The trio stood in the dim alley, the air thick with the residue of Dorian's parting words, like a lingering frost that refused to melt. Sylus looked down at Rose, feeling the tight grip of her hand in his. The way her fingers trembled beneath his touch didn't escape his notice, and he knew that, despite her attempt to stay calm, fear was creeping up on her.
"Hey," he said softly, his voice a quiet anchor against the chaotic night. "Take a breath, kitten. We're okay."
Rose nodded, forcing herself to take a deep breath as she tried to steady her heart. Her chest was tight, and the shadows that clung to the alley felt unnatural, as if they were alive, watching, waiting. The tension in her muscles was almost unbearable, but Sylus's presence was a constant, grounding force that she could hold onto. She didn't know how much longer she could keep pretending that everything was fine, but for now, she held onto the one thing that made sense—Sylus.
Lucas, as always, was the first to break the silence, his pragmatic voice cutting through the stillness of the alley. "We need to keep moving," he said, his gaze sweeping the surroundings. "If Dorian found us this easily, others will, too."
Sylus didn't hesitate, his jaw tightening as he nodded in agreement. "There's a safehouse not far from here. We'll regroup there."
Without another word, they moved out of the alley and into the shadows of the city streets. The distant hum of the city around them felt foreign, a harsh contrast to the silence of the alley just moments before. Rose kept her gaze fixed forward, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and fear. Vienna. The name echoed in her mind, haunting her like an old, forgotten melody that she couldn't place but knew she had heard somewhere before. Along with it came Dorian's cryptic words—words that seemed to unlock a thousand questions, yet no answers. Why did it feel like everyone in this game knew more about her life than she did?
The streets blurred as they moved swiftly, her feet barely making a sound on the cracked pavement. Sylus's hand never left hers, his grip steady and reassuring, pulling her forward with a quiet urgency. They reached a nondescript building nestled between two larger structures, looking as if it hadn't seen the light of day in years. The windows were caked with dust, the door slightly warped from years of neglect.
"This is safe?" Rose asked, eyeing the building skeptically.
Lucas shot her a knowing look. "Safer than your apartment was," he said with a small smirk.
Sylus, ever the calm in the storm, shot Lucas a sharp look before pushing open the door with ease. Inside, the space was sparse, but clean—sparse enough to make Rose feel the weight of her isolation, but clean enough to assure her that they weren't completely alone in the world. It smelled faintly of dust, a familiar scent in places that had been abandoned for too long.
"Sit," Sylus instructed, his voice firm yet gentle. "Rest. It's secure here."
Rose glanced around, taking in the simplicity of the room before sinking into the worn couch at the center. The exhaustion of the night seemed to catch up with her all at once. Her body felt heavy, her limbs sore from the tension of the past few hours, but her mind was even worse—a restless storm she couldn't quiet.
She folded her arms over her chest, the notebook she had been carrying resting in her lap. Her fingers idly twirled a pen as she tried to focus, tried to make sense of the chaos. "Can someone finally explain what's going on?" she asked, her voice quieter now, tinged with frustration. "I'm tired of piecing things together on my own."
Sylus crouched in front of her, his gaze never leaving hers. "I'll tell you what I can," he said, his voice steady and controlled, though there was something underlying it—something Rose couldn't quite decipher. "But there are things... things you're not ready to hear yet."
Rose frowned, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Start with Vienna," she demanded. "What is it, really?"
Lucas pushed himself off the wall and crossed his arms, his eyes sharp but unyielding. "Vienna is a place," he explained. "But not one you'll find on any map. It's hidden, protected by layers of secrecy—and a hell of a lot of power."
Sylus stepped closer, his expression turning serious. "It's not just a location," he added, his tone darkening. "It's a stronghold. A center of everything the Consortium controls. Secrets, resources, influence—all of it starts there. Everything."
Rose's brow furrowed, the weight of their words beginning to settle in. She sat up straighter, trying to process what they were telling her. "And what do I have to do with it?"
There was a brief pause as Sylus's eyes flickered, a silent conflict passing through them. He didn't answer right away, his gaze shifting slightly. "You're connected to Vienna in ways even the Consortium doesn't fully understand," he said finally, his voice low. "What we do know is that you're the key to accessing it. Without you, Vienna stays locked."
Her heart skipped a beat. "And they want me for that?" she whispered, her throat tightening.
Lucas nodded, his face impassive. "Exactly. With you, they can control Vienna—and everything tied to it."
Rose felt the air grow thick in her lungs as the truth weighed heavily on her. "But why me?" she asked, the words barely escaping her lips. "I'm just... I'm just me."
Sylus stepped closer, gently taking her hand in his. His touch was warm and firm, grounding her. "You're more than you think, kitten," he said softly, his voice steady and reassuring. "And I'm going to make sure they never get the chance to use you."
For the first time that night, Rose felt a small flicker of hope. It wasn't much, but it was enough to hold onto. She nodded, her grip on Sylus's hand tightening just a little.
---
Later, as the night deepened and the quiet of the safehouse pressed in around them, Rose found herself sitting by the window, her eyes fixed on the empty street below. Sylus had insisted she rest, but sleep felt impossible. Her mind was too full, too tangled with thoughts she couldn't untangle.
She glanced over her shoulder, her gaze falling on Sylus. He was sitting in a chair, his head tilted back and his eyes closed, though she knew he was far from asleep. Even at rest, he exuded an air of readiness, of constant vigilance. Lucas was nowhere to be seen—probably outside, ensuring the perimeter was secure.
Her phone buzzed suddenly, pulling her from her thoughts. She jumped, her heart racing as she picked it up.
You can't run forever. They'll find you. They always do.
The message sent a chill through her, the words reverberating in her mind. Before panic could take hold, a second message came through.
Trust the wrong person, and it's over.
She set the phone down, her hands trembling. The words weighed heavily on her, and for a brief moment, doubt gnawed at her—was she really doing the right thing? But then she looked over at Sylus, his steady presence a reminder of the choices she had made so far. He had protected her. He had helped her. For now, she chose to believe in him.
But she couldn't shake the feeling that the price for trusting him might be higher than she could afford. She only hoped she wasn't making a mistake.