Dr. Ethan Hayes leaned back in his leather chair and let out a slow breath as the last patient of the day walked out with a brighter smile than when they came in. The clinic was quiet now...just the soft hum of the air conditioner and the faint scent of mint from the polish he had used earlier. It was past eight o'clock on a Friday night, and downtown Los Angeles buzzed outside the big windows of Hayes Dental Care.
At twenty-eight, Ethan was already known as one of the best dentists in California. Patients flew in from San Francisco, San Diego, even Vegas just to sit in his chair. He was tall and lean, with light blond hair that he kept neatly styled, bright blue eyes that put nervous people at ease, and a warm smile that made everyone feel like they were the only person in the room. His white coat hung perfectly on his shoulders, and underneath he wore simple button-up shirts that fit just right.
Ethan had worked hard to build this place. After dental school at UCLA, where he graduated at the top of his class, he spent years learning every new trick in the book...cosmetic veneers, dental implants, root canals that barely hurt, even laser treatments that made old-school drills feel ancient. He opened his own clinic three years ago in a sleek building with floor-to-ceiling windows, modern chairs that reclined like luxury seats, and big screens that showed calming ocean videos while he worked.
Today had been nonstop. His schedule started at seven in the morning with a full mouth reconstruction...eight veneers on a model who needed perfect teeth for a big photoshoot. Then came a scared kid who needed a simple filling but cried until Ethan told silly jokes and let him pick a toy from the treasure box. Afternoon brought an emergency...a construction worker who cracked a front tooth on the job. Ethan fixed it with a composite bonding that looked completely natural. By six, he was doing routine cleanings, scraping away plaque with scalers, polishing with gritty paste until smiles sparkled.
"Doctor Hayes, you're all set," his assistant Maria said, poking her head in. "Charts are updated, instruments sterilized, and I locked the front. Go home and rest...you deserve it."
Ethan smiled and stood up, stretching his arms. "Thanks, Maria. You're the real MVP here. Have a good weekend."
"You too, boss. Don't stay too late again."
He laughed softly. Staying late was normal for him. There was always one more patient note to write, one more article on new dental tech to read, one more supply order to check. Work filled the empty spaces in his life.
Ethan grabbed his keys and light jacket from the hook. He turned off the lights one by one...exam rooms first, then the waiting area with its comfy couches and fresh flowers on the table. The front door locked with a soft click behind him. Outside, the city was alive. People hurried along sidewalks, cars honked in the distance, and neon signs glowed from bars and restaurants.
His silver sedan waited in the private parking spot behind the building. He slid in, started the engine, and connected his phone to play soft music...nothing too loud, just something calm to unwind. Ethan lived in a nice apartment in West Hollywood, not too far, but traffic could turn a twenty-minute drive into an hour on busy nights.
As he pulled out onto the street, he thought about his day. Fixing smiles was what he loved most. Seeing someone look in the mirror after months of braces or a new implant and light up...that feeling never got old. One patient today, an older woman who lost teeth to gum disease, cried happy tears when she saw her new bridge. "I can eat steak again," she said, hugging him tight. Moments like that made the long hours worth it.
But when the clinic lights went off and the patients went home, Ethan felt the quiet creep in.
He had friends...other doctors, old college buddies...but most were busy with families or partners. Dating? He tried. Apps, blind dates set up by well-meaning friends, even a serious boyfriend two years ago. That one hurt the most. Mark was a lawyer, handsome and charming, but he got tired of Ethan's crazy schedule. "You're married to your job, Ethan," Mark said the night he left. "There's no room for me."
Ethan tried to change after that...took weekends off, planned vacations...but work always pulled him back. Patients needed him. Smiles needed fixing. And deep down, he liked being needed.
Tonight he was tired but not ready to go straight home to an empty apartment. Maybe he'd grab takeout...sushi or a burger...something easy. Or stop by the gym for a quick workout to clear his head.
He turned onto a main road heading south, passing familiar spots. The arena where the Suns played wasn't far...he could see the lights still on from the game that ended earlier. Ethan wasn't a huge basketball fan, but he knew Alejandro Ramirez was the star tonight. The radio mentioned a game-winning three-pointer. Ethan smiled to himself. Must be nice to have that kind of excitement.
Traffic slowed as he entered a rougher part of the city. He didn't come this way often...his usual route was safer highways...but the GPS rerouted him because of an accident ahead. Warehouses and old buildings lined the streets, graffiti on walls, groups of people hanging out on corners. Ethan kept his doors locked and eyes forward. He wasn't scared, exactly...just careful.
A red light stopped him at a quiet intersection. He tapped his fingers on the wheel, waiting for green. The music played low, some singer talking about lost love. Ethan glanced at his phone...no new messages. Just a reminder about tomorrow's early appointment.
Then it happened.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunshots exploded from somewhere close...loud, sharp, real. Ethan's heart jumped into his throat. He ducked low in his seat on instinct, hands gripping the wheel tight. More shots rang out...tires screeching, voices yelling, glass breaking somewhere nearby.
People ran past his car, shadows in the streetlights. A group of men shouted words he couldn't make out...angry, fast, dangerous. Headlights flashed as cars sped away. One bullet pinged off metal close by...maybe a sign or another car.
Ethan's breath came fast. He had never been this close to real violence before. Growing up in a quiet suburb, going to good schools...this world felt far away. But now it was right outside his window.
The light turned green, but he couldn't move...cars behind him honked, then swerved around. Someone screamed. More shots.
He had to get out of here.
Ethan sat up just enough to see the road. Chaos everywhere. Then, through the windshield, he spotted a tall figure waving at him from the sidewalk...a man in a hoodie, motioning urgently.
"Get out! Come on!" the man shouted. "Get in my car...now!"
Ethan's mind raced. Trust a stranger? Stay here and risk it?
Another shot cracked the air, closer this time.
He made his choice.
Ethan threw open his door and ran.