"mmh did you know that creator you like also posts 🔞 content? did you know that? don't you think that's weird? don't you think we should keep this space-"
no. i don't.
i booked a front row seat to the devil's sacrament and you're blocking the view
just go back to the 1660 new england hole you just crawled out of and eat barley for a week to atone for your sins or whatever
The second Axel left me with the guard, I switched. Taking out the knife I’d hidden in my pants, I grabbed one of the guards, sliding the blade across his neck before the other could drag me away.
I buckled away, the second guard grabbing my arms.
They couldn’t kill me — no — and that gave me an advantage.
I threw my head back, slamming it into his face, and as he stumbled, I turned around and drove my knee into his stomach, stabbing him.
With each kill, the madness took over me more and more. My vision sharpened, my senses heightened — predicting every punch, every move.
The alarm echoed through the walls, shrill and blaring. With every passing minute, more and more agents came for me, trying to bring me down.
I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.
I picked up the gun from one of the dead agents and charged down the hallway, adrenaline overriding every other thought. My target was clear. I was going for Axel.
But before I could reach his office, a hand grabbed me from the side. Instinctively, I punched the attacker — but they didn’t stumble back. Instead, they yanked me by the hair and slammed my head into the wall.
Pain exploded behind my eyes, but I pushed off the wall, staggering upright.
And there he was.
Axel.
Standing before me.
My breaths were quick, and I had to take a couple of seconds before I could even speak.
“I’m going to fucking kill you.”
He grabbed me by the neck and lifted me slightly, the air slowly draining from my lungs.
“I’d like to see that, Vera. See, the feeling is not mutual — but you’re really not giving me much of a choice here.”
I groaned and slammed my knee into his side. He finally let go, and I didn’t have time to catch my breath. I grabbed the gun and aimed it at him — but before I could fire, he kicked my legs out from under me and pinned me to the ground, his hand closing around my throat.
I choked on the floor, nails clawing at his arms until I managed to roll us over. I straddled him, throwing punch after punch until my fists ached — until his face turned red and bloody and he stopped smiling.
But he wasn’t down. Not even close.
He flipped me back over like it was nothing, and I kicked, scratched, bit — anything. My body moved on instinct, fueled by rage.
“I should’ve killed you years ago,” I spat, tasting blood in my mouth.
“Yeah?” he hissed, wiping blood from his chin. “Maybe I should’ve done that too.”
I managed to grab a knife, but he twisted my wrist and yanked it from my hand. I tried to fight back — tried to move —
But before I knew it, the blade was already in my chest.
Suddenly, something — someone — yanked him off me, but I was too far gone to care. I scrambled to my feet, one hand pressed against the wall for balance, vision spinning.
I squinted through the blur.
Five.
He grabbed his gun and fired — I don’t even know how many times.
Axel dropped.
Five dropped the gun.
And then he was running to me.
My ears were ringing, and the adrenaline still hadn’t left my body. Time around me slowed. I wanted to move, to do something… but I couldn’t, so I just stood there.
His hands were on my face, pulling me toward him.
There was a war inside me. I yanked his hands away.
“You fucking left me here!”
I punched his chest, tears falling freely, but he just stood there, taking it all.
“I know. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. But you have to calm down, Vera — please.”
“Five, I need to—”
That’s when Five noticed it.
The blade, lodged at the top of my chest.
It wasn’t fully in, but deep enough that the damage could be fatal.
I reached for the handle, but Five grabbed my wrist.
“No — Vera — Jesus, don’t pull it out.”
I looked up at him, desperate. Breath shallow.
“I have to. I can't breathe like this.”
He hesitated — just for a second — then nodded, his jaw tight.
His fingers curled around the handle, and I braced myself, my eyes locked on his.
“This is gonna hurt,” he muttered.
“I know,” I whispered.
He yanked it out in one clean motion, and I screamed — loud, raw, burning. My vision went white.
Blood poured from the wound, and I felt my knees give.
He caught me before I hit the floor, arms wrapping around me like a lifeline.
“Stay with me,” he said, voice rough, trembling.
“You’re okay. I’ve got you.”
I was shaking. Fading.
But his hands were steady now, pressing into the wound, holding on like he could keep me here through sheer will alone.
And for a moment —
when the pounding in my head started to fade…
The world went blank.
——————————————————————————————————
The aching in my body was the first thing I felt.
At least it reminded me I was still alive.
