Chapter 75: A RUINED LOVE

"You don’t look surprised to see me, Elena"

The voice cut and sliced through the fog like a razor.

I didn't look back. I didn't have to. I recognized the person already.

I responded steadily, "I stopped being surprised a long time ago,"

The smell of dust and burning metal filled the air. The floor, the walls, and even the air we inhaled

were still covered with the explosion's leftovers. However, he—he appeared to be unaffected by the

mayhem.

Elias.

Alive. Once more.

He hardly seemed to realize that my bullet had ripped his shirt at the shoulder, causing blood to seep

into the material. The same smug grin that made me want to shoot him again curled his lips.

He responded, "You should have known better," and moved forward. "You can’t kill a ghost."

I gripped my gun tighter. "Then I’ll make damn sure you don’t come back next time."

He shook his head and laughed. "It's still really hot. I must say that I respect that aspect of you.

"Shut up."

He mockingly gave up by raising his hands. "Calm down, Elena I wouldn't have spared you from that

explosion if I wanted you dead."

I paused at that. "Saved me?"

His eyes sparkled. "You think you made it out on your own?"

I paused. The explosion, the force that slammed me back, the roar, the heat, and then the

darkness were the last things I remembered.

And here I was now.

Alive.

Alongside him.

I tightened my jaw. "I don’t owe you anything."

"You sure about that?"

Something unreadable laced his voice as it slid lower.

A caution. A pledge. A problem.

And I detested the fact that I still felt it.

Because, wasn't that the true betrayal?

Not only the falsehoods. He didn't only play the game.

However, my heart continued to react when he was close.

The Devastation We See

I stood back and steadied myself. Around us, the warehouse was collapsing, with ceiling fragments

moaning from the explosion's force. It wasn't long before everything fell apart.

"I don’t need your help," I assured them. "And I don’t need you."

Elias let out a sigh. "If that were true, you would’ve pulled the trigger by now."

I could still pull it off.

Now.

Just one bullet. One conclusion.

Why wasn't my finger moving, though?

He witnessed it. He saw it every time. The worst thing was that.

"You still don’t get it, do you?" he said softly as he moved further away. "Telsa, we are the same. You

can't let me go because of this."

"I’m nothing like you."

His gaze grew gloomy. "Aren’t you?"

I desired to deny it. Wanted to push him away and cause him to bleed as a result of his actions.

My chest tightened, though, because of the way he stared at me—as if he already knew the answer.

"I should hate you," I said to myself.

"You should."

His fingertips barely touched mine, yet it was enough to ignite something within me.

I didn't back off.

Nor did he.

The Precipice of Something Perilous

"This doesn’t change anything," I responded.

Elias grinned. "Doesn’t it?"

Slowly and deliberately, his fingertips traced the side of my face as his hand raised.

A burning touch.

A touch that brought back memories of all I wished to forget.

He whispered, "You still want me dead," "But not before you get your answers."

He's a jerk.

He's right, damn him.

I answered, "Then start talking," "Why the hell are you still here?"

His grin dimmed.

Something inscrutable sparked in his eyes for the first time.

"Because you’re not the only one being hunted, Elena"

Like an impending storm, the words lingered in the atmosphere.

"What do you mean?"

He looked around at the damage and let out a quick exhale. "You weren't the only one involved. They

never pursued you solely.

I got goosebumps from something in his voice.

"Then who?"

Elias paused.

That told me everything.

"You." I realized, gasping for air. "They were after you too."

My response was his silence.

Everything I believed to be true seemed to be shifting, and the earth under me seemed shaky.

Elias had always been the one with the strings, the one in charge.

Why, then, did he appear to be the one who was trapped in a trap?

The past always comes up.

I asked, "who are they?"

Elias's face was grim as he combed through his hair. "People I should’ve never crossed."

I squinted. "You mean people you betrayed."

His mouth tightened.

I was aware that I was correct.

"You’re on the run," I said, putting the pieces together. "You're here for that reason. You needed a

means of escape, not just me.

He didn't respond.

He didn't have to do anything for me.

Because I saw the truth at that instant.

The hunter wasn't Elias for the first time.

The prey was him.

And I had just turned into his only hope of survival.

The Deal With the Devil I ought to have left.

I ought to have left him there to face whatever misery was in store for him.

However, I didn't.

Because I was still in search of answers.

Additionally, a part of me that was twisted—the part that still ached from his contact, the part that

recalled his lips on mine—wanted to see how this turned out.

When I said, "You help me take them down," "Then we’re done."

Elias smiled slowly and dangerously. "Oh, Elena Do you truly believe we'll ever be finished?

A shot echoed through the air before I could respond.

The bullet struck the metal beam behind me, inches from me.

There were more.

The darkness shifted.

We were no longer alone.

Elias grabbed my arm and swore. "Run."

And I came to a horrible realization as we ran into the ruins, bullets rushing after us.

I wasn't sure if I was fleeing the threat.

Or right into it.