Her gaze flickered to Erion, his back to her as he led the way down the stairs, his expression hard focused but concern. She swallowed, her heart hammering in her chest.
Can I really trust you?
A silhouette came into view—an unfamiliar figure sitting casually in the driver's seat of Erion's car. She had short blonde hair, her legs pulled up against the steering wheel, and a twisted smile playing on her lips as she watched them.
Without a second thought, she pulled out a flip phone, her fingers quick and practiced as she dialed.
"Mission failed," she said into the phone, her voice calm, detached. "The three are dead, and she's running." There was a brief pause. "She's with the Licit Demon."
The electronic voice on the other end sounded confused. "What do you mean?"
"I'm not entirely sure, mother," she replied, her tone almost playful. "But I'll tail them." She ended the call with a decisive click.
A smirk curled at the corners of her lips as she leaned back in the seat, her eyes gleaming. This might be interesting, she thought to herself. The thought of earning the All Mother's praise for capturing them made her smile even wider.
They emerged into the dimly lit basement parking lot, the relentless rain still pouring down around them, a steady drumbeat against the pavement. Evah kept close, her footsteps matching Erion's, her heart still racing as they passed his vehicle.
"Where are we—"
Erion cut her off, his voice low and urgent. "No, we can't use that. It might have been rigged with a bomb." His jaw clenched, eyes scanning the surroundings. We can't risk anything.
He checked the clock on his left wrist, his expression hardening as he pulled her along. Letting go of her arm for a brief moment, he took her hand firmly in his.
"The subway will still be running at this hour," he said, his voice steady but tense. "We need to blend in. Keep moving."
The lively streets were a whirlwind of lights and noise. The night market bustled around them, bright stalls lined with colorful displays and the chatter of people blending into a constant hum. Evah felt disoriented, unaware of where she was or where they were headed, her gaze focused on the steady presence beside her—Erion's gentle hand, a lifeline in the chaos.
She wanted to speak, to respond to the vendors who called out, trying to sell her anything from trinkets to food, but the words never came. She simply looked at them, the voices around her muffled, as if the world was moving too fast for her to catch up.
Stay with him. It's safe.
The thought echoed in her mind like a quiet instinct. Little by little, she could feel herself coming back to reality, her feet moving on their own, guided by the steady pull of his hand.
They reached the subway, and Erion quietly purchased a ticket. Evah stayed close, her thoughts still scattered.
They boarded the train, the rhythmic hum of the carriages almost soothing, but it wasn't until she sat down that Evah realized they were both drenched from the rain.
Erion, seemingly unfazed, flashed a smile at her, his voice light and teasing as he joked, "Guess we forgot our umbrella, and now we're on our way home." His expression was so gentle, so effortlessly angelic—like he hadn't just shot two men in cold blood.
Is this why he's a Major General? The thought lingered in her mind. Is this what it takes to be one of them? To switch between worlds so easily?
As they sat in the train, Erion struck up a casual conversation with an elderly man about how terrible the weather had been. Evah, however, was miles away, her world muffled, the sound of the train engine too distant, almost irrelevant in the haze of her mind.
When they got off the train, Evah's thoughts still felt fractured. She wasn't sure if she could trust him completely—not yet, not after everything—but one thing was certain:
I'll be safe with him. Don't let go of my hand.
They stepped out onto unfamiliar streets, the world blurring around her. A cab appeared, and without thinking, they climbed inside.
"Thanks a lot!" Erion waved goodbye to the driver, his voice calm, as though none of this mattered.
The building they entered had a grand lobby, with sleek displays and luxurious finishes. Everything felt vague, like she was trapped inside her own body, floating in and out of reality.
Hotel for me to stay?
The elevator dinged, and they stepped out. She didn't even know where they were, only that she was still walking beside him, still holding his hand.
It's been hours now, and she still hasn't said a word. The silence weighed heavy on her, but Erion didn't push her to speak. He could tell she was dealing with something deeper—he knew that kind of trauma all too well.
But can I really complain? His thoughts drifted as they reached the door to their place. After everything she's seen, after almost being kidnapped...
He pressed his thumb against the fingerprint scanner, and the door clicked open.
Inside was a spacious bachelor pad, decorated in shades of gray, black, and charcoal, giving it an understated yet modern feel. A television stood across from a sleek couch, which was flanked by potted plants. The island kitchen stood to the side, an open space that made the apartment feel even larger. A small door with clear glass panels revealed a glimpse of a bedroom beyond, the soft lighting casting shadows on the floor.
Evah felt detached from it all, like an observer in someone else's life.
She sat down, her mind still whirling with everything that had happened. He had saved her—there was no question about that. He had acted without hesitation, protecting her when the danger had been so close, so real. But as much as she was grateful, as much as she felt the weight of that gratitude, she couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted within her.
She was thankful to him—so much so that her chest ached with it. He had saved her life. But then she remembered the look on his face as he'd pulled the trigger. The cold precision. The way he had ended lives so easily. It had been so... effortless. He had killed like it was nothing.
Her hands clenched in her lap as she stared down, unable to shake the image of the bodies, the blood.
Is this what he does?
She had seen it—felt the power behind those actions. And in the back of her mind, a part of her couldn't escape the thought that, despite his gentleness, despite the kindness he showed now, Erion was capable of things that haunted her.
Could I really trust him completely?
Erion pulled his hand away from hers, and in that instant, it was as if all the resistance she'd mustered to keep her thoughts in check was suddenly ripped away. A wave of unease surged through her, and she froze, her mind spiraling.
What if he will kill me as well?
The thought crashed through her, icy and cold.
What if he's the one who orchestrated all of this? What if he's the kidnapper?
Her pulse quickened, her body rigid with fear, until something caught her attention. She glanced around the unfamiliar space.
A sudden realization hit her like a punch to the gut.
"Erion, where am I?" Her voice trembled, almost barely audible.