The fall

Chapter 42

Penelope

Blake and I, just stared at eachother, his hands still cradling my face like he thought I'd might vanish if I let go. His fingers were trembling due to his anger of seeing me this way.

And then pulled me closer and kissed me.

His lips were warm and firm against mine, tasting of salt and grief from the tears that wouldn't stop falling. I kissed him back instinctively, my hands gripping his uniform like it was the only thing keeping my grounded.

For a moment, it was everything. The world seemed to fade to nothing but us, and I felt like I could breathe.

But reality came crashing back too fast, too sharp. I broke the kiss, turning my head away even though it hurt to pull away.

"I can't," I whispered, my voice shaky. "I don't want to hurt you.."

"You won't," he said softly. "You're here, I'm here. We're okay."

I couldn't stop the bitter laugh that slipped out. "It's not that simple."

He frowned, his hands sliding down to rest on my shoulders. "Then tell me," he said firmly. "Tell me why you're here and I'll help. What are they forcing you to do?"

I hesitated, my throat tight. "They're are using me. For their dirty work."

His eyes narrowed, his jaw tightened. "What kind of dirty work?"

I swallowed hard, my voice dropping to a whisper. "They've made me into... an assassin. I'm here for an illegal weapon to murder evol users."

His expression darkened instantly. "The weapon," he repeated, his voice low. "The one we've been searching for."

I nodded, guilt churning in my stomach. "They sent me to find it, to buy it for them. I'm basically a lab experiment." I touched the collar. "I'm not a real evol user, Blake."

Blake's grip on my shoulders tightened. His entire body tensed like a coiled spring, his dark eyes burned with rage. "Those bastards," he muttered.

I looked down as he continued; "They don't own you. Do you hear me? You're not theirs." his voice grew softer.

My chest tightened, the weight of everything pressing down on me all over again. "You don't understand," I whispered.

"Then make me understand," he says almost immediately.

"If I don't follow their orders, they'll send me back to the asylum, Blake. And if I try to run, they'll use this collar to track me down—or worse, kill you and everyone I love just to make me comply. I can't... I can't let that happen."

Blake cursed under his breath, his fists clenching so tightly I could see his knuckles turning white. "They've turned you into a prisoner." he muttered, his voice dark with anger. "Listen, I'll save you. Take the weapon, try to survive. And I'll come save you."

I looked up at him, tears starting to blurring my vision again. "You can't fix this, Blake." I said softly. "I'm broken."

"You're not broken," he said sharply, his hands cupping my face again as he leaned closer. "You're not. You're okay, I'll come and save you—just give me some time."

Before I could respond, he pulled me into another kiss.

This one was harder, fiercer, filled with all the anger and pain he couldn't put into words. I felt the way his hands trembled against my skin, the way his lips moved against mine like he was desperately trying to erase the past weeks, to erase the scars I carried inside out.

When we finally broke apart, both of us were breathless. His forehead rested against mine, and his hands stayed on my face, steadying me.

"I'm yours, Penelope," he said, his voice low and certain. "I'm not letting them take you from me again. I will save you, I promise.."

I lowered my head and buried my face against his chest. "Okay, I'll wait for you."

...

The alleyway felt like another lifetime ago. Now, as I stood in the cold, sterile halls of Valort's headquarters, the memory of Blake's arms around me felt like a distant dream—a brief moment of warmth before being plunged back into darkness.

I tightened my grip on the weapon in my hands, its weight dragging me down as if it were an anchor pulling me into the abyss.

My footsteps echoed dully in the corridor as I approached the main chamber. The faint hum of the collar around my neck was a constant reminder of my captivity.

The heavy doors to the chamber opened, revealing Dr. Fray standing at the far end of the room, his sharp, calculating gazed fixed on me. His presence was suffocating, as always.

He was the one who orchestrated this, the one who held the leash that kept me bound to Valort. How I loathed him

"Well done, Dorothea," he said smoothly but laced with condescension "As expected."

He gestured toward his subordinates, and they moved quickly to take the weapon from me. Their hands brushed against mine, but I barely felt it. I was numb.

The weapon was gone, out of my hands, and yet its absence did nothing to lift the weight crushing in my chest.

Dr. Fray's voice broke through the haze. "Your efficiency is commendable. You've proven your worth once again."

I forced myself to bow slightly, a gesture of respect I didn't feel. "Thank you, Sir," I murmured, my voice hollow.

"Dismissed," he said with a wave of his hand, as If I were nothing more than a tool to be set aside until needed again.

I turned on my heel and walked out of the chamber, keeping my movements calm and measured even though I wanted to run. I didn't stop until I reached my room, the heavy doors shutting behind me with a soft thud.

The moment I was alone, my legs gave out and I collapsed onto the bed. The mattress barely creaked under my weight, its softness doing nothing to erase the ache in my chest.

I buried my face in the pillow, clutching it tightly as if it could replace the arms I left behind.

Blake.

I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing back the tears threatening to spill. I could still feel the warmth of his kiss, the way his hands had held me so firmly, so protectively. He'd promised to save me, to get me out of this hell, but for now, I was still trapped.

I hugged the pillow tighter, all I had to do was endure the pain until he came for me. "I'll wait," I whispered into the pillow, my voice barely audible. "I'll wait for you, Blake."