Mr. Diávolos & Ms. Angelos

Chapter 1: Alexander

The past was a relentless shadow, always lurking, always waiting to remind me of what I had lost. Eighteen years ago, that shadow took shape in the form of a raging fire, forever altering the course of my life. It was a night I could never forget, no matter how hard I tried.

Eighteen Years ago

The orphanage was bustling with excitement. It was Enzo's birthday, and the air was filled with laughter and the smell of freshly baked cookies. Enzo and I were inseparable , the best of friends. We did everything together, from sneaking out to play by the lake to plotting harmless pranks on the other kids. He was like a brother to me, but my feelings for his sister, Natalie, were different. She ignited something within me I couldn't afford to feel.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, I made my way to the lake behind the orphanage. It was our secret spot, a place where I could breathe and let my guard down. The water was serene, reflecting the twilight sky like a mirror. I found my usual rock and sat down, letting my legs dangle over the edge.

"Hey, Al," a familiar voice called softly.

I turned to see Natalie making her way towards me, a small, cloth-wrapped bundle in her hands. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "I brought you something."

I smiled as she handed me the bundle. "Cookies from Mimi? You brought it." I guessed, unwrapping the cloth to find still-warm chocolate chip cookies.

She nodded, sitting down beside me. "A promise is a promise."

We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, sharing the cookies and the quiet. It was peaceful, the kind of peace that made you forget the world outside the orphanage walls. But peace, I was learning, was often fleeting.

"Natalie," I said after a while, reaching into my pocket. "I got something for you too."

Her eyes widened as I pulled out a small box and opened it to reveal a delicate necklace with a silver pendant. "It's beautiful, Al."

I fastened the necklace around her neck, my fingers lingering a moment longer than necessary. "I'll always protect you, Natty," I said softly. "Just like I promised Enzo."

She smiled, her eyes filled with trust and something else, something raw and electric. "I know you will," she whispered.

We were talking about our day, sharing laughs and stories, when a sudden, deafening boom shattered the tranquility. The ground seemed to shake beneath us, and we both jumped to our feet. The sound had come from inside the orphanage.

"Stay here," I said, my voice firm. Panic clawed at my insides, but I had to stay calm for her. "I need to check it out."

Natalie grabbed my hand, her eyes wide with fear. "We need to find Enzo, Sofie, and Mimi," she insisted. "We can't leave them."

My heart pounded in my chest, torn between the need to protect Natalie and the promise I had made to her brother. "Alright," I said, squeezing her hand. "But stay close."

We moved cautiously towards the orphanage, the air thick with the smell of smoke and something more sinister. As we neared the building, the reality of what awaited us sank in. The windows glowed with an eerie orange light, and the screams grew louder, more desperate.

The sight inside was chaos. Flames licked the walls, and the acrid smoke stung my eyes and throat. Children and staff ran in every direction, their faces masks of terror. I scanned the crowd frantically, looking for familiar faces. Enzo, Sofie, Mimi...

"Stay close," I urged, pulling Natalie along. The heat was unbearable, the flames growing closer with every second. The screams and cries around us seemed to blur into a single, overwhelming noise.

Suddenly, a surge of panicked children pushed between us. I felt Natalie's hand slip from mine. "Natalie!" I screamed, but she was gone, swallowed by the crowd. Panic seized me as I realized I was alone. The flames were everywhere, closing in, and I couldn't see a way out.

I pushed through the chaos, calling her name over and over. "Natalie! Enzo!" But there was no response, only more screams and the crackle of the fire. My heart sank as I realized I had lost her. I had failed.

A firm hand grabbed my arm, pulling me away from the chaos. It was Father Gregor, the kind but stern priest who ran the orphanage. "We have to get out of here, Alexander!" he shouted, dragging me towards the exit.

"No!" I thrashed against his grip, tears streaming down my face. "I have to find Natalie!"

"It's too late!" he cried, his voice filled with sorrow. "We have to go now!"

The world around me blurred into a nightmare as Father Gregor pulled me outside, away from the burning building. I collapsed on the grass, exhaustion and grief overwhelming me. The last thing I saw before everything went black was the blazing inferno that had once been our home.

___________

The memory faded, replaced by the cold reality of the present. I stood on the balcony of my penthouse, the city sprawled out below me. I had become a man who thrived in shadows, a man who lived by his own ruthless code. But the past was always there, a reminder of what I had lost and what I had vowed to protect.

And now, Natalie was back in my life, a ball of light in my darkness. But this time, the stakes were higher, and the dangers more formidable and I would do whatever it took to protect her, even if it meant confronting the monsters of our past.