Well, so much for poetic endings.
I struggled to open my eyes — the light burned at first, and it took a few seconds for my vision to adjust. My throat felt dry, like I’d been asleep for days.
I groaned while sitting myself up on my elbows.
Footsteps echoed from the hall, and Five opened the door.
He spotted me, and something in his expression shifted. He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, handing me a glass of water.
“Thank God you’re awake.”
I leaned back against the bed frame. “How long was I…?”
“Two days.”
He lifted the blanket and gently pulled up my shirt to check the wound. I let him, silent.
Catching his hand, I made him look at me.
“What happened after I collapsed, Five?”
He hesitated. “Well… I basically blew out the data room and then got us out.”
I sat up quickly — too quickly — and pain shot through me. Five frowned, gently steadying me.
“Easy. You’re still pretty bruised.”
“What do you — what do you mean?”
“Well, the Commission would come after you. Eventually.
From what I gathered, Axel was pretty secretive about you, so it would have taken them some time… but no data, no evidence… you were never even there.”
He paused.
“I owed you that much.”
“But how did you know?” He still held my hand and I let him.
“Don’t forget I worked there for a disgusting amount of time.” He chuckled, putting my hair behind my ear.
He looked tired, the purple color under his eyes being the proof of that.
“You look like shit,” I grinned at him, and he rolled his eyes.
“Well, you’re one to talk.”
“Yeah, I probably need a bath,” I groaned, slamming my head back into the pillow.
“All right then,” he said, already pulling the blanket off me, “time to get you back among the living.”
I giggled as he picked me up gently.
“Hold on there — too soon for the dying jokes, all right?”
He set me down on the edge of the bath, turned the water on, and tested the temperature.
I stared at the tiles, the laughter slipping away.
“What did he say to you, Five? To make you leave? Because last I recall, you said you wouldn’t let me stay there.”
“Well, I didn’t. Eventually,” he said without looking at me.
“But that’s not the point, Five!”
He closed his eyes. “He said he’d kill you if I didn’t leave.”
“Well, he tried that anyway… but that was probably my fault.”
He reached for my arm, helping me stand as he undressed me gently. I stepped into the bath with care.
“Look at me, Ver. None of it was your fault. None of it.”
“I killed them. All of them.”
“Yes,” he said, steady and low. “And you did it to have a free life. And if that’s something they wouldn’t let you have... then they deserved it.”
He lathered shampoo into my hair, fingers gentle and careful, like I might break.
“I’m sorry. For everything.”
“I know,” I whispered. Then looked up at him, arms wrapped around my knees.
“But Five... you saved me. And I don’t mean back there. The moment you stepped into my life — I think that was the first time I felt alive. Like I had a friend. Someone I cared about. Someone I could… love.”
His fingers stilled. Then he reached for me, his right hand dipping into the water, making it splash softly.
He kissed me — gently.
My hand slid into his hair, soaking it as I kissed him back without hesitation.
When he pulled away, his eyes were glassy, his voice lower than a breath.
“No. You saved me.”
“I’d shut everyone out — isolated myself from everything. And then you came out of nowhere like a goddamn angel, and suddenly… I could feel again.”
He pressed a soft kiss to the top of my head.
“I love you, Vera.”
Before I could even breathe out a reply, he scooped me up out of the bath — water dripping onto the floor and soaking into his shirt. I squinted up at him in surprise.
“Where are — where are we going?” I asked, caught between a laugh and a suppressed wince.
“To bed,” he said simply.
“To bed?!” I shook my head, still breathless. “Five, I just nearly died.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Exactly. Bed.”
He gently set me down, climbing on top of me, lips meeting mine with that same quiet desperation I had missed.
“Well, for someone so ready,” I murmured against his mouth, “you’re definitely wearing too many clothes.”
He grinned, low and lazy. “Seems like you’re already working on that.”
I lifted his sweater, and he helped me pull it over his head. His fingers found my skin, warm and slow, and our breaths tangled as he leaned in to kiss me again.
His mouth traced a path down my neck, across my chest, and lower still — like he was mapping every inch of my body.
But he was too slow, too careful.
I tangled my fingers in his hair and tugged, guiding him back up. His mouth met mine again, hungry this time, and I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him closer.
“Tell me you want me,” he murmured against my neck, his voice low and breathless.
“I want you — so bad,” I whispered, gasping as his teeth grazed my skin and he pushed into me, slow and steady.
