A REASON TO LIVE, A REASON TO KILL

The Only Exception

The city never slept.

But for Lucian Virel-

it was silent.

He stood at the edge.

High enough that everything below looked small.

Replaceable.

Just like him.

No fear.

No hesitation.

Falling...

...would be easier.

His name meant something down there.

Power. Control. Silence.

No one crossed him.

No one touched what was his.

But up here-

none of that mattered.

He stepped forward-

"H-Hey...!"

He stopped.

Turned.

A girl stood there.

Too close.

Too worried.

Too... alive.

She didn't run.

Didn't look away.

She stepped closer.

"...What do you want?" he asked.

"...You shouldn't be here."

Not fear.

Not judgment.

Just-

concern.

Strange.

"...You don't know me."

"...I don't have to."

Silence.

For the first time-

he didn't move.

And in a world where everyone feared him...

where no one crossed the line he drew-

She did.

Without knowing.

Without trying.

She became-

the only exception.