In the darkened streets of the city, Alex staggered through the alleys, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn’t believe he had escaped the clutches of the angel. The shadows still flickered around him, uncontrolled and dangerous, but they were all that kept him safe.

As he rounded a corner, he felt a sudden chill. The air grew thick, and a deep, menacing voice echoed through the alleyway.

“Running from one danger, only to fall into another. How unfortunate.”

Alex spun around, his eyes wide with terror. Standing before him was a tall man with a lean, predatory build. His eyes gleamed with a cold intelligence, and his smile was nothing short of sinister. He was dressed in a sharp, tailored suit, exuding an air of power and control. This was no ordinary man—this was the mastermind behind the illicit trade of glitch powers.

“Who… who are you?” Alex stammered, trying to summon the shadows to protect him.

The man took a step closer, his voice smooth and dripping with malice. “You may call me Lucian. And you, my friend, are a very valuable asset.”

Alex tried to back away, but Lucian was too quick. With a wave of his hand, Lucian’s own dark energy surged forward, overpowering Alex’s shadows and binding him in place. The young man struggled, but it was no use. Lucian’s power was far greater than anything Alex had encountered.

“Let me go!” Alex screamed, panic rising in his throat.

Lucian chuckled softly, his eyes narrowing. “I don’t think so. You see, you have something I need—a power that, in the right hands, can be quite profitable. And you’re going to help me, whether you like it or not.”

With a swift motion, Lucian’s energy enveloped Alex, rendering him unconscious. Lucian caught him before he fell, easily lifting the limp body. He glanced around the empty alley, satisfied that no one had witnessed the encounter.

“It’s time to see just how useful you can be,” Lucian muttered to himself, a wicked smile curling on his lips as he carried Alex away into the night.

The next morning, the sun’s rays filtered through the windows of a sleek, modern office building. Inside, Seraphina was at her desk, trying to focus on her work. But her mind kept drifting back to the events of the past few days. The memory of Michael’s cold eyes and the way he so casually spoke about killing sent shivers down her spine. And yet, there was a part of her that couldn’t stop thinking about the things he had said—about balance, about destiny.

“Get a grip, Seraphina,” she muttered to herself, shaking her head. “You can’t let him get to you.”

But just as she was starting to regain her composure, the door to her office swung open, and there stood Michael, his expression as unreadable as ever.

“Good morning, Seraphina,” he said, his voice calm and composed.

She glared at him, immediately on edge. “What are you doing here? You can’t just barge into my workplace like this.”

“I’m here because we have a mission,” Michael replied, completely unfazed by her anger. “And we can’t waste any more time.”

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Seraphina clenched her fists, trying to keep her temper in check. “I told you, I’m not interested. I want nothing to do with this.”

Michael stepped closer, his gaze intense. “You can’t keep running from this, Seraphina. The longer you resist, the more people will suffer. Including you.”

She stood up from her desk, pointing angrily at the door. “Get out, Michael. Now. Before I call security.”

Michael didn’t budge. “You’re afraid, and I understand that. But fear won’t protect you. It won’t protect anyone. You have a responsibility—”

“Responsibility?” she snapped, her voice rising. “What responsibility? I didn’t choose this! I didn’t ask for any of it!”

Michael’s eyes softened, but his resolve didn’t waver. “Neither did I. But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s our duty.”

Seraphina’s anger flared, but behind it was the fear she desperately tried to hide. She had never felt so trapped, so powerless. And here was this man, this so-called angel, telling her she had no choice.

“You don’t know anything about me,” she hissed, her voice shaking slightly. “You think you can just waltz in here and tell me how to live my life? I won’t let you control me.”

Michael regarded her for a long moment, his expression inscrutable. Then, with a sigh, he took a step back. “I’m not here to control you, Seraphina. I’m here because we need each other. The mission needs us both. I need you.”

The admission caught her off guard, and for a split second, she saw a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes. But she quickly pushed it aside, her fear and anger taking precedence.

“Just leave me alone, Michael,” she said, her voice quieter now but still firm. “I’m not your partner, and I never will be.”

Michael didn’t argue. Instead, he gave her a long, searching look before turning and leaving the office. Seraphina watched him go, her heart racing and her hands trembling.

As soon as he was out of sight, she collapsed back into her chair, her head in her hands. The fear and doubt she had been suppressing all morning came rushing back, overwhelming her. She couldn’t keep living like this, constantly looking over her shoulder, waiting for Michael to show up again.

“I need to do something,” she whispered to herself, her mind racing. “I can’t keep letting him control my life. I have to find a way out.”

Outside the office building, Michael lingered in the shadows, his expression unreadable. He had hoped to reason with Seraphina, to make her see the necessity of their partnership. But he could sense her fear, her reluctance. And it pained him more than he expected.

As he turned to leave, he felt a strange sensation, a pull at the edge of his consciousness. His connection to Seraphina was still there, faint but undeniable. And with it, the unsettling realization that his power was incomplete without her.

He had spent centuries working alone, never needing anyone. But now, with Seraphina, everything was different. He was different. And he didn’t know how to handle it.

Meanwhile, Lucian had taken Alex to an underground facility, a place hidden from prying eyes. He had his own network of scientists and loyal followers, all dedicated to the extraction and refinement of glitch powers.

Alex was strapped to a cold metal table, unconscious, while Lucian stood over him, observing the young man with a mixture of curiosity and greed.

“This one is special,” Lucian mused, speaking to one of his assistants. “His powers are raw, untamed. But with the right guidance, he could be the key to unlocking new possibilities.”

The assistant nodded, preparing the equipment for the extraction process. “Shall we begin, sir?”

Lucian’s smile widened, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. “Yes. Let’s see what secrets this glitch holds.”

As the machinery whirred to life, Lucian watched with a twisted satisfaction. The world was changing, and with these newfound powers at his disposal, he would be the one to shape its future. The angel and his reaper were nothing more than obstacles—obstacles he would soon eliminate.

Back in the city, Seraphina sat at her desk, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. Michael’s words echoed in her head, but she pushed them aside. She couldn’t afford to let him get to her, not now. Not ever.

But as she tried to focus on her work, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something terrible was about to happen. And deep down, she knew that her life would never be the same.

End of Chapter 5