Blackfall: No More Restraint

Too Close

Chapter 5

Elara had always considered herself a reasonably sensible person. She paid her bills on time, checked the expiration dates on food before eating it, remembered to charge her phone before leaving the apartment, and had successfully gone twenty-six years without becoming involved in anything that could reasonably be described as a government-level security incident. She had never been arrested, never joined a criminal organization, never accidentally stolen anything important, and until very recently had considered the most dangerous decision she had made in her adult life to be ordering seafood from a restaurant that looked suspiciously empty. Yet somehow, in the span of three days, she had met the most wanted Anomaly in Ashfall City, discovered that he had been watching her for weeks, been questioned by the Vanguard Authority, almost been kissed by him in the middle of her workplace, and then watched him throw himself through a broken window because somebody had tried to shoot at her. As she stood alone in the ruined café with rain blowing through the shattered window, Elara came to a rather uncomfortable conclusion.

Her life had become completely insane.

She stared into the darkness where Kael had disappeared.

"Of course," she muttered.

A distant crash echoed between the buildings.

Elara flinched.

Another followed.

Then a third.

Something metallic screamed somewhere above the street.

She should have stayed inside.

Kael had told her to.

Unfortunately, Elara had discovered something about herself over the last few days that was becoming increasingly inconvenient.

She wasn't particularly good at following Kael's instructions.

She grabbed her coat.

"Absolutely ridiculous."

She stepped through the broken window.

The rain immediately soaked her hair.

She looked up.

Nothing.

The sky was black.

Clouds rolled between the towers, illuminated occasionally by flashes of distant lightning.

Then gravity shifted.

A car rose into the air several blocks away.

Elara stared.

The vehicle hung there for a moment before being thrown sideways into an empty construction site.

She gasped.

"Kael."

She started running.

She had no idea what she was doing.

She had no weapon.

No powers.

No plan.

It was possibly the stupidest decision she had made in her entire life.

Which, considering the last few days, was saying something.

She turned the corner.

The street ahead was empty.

A streetlight flickered.

Then she heard a voice.

"You're not supposed to be here."

Elara stopped.

Kael stood in the middle of the road.

His coat was gone.

His dark shirt was torn near the shoulder.

There was a small cut across his cheek.

Three men lay unconscious around him.

Elara stared.

Kael stared back.

Then his expression hardened.

"What did I tell you?"

Elara crossed her arms.

"That I should stay inside."

"And?"

"I didn't."

"I noticed."

She walked toward him.

He didn't move.

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

"You're bleeding."

"It's nothing."

She reached up.

Kael caught her wrist.

Not roughly.

His fingers wrapped around her hand with surprising gentleness.

"Don't."

Elara looked at him.

"Why?"

His eyes moved toward the men on the ground.

"Because whoever sent them isn't finished."

She looked at the unconscious attackers.

"Who are they?"

"I don't know yet."

"Then how do you know they're after me?"

Kael's jaw tightened.

"Because they weren't after me."

Elara's stomach dropped.

"They were after me?"

"Yes."

She swallowed.

"Why?"

"I don't know."

"That's becoming your favorite answer."

"It happens to be the truth."

She looked at his face.

The cut on his cheek had begun to bleed again.

Without thinking, she raised her hand.

Kael released her wrist.

Her fingertips touched his cheek.

He froze.

Elara gently wiped the blood away.

"It's not nothing."

His eyes stayed on hers.

"You're worried."

"Yes."

He seemed almost surprised by the answer.

Elara gave him a small smile.

"Don't look so shocked."

"I'm not used to it."

She lowered her hand.

"Well, get used to it."

Something changed in his expression.

The rain fell between them.

Kael took a slow breath.

"You shouldn't care about me."

"That's unfortunate."

"Why?"

"Because I do."

He stared at her.

Elara realized what she'd said.

Her cheeks warmed.

Kael's gaze softened.

"Elara."

"What?"

"Come here."

She frowned.

"I'm already here."

"Closer."

Her heart skipped.

"Why?"

He didn't answer.

He simply waited.

She took one step.

Then another.

Now they stood close enough that she could feel the heat of him despite the cold rain.

Kael lifted his hand.

His fingers brushed her hair away from her face.

His thumb traced lightly along her cheek.

Elara's breathing became shallow.

He leaned closer.

His forehead almost touched hers.

"You make this very difficult."

"What?"

"Leaving."

Her eyes searched his.

"Then don't."

For a moment, Kael said nothing.

His gaze dropped toward her lips.

Elara's heart pounded.

He moved closer.

His lips brushed the corner of her mouth.

Barely.

A teasing touch.

Then he stopped.

Elara looked up at him.

"Was that intentional?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

His mouth curved.

"Because I wanted to."

She stared at him.

"You're impossible."

"I've been told."

She laughed softly.

Kael's smile grew.

Then his hand moved from her cheek to the back of her neck.

He leaned in.

This time, his lips touched her neck.

Slowly.

Softly.

Only for a second.

Elara's entire body went still.

Kael pulled back just enough to speak beside her ear.

"Still think I'm impossible?"

Her voice came out much quieter than she intended.

"Definitely."

His breath warmed her ear.

"Good."

She turned her head slightly.

Their faces were inches apart.

"You enjoy making me nervous."

"Yes."

"You're admitting it?"

"I'm learning."

Elara smiled.

"You really are dangerous."

Kael's eyes darkened.

"You have no idea."

Before she could answer, a siren sounded in the distance.

Kael stepped away.

The moment shattered.

Elara looked toward the street.

Red and blue lights appeared around the corner.

