Fallen For You

Prologue

The city sprawled beneath the twilight sky, its towering buildings casting long shadows that stretched across the streets like grasping fingers. Somewhere within this concrete labyrinth, a figure stood on the edge of a rooftop, silhouetted against the fading light. The wind whipped around them, carrying with it the distant hum of life below—a city oblivious to the darkness lurking within its heart.

Alyssa stared out at the city, her heart heavy with the weight of a thousand unanswered questions. The world she had devoted her life to protecting had begun to crumble around her, the once-clear lines between right and wrong now blurred beyond recognition. She had always believed in the mission, in the justice she was sworn to uphold. But tonight, standing on the precipice of a truth she could no longer ignore, doubt gnawed at her resolve.

Alyssa's hand tightened around the hilt of her sword, a weapon as much a part of her as the convictions that had driven her for so long. Below, the city lights flickered on, each one a beacon of hope, of life. Yet here, atop the world she had sworn to defend, she felt more alone than ever. The shadows that stretched out before her seemed to echo the darkness she felt creeping into her soul.

She wasn't alone on that rooftop. She could feel his presence even before he spoke, a cold, familiar energy that sent a shiver down her spine. Elias. The name had once been a curse on her lips, the embodiment of everything she stood against. Now, it was something far more complicated—an enigma she couldn't unravel, a force she couldn't deny.

"You're slipping, Alyssa," his voice cut through the silence, low and smooth, laced with something that made her heart twist in her chest. "Starting to see things my way, perhaps?"

Alyssa turned to face him, her eyes locking with his. There was no fear in her gaze, only a steely determination that had carried her through countless battles. But beneath that resolve, Elias could see the cracks, the uncertainty that had begun to take root. He took a step closer, the tension between them a tangible thing, like a storm waiting to break.

"You think I'm like you?" she retorted, her voice steady despite the turmoil within her. "You think I would ever betray everything I've fought for?"

Elias's lips curled into a half-smile, one that didn't reach his eyes. "Betrayal is a matter of perspective, isn't it? Sometimes, the only way to stay true to yourself is to turn your back on the very things that defined you."

Alyssa's jaw tightened. She wanted to hate him, needed to hate him. But the more she learned, the harder it became to see him as just the villain in her story. His words echoed in her mind, mingling with the doubts that had plagued her for weeks. Could it be true? Could the organization she had devoted her life to be hiding something far darker than she had ever imagined?

"Whatever your past, whatever your reasons," Alyssa said, her voice dropping to a whisper, "I won't let you drag me down with you."

Elias stepped closer still, his presence overwhelming, suffocating. "You're already falling, Alyssa. The question is, when you hit the ground, will you still be who you think you are?"

Before she could respond, a sharp sound pierced the air, followed by the dull thud of a bullet embedding itself in concrete. Alyssa's heart lurched as she instinctively ducked, her mind racing. But Elias was faster, moving in a blur of motion. He threw himself at her, knocking her off balance, his arms wrapping around her as they both tumbled from the rooftop.

For a moment, there was only the sensation of falling, the world around them dissolving into a blur of lights and shadows. Alyssa's breath caught in her throat, but Elias's grip was unyielding, his body shielding hers as they plummeted toward the ground below.

Time seemed to slow, and in that suspended moment, Alyssa could feel his heart beating against hers, a rhythm that matched her own. The impact never came, only the cold embrace of his power as he twisted in midair, taking the brunt of the fall as they crashed onto a lower rooftop.

Elias's breath hissed between clenched teeth as they hit the ground, his arms still wrapped protectively around her. Alyssa struggled to push herself up, her mind spinning with confusion and fear. But Elias didn't let go, his voice a strained whisper in her ear.

"Run," he rasped, his strength fading as he loosened his grip. "They'll come for you...run, Alyssa."

But Alyssa couldn't move, her body frozen by the weight of what had just happened. The man she had sworn to defeat had just saved her life, sacrificing himself to keep her safe. And as she stared into his eyes, she realized with a sinking heart that she no longer knew who the real enemy was.

The sound of footsteps echoed from above, the assassins closing in. Alyssa knew she had to move, had to escape. But as she looked down at Elias, lying broken on the cold rooftop, something inside her shifted.

"I won't leave you," she whispered, her voice trembling.

But it was too late. The darkness was already closing in around them, and Alyssa knew that nothing would ever be the same again.

The villain smiled, one last time, "I know I shouldn't have ever loved you, but love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind."

The city was dark.