Run With The Devil

Unsettling Silence

As I ran, everything faded away-the confusion, the fear, the uncertainty of my place in this world. It was just me and the rush of wind against my skin. The world blurred around me, trees and the mansion turning into mere streaks of color. The rhythm of my heart matched the speed of my legs, the thudding echoing in my ears, faster and faster until everything seemed to move in slow motion except for me.

I didn't notice when Harper and the others walked out into the garden. I was too focused, too deep in the run, each step a beat in the symphony of my escape. But as I glanced toward the house in a quick moment of awareness, I saw them-frozen, mouths slightly agape, staring at what must have been a blur of motion.

From their perspective, I wasn't even visible. Just a streak of wind bending the grass, a flash of motion whipping through the garden at impossible speeds. Harper stood at the forefront, her expression a mixture of awe and concern, her hands half-raised as if she was torn between calling out to me or letting me continue. Beside her, the men-Deon's men-looked on, their eyes wide, trying to follow what they couldn't see.

Angelo was there too, his golden blonde hair catching the early sunlight, eyes narrowed as though he were trying to focus on something moving too fast for human perception. I could tell they were shocked, none of them had seen me like this before. Not in the full flow of my abilities. Not like the lab scientists had.

I didn't stop. I couldn't. Not yet.

The world felt light around me, as if I could break through it at any moment and disappear. The faster I went, the more I felt untethered from reality, like the speed was freeing me from everything weighing me down.

I heard Harper say something, her voice a faint echo in the back of my mind. It didn't reach me, though-I was too far gone in the movement, too wrapped in the need to keep running.

They were all watching, but none of them could see me. Just a blur, a distortion in the air. I didn't feel like I was running anymore-it was more like flying, like I could keep going forever and leave everything behind.

Deons pov

I leaned back in my chair, the smoke from my cigarette curling lazily into the air as I pressed the phone closer to my ear. The conversation on the other end was dragging, my patience wearing thin as I listened to another ally drone on about territorial disputes.

"Handle it how you see fit," I said curtly, cutting him off mid-sentence. "Just make sure it doesn't spill into our cities. I don't need any heat from the authorities."

I could hear the man scramble to agree, his voice shaky but compliant. That was how I liked it. Control, precision, no unnecessary complications. I ended the call without another word, letting the cigarette dangle between my lips as I opened my laptop, leaning forward to check a list of international names I'd been researching for potential alliances. New money was flowing in from various sources, and it was the perfect time to expand.

I sifted through documents, scanning profiles of up-and-coming players in Europe, South America, and Asia. Most of them were whispers-people who stayed out of the limelight but held a lot of power behind the scenes. That was the kind of connection I needed. I wasn't interested in attention; I wanted strength and leverage, people who could help me move product across borders without anyone looking too closely.

I paused for a moment, lighting another cigarette, letting the familiar burn of nicotine calm me as I skimmed through a list of names from Italy. One, in particular, caught my eye-Giovanni Ricci, a rising star in the black market, known for his discreet operations and a penchant for loyalty. The kind of ally who wouldn't betray you unless he had no other choice. A rare quality these days.

I made a mental note to have someone reach out, testing the waters before any commitments were made. I wasn't one to dive in without careful planning. Trust was a currency more valuable than cash, and I didn't give it freely.

As I clicked through a few more profiles, something nagged at the back of my mind. The mansion was too quiet, and it had been for a while now. Normally, I'd hear Angelo, Harper, or one of the staff bustling around, but today, there was nothing. I glanced at the clock-early afternoon, which meant lunch should have been finished by now.

I didn't think much of it at first, focused on my research, but an unsettling feeling gnawed at me. My instincts were rarely wrong.

I exhaled smoke, closing the laptop for a moment, letting my thoughts drift to Lyra. She had been quiet for days-holed up in her room, away from everyone since that disastrous lunch with the Vico family.

Shaking off the thought, I stubbed out my cigarette in the ashtray and reached for my phone again, ready to make a few more calls. There were still some loose ends to tie up.