"Vanguard."

Kael sighed.

"Of course."

Elara looked at him.

"Are you going to run?"

"No."

"Why?"

He looked at her.

"Because I'm tired of running."

The Vanguard vehicle stopped at the end of the street.

Several agents stepped out.

Weapons raised.

A loudspeaker crackled.

"KAEL ARDEN! STEP AWAY FROM THE CIVILIAN!"

Kael looked at Elara.

Then back at the agents.

"They really know how to ruin a moment."

Elara laughed.

"You were having a moment?"

He looked at her.

"We were."

Her cheeks warmed.

The loudspeaker crackled again.

"BLACKFALL! GET ON YOUR KNEES!"

Kael sighed.

Elara glanced at him.

"You don't kneel, do you?"

"No."

"Thought so."

He looked at the agents.

Then at her.

"Stay behind me."

Elara rolled her eyes.

"You're really going to keep doing that."

"Yes."

"You know I can walk beside you."

"I know."

"Then why—"

He stepped closer.

His hand settled gently at her waist.

The gesture was casual.

Protective.

Possessive enough to make her heart jump.

He leaned toward her ear.

"Because I like knowing you're behind me."

Elara's face heated.

She looked up at him.

"You know exactly what you're doing now, don't you?"

His mouth curved.

"I'm learning."

The Vanguard agents advanced.

Kael's expression became cold.

But his hand remained at Elara's waist.

For some reason, that was the thing that made her feel safest.

Not his powers.

Not his reputation.

Not the fact that everyone else was terrified of him.

His hand.

Warm against her side.

Steady.

Certain.

And when the first agent raised his weapon, Kael's eyes became something darker.

The air around them changed.

Gravity bent.

Every weapon in the street suddenly became impossibly heavy.

The agents dropped them.

Kael looked at Elara.

"Close your eyes."

She frowned.

"Why?"

"Because this might get ugly."

She stared at him.

Then smiled.

"No."

He blinked.

"What?"

"I'm not closing my eyes."

"Elara."

"I want to see."

His expression softened for a fraction of a second.

Then he looked toward the Vanguard.

"Fine."

He stepped forward.

The street groaned beneath his feet.

And Elara realized something terrifying.

She had seen Blackfall on television.

She had seen videos of him fighting.

She had heard the stories.

None of them had prepared her for what it looked like when he stopped pretending to be humanly reasonable.

He lifted one hand.

The entire street tilted.

Not physically.

Gravity itself changed direction.

The Vanguard agents stumbled sideways as their bodies were suddenly pulled toward the side of a building.

Kael moved through them like a shadow.

One man raised a shield.

Kael flicked two fingers.

The shield slammed into the pavement.

Another agent charged.

Kael stepped aside.

The man's feet left the ground.

He floated helplessly for several seconds before Kael dropped him into a pile of empty cardboard boxes.

Elara stared.

"Did you just put him in a box?"

Kael glanced over.

"He was annoying."

She covered her mouth.

"You're unbelievable."

"I know."

The final agent remained.

He pointed a weapon at Kael.

"You're coming with us."

Kael looked at him.

"No."

The agent fired.

Elara screamed.

Kael didn't move.

The bullet stopped inches from his chest.

It hung in the air.

Kael looked at it.

Then at the agent.

"That was rude."

The bullet dropped.

The agent fainted.

Elara stared.

There was silence.

Kael walked back toward her.

The terrifying presence vanished with every step.

By the time he reached her, he looked almost normal again.

Almost.

"You alright?"

Elara nodded.

"Yes."

He studied her.

"You're shaking."

"So are you."

Kael looked down at his hand.

She was right.

His fingers were trembling slightly.

He closed them into a fist.

"I don't like seeing you in danger."

Elara looked at him.

"I noticed."

He stepped closer.

"I mean it."

"I know."

His hand returned to her waist.

He pulled her slightly closer.

Elara's breath caught.

His voice became quiet.

"Don't do that again."

"What?"

"Run toward danger because I'm there."

She smiled.

"What if I was worried about you?"

His eyes softened.

"Then worry from somewhere safe."

"That's not how I work."

"I know."

She looked up at him.

"You're learning."

A quiet laugh escaped him.

It was the first time Elara had heard him genuinely laugh.

She smiled.

"There."

"What?"

"You laughed."

Kael looked away.

"I did not."

"You did."

"No."

"I heard it."

"You imagined it."

Elara laughed.

He looked back at her.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Then Kael leaned down.

Slowly.

Giving her every chance to move away.

She didn't.

His lips brushed her forehead.

A soft kiss.

Nothing more.

But Elara felt it all the way through her chest.

When he pulled back, his eyes remained on hers.

"Go home."

She sighed.

"You really like giving orders."

"Only when you're being difficult."

"I'm always difficult."

"I know."

He smiled.

"And I don't mind."

Elara stared at him.

The rain continued falling.

Sirens echoed in the distance.

The city remained chaotic around them.

But for a moment, none of it mattered.

Because Blackfall was standing in front of her.

And he was smiling.

At her.

Only her.

Elara finally stepped back.

"Goodnight, Kael."

His eyes lingered on her.

"Goodnight, Elara."

She turned and began walking.

After several steps, she looked back.

Kael was still watching her.

She smiled.

He smiled back.

And neither of them noticed the man standing on the rooftop across the street.

Watching them.

Holding a phone.

Taking another photograph.

Then sending it to someone.

SHE'S WITH HIM NOW.

A reply appeared almost immediately.

THEN WE KNOW WHERE TO HIT.