Chapter 4: Sparks Fly

The air in the Vic seemed to crackle with electricity as Denise and Stacey faced off, their eyes locked in a fierce stare. Ian's attempt to intervene only seemed to fuel the fire, and Denise's anger appeared to grow with every passing moment. Jack could feel the tension building, and he knew that it was only a matter of time before things escalated. Stacey, seemingly unfazed by Denise's aggression, stood her ground, her eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and defiance. "I'm not afraid of you, Denise," she said, her voice steady. "And I'm not going to back down." Denise took another step forward, her fists clenched at her sides. "You should be," she spat. "You have no idea what you're dealing with." Ian, sensing that things were about to get out of hand, placed a restraining hand on Denise's arm. "Denise, calm down," he said, his voice firm. "This isn't going to solve anything." But Denise shook him off, her eyes never leaving Stacey's face. "You don't know anything about it, Ian," she said, her voice venomous. "You never do." The atmosphere in the Vic was becoming increasingly volatile, and Jack could feel the other patrons beginning to take notice. Phil Mitchell, sensing that things were getting out of hand, stepped forward, his voice firm. "Alright, that's enough," he said. "Denise, I think it's time for you to calm down and take a break." But Denise was beyond reason. She shook off Phil's attempts to calm her, her eyes fixed on Stacey. "This isn't over," she hissed, before turning and storming out of the Vic once again. The room seemed to exhale collectively as the tension dissipated, and Ian turned to Stacey, a concerned expression on his face. "Are you okay?" he asked. Stacey nodded, her eyes still flashing with adrenaline. "Yeah, I'm fine," she said. "Thanks for trying to intervene." Ian smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Anytime," he said. "But I think we should get out of here for a bit. It's not exactly the safest place to be right now." As they left the Vic, Jack couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He knew that Denise was still out there, and he had a feeling that she was far from finished. He watched as Ian and Stacey walked off into the night, feeling a sense of foreboding. What was Ian's game, and what did he really want with Stacey? And what would happen next with Denise, who seemed to be on the brink of explosion? The night was still young, and Jack had a feeling that it was going to be a long and eventful one.