“You’re taking me so well, my pretty girl.”
He kissed my cheek, then my forehead, voice catching. “I’m so, so sorry.”
But I wasn’t angry anymore. I couldn’t be.
I cupped his face, guiding his gaze to mine as his rhythm stayed slow and deliberate, like he didn’t want it to end.
I didn’t mind.
Because when this ends, the real world comes — and I wasn’t ready for that yet.
“Five — Five — look at me.”
His green eyes met mine, and I swear I could see every answer I’d been searching for reflected there.
“It’s alright, Five. I forgave you the moment you came back for me.”
He kissed me again, deeper, more urgent.
“I love you so much,” he whispered.
I was so close — his body moving against mine, his hand finding just the right spot — and with a few more thrusts, I came undone.
Five collapsed beside me, and I settled my head on his chest.
The last thing I felt was his lips brushing my hair… and then sleep pulled me under again.
——————————————————————————————————
I nervously fidgeted with the hem of my shorts as Five gently ran his hand along my back.
“If it’s too much for you, just tell me, alright? My siblings can be—”
The door opened before he could finish, and one of his brothers — Diego, I assumed — stood there.
Earlier this week, I had made Five show me photos of all his siblings so I could remember their names. He thought it was silly, but it made me feel safer.
“Hey, I’m Di—”
A hand shoved him aside, and suddenly I was pulled into a tight hug by someone else. Five groaned, trying to drag the person off me — which earned him a smack.
Once I managed to compose myself a little, I recognized Klaus.
“Well, hello there, beautiful,” he said, grinning. “I can’t believe Five finally found someone who can handle that grumpy little brain of his.”
Five looked like he was about to start a fight before we even stepped inside, but I couldn’t help giggling.
“Hi to you too, Klaus.”
“Oh my god — Cinco — if you’d told me she was this cute, I would’ve broken into your place just to see her sooner.”
“Yeah, maybe that’s exactly why I didn’t.” Five rolled his eyes, then caught my hand and gently pulled me inside.
His siblings all turned their gaze on me, and suddenly I felt weirdly watched — although most of them were smiling.
“Everyone, this is Vera. My girlfriend. And I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t har—”
Too late for that.
They were already on their feet, circling around me, hugging me, complimenting my outfit.
And even though it was overwhelming, I had never felt so happy surrounded by so many people.
So I smiled back and hugged them, letting them drag me to the table and fire off question after question — all while Five stood off to the side, watching me with that little grin of his.
Later that evening, I was more than just tipsy, and Five guided me to the car.
He buckled me into the seat and slid into the driver’s side.
“You alright?” he asked, brushing his hand along my thigh.
“Never felt so happy before,” I grinned at him, and he smiled back.
“Let’s go home.”
“Uh-huh.” I leaned my head against the seat as he drove, the soft hum of the radio playing in the background.
One of his hands stayed on my leg, his fingers gently tracing circles, and every now and then I caught him looking at me.
I turned toward the window, watching the glow of the city pass by — and for the first time in my life, I was completely, unquestionably sure:
I strapped my gun to the side of the Commission pants and threw Five’s jacket over the black long-sleeve I’d brought with me. Standing in front of the mirror, I adjusted one of my braids with a nervous twitch of my fingers.
“Vera?”
“Hmm?” His gaze followed me from across the room as he stood by the bed, pulling on a shirt.
“After we’re done with this…” He hesitated for a second. “I was thinking maybe you could meet my siblings?”
I turned to look at him fully, hand still resting on the braid I hadn’t finished. There was something quiet in his voice.
I was surprised he brought that up now, since we hadn’t really even talked about the thing between us, and I wasn’t totally convinced I would make it out of there either. Still, I didn’t want to let Five down, so I agreed. “Sure, I would love to.”
“They’re assholes, but I just—”
“Five, I get it, don’t worry, okay?” I fixed his hair a bit and smiled.
“You ready to go?” The mood was strange, too anxious and nervous even though neither of us would admit it.
I just nodded and took the briefcase from the ground.
Five reached for my hand, holding on tighter than usual.
He glanced at me once. I nodded. And then the world twisted.
The familiar pull of air, the sound of everything folding in on itself. Like being sucked through silence.
The apartment vanished.
Both of us were so used to the feeling that it didn’t even throw off our balance anymore. We landed steady, barely reacting, still facing each other in the middle of the bright white corridor. The air buzzed faintly with the familiar background hum — machines, lights, maybe voices behind the walls.
