Villain But... - #Chapter 4 - The Devil in the Shadows

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Elyra finally reached her apartment.

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As soon as she stepped inside, she quietly placed her camera on the table and leaned against the closed door.

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A long sigh escaped her lips.

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"What... was that?"

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Her heart was still racing.

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She slowly walked toward her bedroom and collapsed onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.

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The memories of the afternoon refused to leave her mind.

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The deafening gunshots...

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The terrified crowd...

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The mysterious man in the black coat...

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And his deep voice...

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*"Quiet... I'm just saving you."*

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She closed her eyes.

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"Who is he...?"

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"And why did he save me?"

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She had never met him before.

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Yet somehow...

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She couldn't stop thinking about him.

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His sharp grey eyes...

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His calm expression...

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The way he walked through the chaos without showing even a hint of fear...

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Everything about him felt strange.

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She quickly shook her head.

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"No, Elyra."

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"Forget him."

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"You don't even know his name."

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She sat up and smiled to herself.

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"At least I'm alive."

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"Jaan bachi toh lakhon paaye."

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She stretched her arms before looking around the apartment.

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"This place won't decorate itself."

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A soft smile appeared on her face.

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She connected her phone to a small speaker and played gentle music.

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Soon, she was busy arranging cushions, placing small flower pots near the balcony and decorating the living room with tiny fairy lights.

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Little by little...

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The apartment started feeling like home.

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Almost an hour later, she stepped back and admired everything.

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"Perfect."

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Just then...

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Her stomach growled.

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"Oh..."

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"I forgot to eat."

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Laughing at herself, she walked into the kitchen and prepared a quick dinner.

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While eating, she looked outside the balcony.

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The evening sky had slowly turned dark.

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Thousands of tiny lights sparkled across the city.

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The mountains looked even more beautiful beneath the moonlight.

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Her eyes lit up.

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"This place is even prettier at night."

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"I should capture it."

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She quickly finished her dinner.

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Washed the dishes.

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Changed into a comfortable black hoodie, blue jeans and white sneakers.

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She packed her camera, extra batteries, memory cards, a flashlight, a bottle of water and her small notebook inside her backpack.

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After checking everything twice, she locked the apartment and stepped outside.

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She had no idea...

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That destiny was preparing another unexpected meeting.

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•••••

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Meanwhile...

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Several kilometres away...

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Inside an abandoned warehouse...

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The atmosphere was terrifyingly silent.

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A man knelt on the cold concrete floor.

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His hands were tied behind his back.

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Blood trickled from the corner of his lips.

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Around him stood several armed men dressed in black.

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No one dared to speak.

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A tall man slowly walked toward the prisoner.

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His long black coat brushed against the floor with every step.

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His piercing grey eyes held no emotion.

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Only silence.

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Only danger.

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He stopped just inches away.

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"So..."

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His deep voice echoed through the warehouse.

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"Are you finally going to tell me your boss's name?"

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The prisoner smiled weakly despite his injuries.

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"I'd rather die."

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For a few seconds...

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The warehouse fell completely silent.

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The mysterious man slowly smiled.

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It wasn't a smile of happiness.

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It was the kind of smile that made people fear for their lives.

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He looked at one of his men.

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No words.

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Just one glance.

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The order was understood immediately.

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The next second...

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The warehouse echoed with another painful scream.

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Yet the prisoner still refused to speak.

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The mysterious man sighed softly.

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"Such loyalty..."

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He crouched down until they were face to face.

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"I'll ask one last time."

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"Who is your boss?"

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The prisoner spat blood onto the floor.

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"You'll... never... find him."

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For the first time...

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A small flicker of anger appeared in the man's eyes.

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His fists tightened.

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Several old memories flashed through his mind.

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Fire...

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Smoke...

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Blood...

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A promise he had made years ago.

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"I'll find him."

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"Even if I have to burn this entire city."

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Just then...

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For reasons he couldn't understand...

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A pair of frightened almond-shaped eyes suddenly appeared in his mind.

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The same girl he had saved that afternoon.

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He frowned.

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"...Why am I thinking about her?"

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Annoyed by the thought, he immediately pushed it aside.

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He turned toward his men.

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"Get ready."

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"We move tonight."

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No one asked any questions.

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Everyone simply nodded.

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Because when their leader gave an order...

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No one dared to refuse.# Chapter 4

## The Devil in the Shadows (Part 2)

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The cold night breeze brushed against Elyra's face as she continued walking with her camera hanging around her neck.

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The streets had become quieter.

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Most of the shops were already closed.

