Run With The Devil

Smoke and Shadows

Deons pov

I stood by the window of my office, the city sprawling out beneath me like a labyrinth of power, corruption, and control. The streets below were alive with the pulse of late-morning traffic, people going about their lives, completely unaware of the darker currents moving underneath. I took a slow drag from my cigarette, the smoke curling through the air as I watched the city, a distant hum of activity I could control with a few words.

This world was mine. Every corner of it.

But Lyra... she wasn't part of this world. Not yet.

I exhaled, watching the smoke dissipate, vanishing into the air just as the lab had vanished into ash and ruin. We had wiped it off the map, leaving no trace behind, but the real mystery still lingered in the back of my mind: her. Lyra Morgan-or, as the lab had so coldly labeled her, 019. The girl who had survived when so many others hadn't.

There was something about her. Something more than just her speed. Something I couldn't put my finger on.

The sound of the office door opening drew me from my thoughts. I didn't turn around-I already knew who it was.

Angelo stepped in, moving with that quiet confidence he always had. "Boss," he said, his voice cutting through the haze of my thoughts.

I took another drag from the cigarette, still not turning to face him. "Angelo."

There was a brief pause, like he was gathering his thoughts. "I met her."

I flicked the ash off the end of the cigarette, watching it fall into the tray beside me. "And?"

"She's... different," he said slowly. I could hear the hesitation in his voice, something rare for Angelo. "Didn't say much. Just looked at me like she wasn't sure if she should bolt or punch me in the face. Then she... well, she ran. Fast. Didn't even give me a chance to introduce myself properly."

I finally turned around, locking eyes with Angelo. He stood just inside the doorway, his tall frame relaxed but his expression thoughtful. He wasn't rattled-nothing ever really shook him-but I could tell Lyra had gotten under his skin a bit.

"She's been through hell," I said, my voice calm, measured. "And she's used to being a number, not a name. Give her time."

Angelo nodded, but he didn't look entirely convinced. "I get that. I do. But there's something else. She's got this energy about her. I mean, yeah, I've seen her speed, but it's not just that. It's like... she's holding back. Even now."

I crushed the cigarette in the ashtray, snuffing out the last ember, then walked over to my desk. "She's been experimented on her whole life. The lab was trying to push her limits, to see what they could make her become. But they didn't finish. They never got to see what she's fully capable of."

Angelo raised an eyebrow, leaning against the doorframe. "You think she's still evolving?"

I nodded, sitting down behind my desk, my fingers steepling in front of me. "They didn't keep her alive for 18 years because they were being merciful. They saw something in her that was worth all the other failures. And I plan to find out what that is."

Angelo let out a low whistle. "And if the lab comes looking for her?"

"They will," I said, my tone hard. "But we're ready. They've already lost their facility and their research. They'll come after her, but they'll find nothing but a grave waiting for them."

He crossed his arms, thinking for a moment before speaking again. "You sure she's gonna stick around, boss? I mean, she seems pretty... skittish. Doesn't trust anyone. She's like a wild card right now."

I smirked, leaning back in my chair. "She doesn't trust anyone because no one's ever given her a reason to. But she will. She'll come around."

Angelo's eyes narrowed, the gears in his head turning. "You've got a plan."

I shrugged slightly, nonchalant. "I always have a plan."

Angelo pushed off from the doorframe, walking over to the window and glancing out at the city below. His reflection in the glass mirrored his thoughts-calculating, always weighing options. "So what's the next move? The lab's gone, but you don't think this is over, do you?"

"No," I said, standing up and walking over to join him by the window. "The people behind the lab, whoever they are, they're not just going to give up. They've invested too much into this. Into her. They'll regroup, reorganize, and they'll come after her. But when they do, I'll be ready."

Angelo glanced at me, his green eyes sharp. "You really think she's that important to them? That they'll risk everything to get her back?"

"They don't have a choice," I replied, my voice low. "She's the only one who survived. That makes her their most valuable asset. And the only reason she's still breathing is because I took her out of that hellhole before they could finish whatever they started."

Angelo stared out the window for a long moment, then finally nodded. "Alright. We'll keep an eye on her. But if she bolts-"

"She won't," I cut in, turning to face him fully. "She's lost right now, but she'll figure out that she's safer with us than out there on her own. And when she does, she'll stay."

Angelo gave me a sideways glance, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. "She's not like anyone we've dealt with before. You think she's gonna listen to you?"

I smirked again, a cold edge to my smile. "She doesn't have to listen. She just has to realize that I'm the only one who can keep her alive. And once she does, she'll trust me. Eventually."

Angelo chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, if anyone can pull it off, it's you. She's fast, though. Faster than anything I've ever seen. You sure you can keep her on a leash?"

I shot him a look, my tone turning serious. "She's not an animal, Angelo. She's a person. One who's been through things we can't even imagine. And I'm not interested in keeping her on a leash. I'm interested in making sure no one else ever puts one on her again."

Angelo nodded, his expression sobering. "Got it, boss. I'll keep the men in line. No one bothers her unless you say so."

I gave a short nod, watching as Angelo left the office, closing the door behind him.

I turned back to the window, lighting another cigarette and taking a slow drag. The smoke curled through the air again, twisting and turning like the thoughts in my mind.

Lyra was powerful, and she was only going to get more dangerous. But in a world full of predators, she didn't need to be tamed.

She just needed someone to show her how to survive.