We didn’t say anything. Just stood there for a second, fingers still barely touching, like neither of us wanted to be the first to let go.
He looked around. “What now?”
“We go find Axel.”
“Who’s Axel?” There was a weird undertone to his voice — flat, but not neutral.
“The new… handler.”
He hummed. “Hmm. Don’t like that guy already.”
I tugged lightly on his sleeve, guiding him through the hallways while trying to ignore the stares. “Yeah, he looks nicer than the last assholes, but don’t get too fooled. Everything’s still the same.”
I once again found myself standing before the big, scary door — not bursting through it like last time, neither alone like last time.
I opened them.
Stepping inside along with Five, I looked at Axel’s face. He stood up from his chair, his expression stern as he looked at me, then turned his gaze to Five.
“What exactly about watching didn’t you understand, Vera?”
“I told you — I’m not a babysitter.”
He grinned, nodding slowly as he moved with that same deliberate precision I remembered. “And Vera… that’s exactly what you became. So tell me…Did he at least fuck you hard enough?”
Five flinched, stepping forward, but I caught his arm — just a hand on his sleeve, a look, a silent shake of my head. Not yet.
Axel’s voice brought my attention back to him.
“Vera, listen to me now. This is not a friendly conversation, so you listen and do what the fuck I tell you.”
I stared at him with a stone-cold look, holding myself back from throwing something at his smug face like a kid with no impulse control.
Then he finally looked at Five — really looked — and I saw something click in his eyes.
“Vera. You leave this room now. Let me have a conversation with your new friend here, and then we’ll see what we can do about this situation.”
I almost laughed. “If you think for one fucking second I’m gonna leave then—”
Five took my arm, and the moment I looked into his eyes, I knew.
“No. Five, no.”
“Vera, let me handle this, okay? I will. You just have to trust me.”
I shook my head, breath catching in my chest. But I knew I didn’t have a choice.
The door opened behind me, and someone stepped in — didn’t say anything, just waited. I let them lead me out.
And I didn’t stop looking at Five. Not until the door shut between us.
——————————————————————————————————
I stood in the room that once looked so different — in front of a man who now looked at me like I was fucking prey.
His mouth twisted into that stupid grin he must’ve thought fooled everyone. It didn’t.
“There’s really no need to delay anything,” he said smoothly. “So I’ll be honest.”
I mirrored his grin, sharp and bitter. “Try me.”
“You two may have thought you were so clever. A step ahead. But Five — tell me, how exactly do you think your powers came back, hmm? Out of nowhere? Or did they never really leave at all?”
I didn’t answer. My jaw clenched.
I’d wondered. I just didn’t want the answer to sound like this.
He waited. When I stayed silent, he laughed — soft and smug.
“I see. The thing is… she’s not staying here,” I finally said.
“Yes. That would seem to be what you think.” He sighed, like this was exhausting for him. “I’ll admit — she fucked up. We gave you your powers back so you’d return and finally do the job you were meant to do here. But clearly, that’s not on the menu anymore. So...”
He paused.
“So we’ll go about it like this: You’re bad for her, Five. You don’t know her. Not really. You think you’re a monster?” He scoffed, eyes darkening. “She’s worse.”
I didn’t flinch.
“She’s not staying here,” I repeated.
He met my gaze, then looked at the floor like what he was about to say hurt him. I didn’t buy it.
“She stays, and you leave... and she lives.”
He glanced up at me, unreadable. “If you insist on making this complicated — she dies. And you stay.”
Something dropped in my chest.
And I hated how fast my brain started calculating what that meant.
How the fuck did I start caring this much?
I swallowed. “Why the fuck would I believe anything you say? You’re full of shit.”
His face twitched — barely — but the anger was there. Just under the surface.
“I guess she didn’t tell you much about her past, then. So tell me, what do you know?”
I stared at him. “She grew up here. She has powers… intuition, energy manipulation...”
He chuckled, like it was the most pitiful answer I could’ve given.
“That’s part of it, sure, but maybe she left out the bit where — when she gets pissed, hurt, in danger — she blacks out and kills entire rooms of people with her bare hands.”
I didn’t react. “And that’s supposed to scare me?”
Axel tensed, seemingly running out of temper.
“The Commission doesn’t really like bringing attention to itself — as I don’t have to remind you, since some obviously smarter version of you founded this place. So who do you think covered that for her? Hmm? Who do you think saved her ass when she was a teenage girl, drenched in blood?”