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Only a few cafés and streetlights filled the silent road with warm golden light.

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She smiled as she captured another photograph.

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Click.

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"Perfect..."

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"This city is even more beautiful at night."

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She continued walking until she reached a narrow street she had never seen before.

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It was unusually quiet.

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Almost too quiet.

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Suddenly...

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A loud scream echoed from somewhere nearby.

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Elyra stopped walking.

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"What was that...?"

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She looked around.

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The street was empty.

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A few seconds later...

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Another muffled scream reached her ears.

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Her curiosity immediately took over.

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"Maybe someone needs help..."

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Holding her camera tightly, she slowly walked toward the sound.

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The deeper she went, the darker the surroundings became.

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An old abandoned building stood at the end of the street.

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Its broken windows reflected the moonlight.

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The main gate was slightly open.

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Elyra carefully stepped closer.

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She couldn't see anything clearly.

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She only heard angry voices coming from inside.

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Someone was shouting.

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Someone was begging.

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Her heartbeat became faster.

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"I should leave..."

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She whispered to herself.

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Just as she turned around...

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The voices suddenly stopped.

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Complete silence.

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A few seconds later...

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Footsteps.

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Heavy footsteps.

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Someone was coming outside.

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Elyra instinctively hid behind the corner of a nearby wall.

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The footsteps grew closer.

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Then...

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He appeared.

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The same mysterious man.

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The long black coat.

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The same piercing grey eyes.

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For a brief moment...

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Elyra forgot how to breathe.

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"It's..."

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"The same man..."

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He calmly walked out of the building as if nothing had happened.

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His expression remained unreadable.

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As he adjusted his coat...

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A faint stain of fresh blood became visible near one sleeve before he casually covered it again.

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Elyra frowned.

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"Blood...?"

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"Was he hurt?"

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Before she could think any further...

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The mysterious man suddenly stopped walking.

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His sharp eyes slowly turned toward her direction.

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Elyra's heart skipped a beat.

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"He... noticed me?"

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Without thinking, she stepped out from behind the wall.

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For a few seconds...

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Neither of them spoke.

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The cool wind blew between them.

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The silence somehow felt louder than words.

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He simply stared at her.

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As if trying to understand why she was standing there.

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Elyra nervously tightened her grip around her camera.

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Finally...

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She broke the silence.

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"You..."

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"Weren't you the one who saved me this afternoon?"

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No reply.

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He continued looking at her with the same calm expression.

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"I... I didn't even get the chance to thank you properly."

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"Thank you..."

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"You really saved my life."

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Still...

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Not a single word escaped his lips.

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His silence somehow irritated her.

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She folded her arms.

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"Why are you always so quiet?"

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"And..."

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Her eyes unintentionally moved toward the sleeve of his black coat.

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"There was..."

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She hesitated.

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"...Never mind."

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Something about him made her feel that asking too many questions wasn't a good idea.

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The mysterious man slowly took one step forward.

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Then another.

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The distance between them became smaller.

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Elyra unconsciously took one step back.

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Her heartbeat started racing again.

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For reasons she couldn't explain...

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This man scared her...

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Yet she wasn't able to walk away.# Chapter 4

## The Devil in the Shadows (Part 3)

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The mysterious man took another slow step toward her.

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Elyra's heartbeat quickened.

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Instinctively, she stepped backward.

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"What are you doing?" she asked, trying to sound brave.

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He didn't answer.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIx4w8VaFiG

He simply kept walking.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wnJUsNZJ9

Step...

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauVNOyiMnX

Step...

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡud1l5PLH3D

Step...

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIu59lOPxIJ

Elyra continued moving backward until her foot slipped on a loose stone.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUzKBsasFi

"Ah—!"

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSlkGecIhx

Before she could lose her balance completely, the mysterious man grabbed her wrist.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0pe10tMUa

The sudden pull made her stumble forward instead.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cOWyfYIpO

In the next second...

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmF82nZCCF

She lost her footing.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0qCL59RO4

And so did he.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdKOjT1D0c

Both of them fell.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aGIXrkESj

Thud.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0D6lWThAYj

Elyra landed safely beneath him as he caught himself with one arm before his weight could fall on her.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZV5YIW82d

For a moment...

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKin8BQU6B

Everything became silent.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mLpYvHqz1

Their faces were only inches apart.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89FjYQ34k1

His warm breath brushed against her face.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEj1M4Sg4KD

Their eyes locked.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qrFt0TAdT

Neither of them moved.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pKShXovDj

For the first time in years...

