Devin's watching the screen. 6 orders to go and then maybe a breather. Meaning go outside and hit a blunt.

“Hey, Devin! You daydreaming again? Or are you just trying to avoid those dishes?” Jazz teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Just contemplating the meaning of life,” he replied with a smirk, but his heart wasn’t in it. What did Lov mean by madness? What crossroads was he standing at? The questions nagged at him, refusing to be silenced.

Just then, the door swung open, and a chill swept through the kitchen. A figure stepped inside, cloaked in shadows and uncertainty. Devin squinted, trying to make out the newcomer’s face. It was a tall woman with long hair that cascaded like dark waves. She wore a tattered black coat and had striking green eyes that seemed to pierce through the dimly lit room.

“Who are you?” Jake asked, his tone shifting from playful to wary.

“I’m here for Devin,” the woman said, her voice smooth yet commanding.

Devin’s heart raced. “What do you want with me?”

“I’m Nyssa,” she replied, stepping closer. “I’ve been sent by the Goddess Shakti. You’re in danger, Devin. The balance between realms is shifting, and you’re at the center of it.”

Dennis, who had been lurking by the fryer, suddenly perked up. “Who the fuck is you? And what kind of danger?” His crooked smile was gone, replaced by genuine fear.

Nyssa ignored him. And spoke to Devin. “The madness is already here. You must prepare. The veil between the mundane and the divine has thinned, and forces are gathering to exploit it.”

Devin felt light headed yet fully alert at tge same time. Something in his gut telling him to trust this strange woman. “What do I need to do?” he asked, his voice steadier than he felt.

“Follow me,” Nyssa instructed, turning on her heel. “There’s no time to waste.”

Without thinking, Devin set down the dish he was scrubbing and exchanged glances with Jazz, Jake, and even Dennis. Their expressions ranged from confusion to concern, but something deep within him urged him to follow.

“Hold the fuck up!” Jazz called out, stepping forward. “Who the fuck you think you is comin' back here? And ain't no way you jus'takin Devin outta here!”

Nyssa turned back, her expression softening slightly. “If you care for him, you should come too. This is bigger than any of us. The fate of both worlds may depend on it.”

Devin hesitates for a moment, torn between his mundane life filled with burgers and drama. Angmd tbat of the mysterious and unknown.

Fear tempted to grip him. But the pull of destiny was stronger. He felt the warmth of Shakti’s presence guiding him. Or at least he thought he did.

“Okay,” he said, determination settling in his chest. “Let’s go.”

As they left Greezy Mike’s, the night air was thick with the scent of rain and impending change. The streets were eerily quiet, the usual sounds of the city dulled as if the world was holding its breath. Nyssa led the way, her figure cutting through the darkness with purpose.

“Where are we going?” Devin asked as they navigated through the deserted alleyways.

“To the Heart of the City,” Nyssa replied. “It is where the energy converges, and where you will find the answers you seek.”

As they walked, Devin felt an electric charge in the air, a sense of urgency that quickened his heartbeat. Behind him, Jazz whispered her voice barely audible, “We must be out our minds right now."

They reached a large, ancient stone archway that loomed at the end of an alley. Vines twisted around its pillars, and an ethereal glow seeped from the cracks in the stones.

“This is it,” Nyssa said, her voice low. “Once we step through, there’s no turning back.”

Devin exchanged a glance with his Jazz, feeling the weight of their collective resolve. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the unknown. With a nod, he stepped forward, eager to embrace whatever lay ahead, as the archway shimmered in anticipation of their crossing.

Little did they know, the first test of their courage and unity awaited them on the other side, where the line between the divine and the ordinary would blur, and the real adventure would begin.