He stepped closer.
“I did.”
We stood there, not blinking.
“So if there’s anyone you can trust with her in this building, it’s me. Because I don’t want to fucking kill her. But I can’t… let. her. leave.”
I looked away, tugging on my hair while thinking.
“If — I leave, she isn’t going to be treated like a weapon.”
Axel nodded once, like he’d expected the question.
“You know what she’s capable of, Five. You’ve seen the signs already. And when it happens again — and it will happen again — what do you think your presence is going to do? Calm her down? You think you can handle her?”
“Five years,” I said, voice low. “Five years and she’s out.”
Axel chuckled. “You accepted that offer once. And how did that go, hmm?”
I didn’t respond at first.
But something cracked.
I looked away, swallowing down everything in my chest.
“…Well. You obviously care about her.” My voice came out quieter this time. “So don’t you want her to have a fucking life?”
He looked conflicted for a while. “Jesus — fine, under the condition that you stay away from her.”
I didn’t answer right away.
Just stood there, hands clenched at my sides, heart pounding like I was being hunted.
This was it. The line I couldn’t uncross.
“…Fine.”
One word. That’s all I gave him. Because if I said anything else, I might’ve fallen apart.
Axel studied me for a moment, as if waiting for me to crack. But I didn’t. I just stared through him.
He nodded, satisfied. “You’re making the right choice.”
I didn’t respond. Because fuck you, Axel — I wasn’t making the right choice. I was making the one that didn’t get her killed.
——————————————————————————————————
I couldn’t tell how long I’d been in that locked room. Hours maybe. Long enough to count the footsteps outside. Long enough to know at least three agents were stationed behind that door — the same door I’d banged on seven times already.
Then finally, the lock clicked.
Axel stepped in.
I was ready to see him — arms crossed, maybe angry, maybe bruised. Anything.
But no Five.
I stood up fast. “Where is he?”
Axel didn’t flinch. He crossed the room, picked up the jacket on the chair — Five’s jacket — and I yanked it out of his hands before he could say another word.
“Gone,” he said.
Confusion twisted in my chest. “What the fuck do you mean gone?”
“He left. Willingly.”
I exhaled, my breath shaky — a terrified look frozen on my face.
“Don’t get me wrong,” he said, almost casually. “It was a pretty heroic act. He left to save your life.”
He stepped closer. “Because I told him I’d kill you otherwise.”
He reached for one of my braids, twisting it between his fingers like it was nothing. I just stared at him — wild, unblinking — like a little mad girl.
Then he let go of my hair, turned, and opened the door.
“And that offer still applies. So don’t try anything.”
He paused, hand on the handle, then glanced over his shoulder.
“So be a good girl, and keep doing your job. Okay?”
I left the room after him, holding my breath.
I didn’t move yet. But give me one more second — and they’re going to regret ever leaving me alive.
The morning light found its way through the gaps between the curtains.
I felt Five’s slow breaths under my head — like every morning since I moved from the couch.
His hand rested on my bare hip, and I didn’t dare move.
I didn’t want to wake him up, so I just lay there with my eyes closed, enjoying the silence before he started his usual bickering over breakfast.
Guess I shouldn’t have felt so smug — because his hand started to caress my hip, fingers drifting lower, right to the hem of my panties.
“Really?” I asked.
“I knew you were fake sleeping like ten minutes ago,” he murmured into my hair.
“You got a morning boner or something?” I teased, but I met his mouth right after that, already leaning in.
“Mmm.” He hummed into the kiss. “Doesn’t seem like you have a problem with it.”
“Never said I had.”
He moved on top of me, brushing my hair out of the way.
“I swear, your hair is like a third wheel between us.”
That made me laugh — full-on laugh that made my chest shake.
He looked down at me with that crooked grin.
“You’re crazy,” I said, still giggling, barely able to stop.
“You have no idea,” he replied — and then he lowered himself, sliding my panties down and kissing my belly.
The teasing took him forever.
He marked my hips with messy bites that made me gasp, every one of them intentional.
Then finally, he started kissing between my legs — too slow. Too controlled.
“Please, Five— I need more,” I gasped.
“Shh,” he murmured, smug.
His hands roamed over my stomach, sliding under the T-shirt to cup my breasts.
I shivered under his touch, and his tongue slowly circled my clit. Every time I felt myself getting close, he changed his rhythm.