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLQrrUou3P

The mysterious man felt something strange.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNCVoYKgJt

His eyes unconsciously drifted from her frightened eyes... to her soft lips... and back to her eyes again.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQB1LNVYY9

'What's happening to me...?'

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoADq2FpmYI

He immediately frowned at his own thoughts.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVzLH8Jkim

Meanwhile, Elyra's cheeks turned slightly pink.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKOVu75ZR8

"W-What are you doing?"

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUqHk0TyR2

"Get off me!"

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYYB4DneHG

"You always invade my personal space!"

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0jJFlzJq3

"And this afternoon too... why did you cover my mouth?"

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbCw01rAJn

She kept talking without giving him a chance to answer.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnzY9P1Ise

"You save people and then scare them!"

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtgNxFVGN3

"What kind of person are you?"

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOgmqIEjCe

"Don't you know basic manners?"

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhSruyz2ix

The mysterious man simply stared at her.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOygq4C2Df

She was still talking...

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfH1CwYLTx

Talking...

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKXlww2tfW

And talking.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGemFMrOoE

A faint sigh escaped his lips.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaPATkDr35

Without warning, he stood up, gently pulled her to her feet, and before she could step away...

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4epH8FP1pD

He caught both of her wrists in one hand.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0kpfvZdMj

"W-What are you doing?"

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodv5YJeLQF

He slowly backed her against the nearby wall.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkEpowy1C8

Her back touched the cold bricks.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuznMevtmb8

His face moved slightly closer.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡES1fO7dCne

Not enough to touch...

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNOr2wYqJn

But close enough for her heart to pound wildly.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9J0GPd95p6

She tried to free her hands.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0HQYakqGj

"Leave me!"

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjckfD5GOB

"Do you even listen to people?"

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBT9q06u5y

"I said leave—"

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKd89WTWvBx

Before she could finish...

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVGCkabQsL

He finally spoke.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODmTBrS8Ef

His deep voice was calm.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXD1we2c2FM

"Stupid girl."

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQG8lJA5qTl

She froze.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixOvzFz8Mg

"You keep talking..."

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKegpqJaae

"...and talking..."

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxems8jWokL

"...and talking."

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QrrWm62bP

He leaned just a little closer.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUi7dSYBNy

"Will you ever let me speak?"

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4RMOdP9R3

For the first time...

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFHNFfezq7

Elyra became completely silent.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNTaCAXUdm

He looked at her for a brief moment before continuing.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNY3ZJfxhQ

"I saved your life."

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuh9aMGY5u

"And instead of thanking me properly..."

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwow4tPBnk

"You're interrogating me."

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QWLkFXs1T

Elyra frowned.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiY8d4JsI2L

"I was only asking because..."

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrI94YsWuo

Her eyes moved toward the sleeve of his black coat.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOjqN7OvJR

"...there was blood."

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0s6wDLFQR

He glanced at his sleeve for a second before looking back at her.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pQ9VGlgwO

"So?"

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9QEotsNq4

"So... are you hurt?"

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fvNw23jU6

For a brief moment...

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlWRE5iRe7

Even he seemed surprised by her question.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOXEfm9dtB

"Why do you care?"

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HWHhAfx3D

He asked quietly.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqPIoLyyMz

"You don't even know who I am."

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQ1OK1dirG

Elyra looked away.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNsP5LODQc

"I don't care..."

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqmjfiYEeg

"I was just asking."

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpnBpg85Fq

A tiny smile almost appeared on his lips...

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLrAXq08tw

Almost.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeF1Og7xrK

But it disappeared before she could notice.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbiKBXbrSK

He slowly released her wrists.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbIYqTREnR

"Go home."

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30ztUz8YDB

"It's not safe here."

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gdfe2pBSf

Elyra rubbed her wrists and glared at him.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4gwKYRg7v

"You order people too much."

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJHSJ7B0iM

"And stop disappearing without answering questions."

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5MXYfXwT2

"You are... the strangest man I've ever met."

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfe03UHUMVU

He turned his back toward her.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqwflYgjIW

Without another word...

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjT83iOMqmy

He began walking away.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBF6rLVRAEO

As he disappeared into the darkness...

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYz8DCAUBC1

His long black coat swayed with the cold wind.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjp3FvcJ34

Elyra stood there, watching him until he was completely out of sight.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaLL8FYelq

She hugged her camera tightly against her chest.

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUiAbXAfeI

"Who are you...?"

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRF5NaLD10

"And why do I feel like..."

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGr17U6UB7

"...this isn't our last meeting?"

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4caAcEV37v

The night answered only with silence.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uymjeQq6F

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