like a luxury resort.

Glass walls overlooked the city from a hillside outside Pacific Creek. Soft golden lights illuminated stone walkways, and water fountains reflected the evening sky.

She stared at all of it. "Ethan."

"Hm?"

"How much did this reservation cost?"

"I’m choosing not to answer that."

Amara immediately looked worried. "Ethan..."

Before Ethan could respond, a hostess approached. "Mr. Bass. Miss Murray. Right this way."

Ethan took her hand, and they followed. Amara’s gaze shifted from one corner to the next, from one table to the next as she studied the decor of the interior.

Halfway across the dining room, a small voice stopped her.

"Pretty..."

Amara glanced sideways. A little girl sat at a nearby table between her parents. The girl’s eyes were huge as she stared at Amara.

Amara smiled immediately. "I love your dress too."

The little girl gasped happily and her parents laughed.

The father lifted his glass toward her in thanks, while the mother smiled warmly. Amara nodded politely in return before continuing toward her table.

When they sat down, Ethan watched her for a moment.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing," Ethan said.

"Come on."

He smiled. "You do that a lot."

"Do what?"

"Talk to people."

Amara blinked. "They’re people."

"They are people," he said with a smug smile.

"No, seriously." She raised an eyebrow. "What does that mean?"

Ethan rested his chin against one hand. "Most people don’t stop to compliment strangers."

Amara thought about it, then shrugged. "She did have a cute outfit. And she looked happy."

Ethan leaned in slightly. "Well you made that little girl’s entire night."

Amara smiled into her glass. "Stop it."

***

Quickly and efficiently, the menus arrived. The service was flawless. The view was spectacular. The food smelled incredible. And somehow, Ethan could still tell something was wrong.

He watched her stare out across the city again. Then he sighed. "Not your thing, is it?"

Amara immediately looked guilty. She opened her mouth to deny it, then sighed. "No... not really."

Ethan laughed. "Thought so."

She leaned forward. "No, no. I love that you did this."

"I believe you." Ethan took a sip from his glass.

"I mean it." Amara exhaled. "It’s just..."

Ethan gave a small, self-aware smile. "Too formal?"

"A little."

"Too expensive?" he added.

"Very."

Ethan nodded thoughtfully. "I think I may have tried a little too hard."

The honesty caught her off guard and she smiled. "I love that you put in the effort," Amara said gently, reaching across the table to touch his hand. "The thought matters more to me."

Ethan’s shoulders loosened. Then he looked around the restaurant and said, "wanna get out of here?"

Amara nearly choked. "What?"

"Wanna leave?" Ethan repeated.

"Ethan," she called.

"Yeah?"

"You already paid."

"So?"

She raised an eyebrow. "So, we’re getting our money’s worth."

BANG.

A gunshot echoed through the restaurant and every conversation died instantly.

Another shot rang out and a woman screamed.

"Nobody move!" Three masked men stormed into the dining room carrying weapons.

Panic erupted as people dropped beneath tables, shattering glasses in the process.

One of the robbers kicked over a chair. "Jewelry!"

Another tossed a sack onto a nearby table. "Watches! Wallets! Everything!"

The dining room descended into chaos and Amara slowly lifted her face to Ethan. "What should we do?"

Ethan’s expression remained calm, keeping his voice low. "We do exactly what they say." He removed his watch. "That is, unless someone decides to do something stupid."

Amara nodded, then began unclasping her necklace.

The robbers moved through the room collecting valuables.

Everything might have ended there. Might have. But one customer decided to be a hero.

The man launched himself from behind a table, tackling one of the robbers, and they began struggling for the gun. In the chaos, the weapon went off.

Amara’s eyes widened the moment the gun discharged. Time seemed to slow as the bullet left the barrel. And its trajectory pointed directly toward the family she’d spoken to earlier.

Toward the little girl.

Ethan’s hand moved in a tiny gesture toward the family, while his eyes stayed fixed on the robbers. Amara understood immediately.

Right then, a barrier surrounded the family, a half-second before the bullet arrived.

CLANG.

The round struck it, flattening harmlessly. At that exact same moment Amara made her move.

The first robber never even saw her. One punch to the jaw, and it was lights out.

The second quickly grabbed a terrified waitress, jamming a gun against her head. "Don’t move—I’ll shoot!—"

Amara calmly slipped off one of her heels and hurled it with pinpoint accuracy to knock the gun out of his hand.

The weapon flew across the room and she crossed the distance before it hit the ground, delivering a kick to his face with her bare leg that knocked him out cold.

"I didn’t sign up for this shit." The third robber tried to run for the exit, but Ethan raised a barrier at the door.

THOOM.

The man slammed face-first into it and collapsed, unconscious.

Silence followed as the entire restaurant simply stared in awe and disbelief.

Amara, on the other hand, straightened, then took a breath before asking, "Is everyone okay?"

Before anyone could answer, the man who tackled one of the robbers earlier pointed at the shimmering barrier still protecting the family. "Look! They’re one of those!"

The murmurs started, and the atmosphere changed immediately. Amara felt it happen. The shift. The fear. The uncertainty. The whispers.

Even the family Ethan saved sat frozen as the mother instinctively pulled her child closer.

Amara recognized that look. She’d seen versions of it her entire life.

The murmurs grew louder and the manager was forced to approach them. He looked embarrassed, nervous, and ashamed all at once. "I’m... sorry."

Amara already knew what was coming.

"I think it might be best if you leave," he whispered. "I’m so sorry... we’ll refund everything."

Ethan’s jaw tightened, but Amara simply walked over to the unconscious robber and retrieved her shoe. Then returned to the table to pick up her purse.

"It’s okay," she said as she lifted a leg to put on her heel. "We were leaving anyway."

The manager managed to look relieved and guilty at the same time.

Before they reached the exit, the waitress she’d saved hurried over. She grabbed Amara’s hand and whispered, "thank you."

"Take care." Amara smiled softly and kept moving.

As they passed the family, the little girl started toward her.

The mother did nothing for a brief moment, watching as her daughter slowly walked over to Amara.

For a second, it looked like she was going to let her go. Suddenly, she grabbed her daughter’s hand, stopping her.

Despite this, Amara’s smile never faltered. She waved to the little girl anyway, then walked out with Ethan into the night.

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