“Five!” I groaned, frustrated and breathless.
“What was that?” he said, lifting his head, eyes gleaming with mischief.
I groaned again.
“Be a good girl so I can give you what you want,” he said casually. “Just a suggestion.”
He grinned as he lowered his head again, and this time, when I bucked my hips up toward him, he let me.
When he finally steadied his rhythm, it didn’t take long.
I came in waves, my body shaking as I collapsed back into the soft bed, breathless.
Five sat back on his knees, admiring the mess he’d made.
Once the adrenaline settled, he got up, left the room, and returned a few minutes later with a glass of water.
He set it on the nightstand and silently waited for me to drink it.
——————————————————————————————————
The living room smelled like coffee and eggs while we ate.
“What do you do — for fun?” he asked, out of nowhere.
I blinked at him, confused, but still answered. “I read. Or draw.”
He pulled the cup from his mouth. “You like to draw?”
“Uh-hm. I’m not too good, but… I never had too many options on what to do, so — drawing and reading, it was.”
“You?” I asked, chewing.
He seemed to think about it.
“I never really had time for that either. But reading is good…”
I nodded. “Favorite book?”
He didn’t hesitate. “Flowers for Algernon.”
I nodded, surprised — but not really.
“Yours?”
“I’m not sure I could pick just one, but… either A Clockwork Orange or… Dune.”
I smiled into my coffee.
“Dune?”
He grinned wide. “You don’t seem like a sci-fi girl.”
“Oh — you have NO idea. I’m a fucking nerd.” I laughed.
He shifted gears. “I should practice after lunch.”
I bit my lip slightly and nodded, sighing. “Yeah, I know.”
“I wish we could just… hide here forever.”
I looked toward his balcony window, watching the light on the glass.
“The world is scary.”
“The world would probably think you’re scary too,” he replied.
I hummed, smiling softly. “I’m gonna wash my hair.”
“Can I join?” he asked.
I stood up, brushing my fingers through his hair.
“If you let me actually wash my hair.”
I chuckled as he kissed my hip.
“Uh-hm.”
“Yeah, I’m so sure you will.”
——————————————————————————————————
Five was passed out on the bed, exhausted from the repetitive blinking, while I was preparing some food for dinner.
Humming to the song on the radio, I sat down while waiting for the pasta to finish, braiding my hair into two long braids.
I didn’t hear Five wake up — just the shiver in my spine telling me he was close.
“You okay?” I asked softly, fingers still working on the last braid.
“Mm-hmm,” he hummed, half-asleep still, his voice muffled against my skin. “Didn’t mean to knock out.”
“You needed it. And I made dinner.”
He didn’t say anything for a while. Just stood there, wrapped around me — and for a while, I thought he might just fall asleep again like this.
“I like your hair this way,” he mumbled.
“You always say that.”
“Because it’s true.”
He helped me plate the food, and we settled at the big table.
Suddenly, a strange noise cracked from the hallway.
Both of us froze.
We stared at each other, breaths held — and before I had the chance to panic, he stood up, already moving toward the fading sound.
“Five, be—” I started, hurrying after him.
I caught up just as he stood in the hall, staring down at something in his hands.
“Shit,” we said at the same time.
I swallowed hard.
Five held the Commission message in his hands. He turned it over once, twice, like he couldn’t believe it was real. Then he stepped closer to me.
Watching his expression carefully, I asked, “Should we… open it?”
He didn’t answer — just twisted the top off and slid out the card.
"Your immediate presence is required at Headquarters.
Failure to comply will be logged as desertion."
I backed up, my breaths quickening. Five looked at me, noting my rising panic. He shook his head and took my face into his palms.
“Vera, Vera, listen to me. Breathe.”
He still held my face.
“They don’t know, okay? They don’t know I have my powers back. We will go, together, and I will protect you. I will blink us out if necessary.”
“No — Five, you can’t — You don’t have to go back there.”
The anxiety crawled into my brain and suddenly I felt stupid. This was inevitable.
And I still let myself fall deep into this happy bubble, ignoring the reality.
Five brought my face up with his fingers.
“Vera, you can’t make me stay. I am going with you, and I am getting you out of there. End of discussion.”
Tears settled in my eyes and I shook my head.
“I am scared, Five. You don’t — They won’t let me leave.”
“If you think for a second I will let that happen, you are fairly mistaken.”
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