Darkness swallowed the room so instantly that Elisa's breath caught in her throat. No flicker. No warning. Just a sudden, suffocating black void.
"Damon—" she whispered.
His hand clamped around her wrist, steady and unyielding. "Behind me. Now."
Her heart slammed against her ribs. She felt him shift, placing his body fully between her and the door. His muscles coiled like a loaded weapon.
A soft metallic click echoed from somewhere above—roof, vents, she couldn't tell. It was faint, but Damon heard it with terrifying clarity. His posture sharpened.
"They breached the perimeter faster than expected," he murmured.
"How—how did they even find us? You said—"
"I know. Which means there's a leak."
His voice dropped to a razor-thin whisper. "And it wasn't from my side."
Her blood chilled.
Another sound. This one closer. A soft scrape against the outer window. Like someone testing the barrier.
Elisa's instinct screamed. She clutched Damon's arm.
He leaned down, mouth near her ear, whisper-hot breath making her tremble. "Don't move unless I tell you."
She swallowed hard. "What are they after? Why keep coming? Who am I to them?"
"You'll know soon." He squeezed her wrist gently. "But not like this. Not afraid."
His fingers brushed her cheek—barely a touch, but enough to ground her. Enough to keep her from unraveling.
A shadow shifted against the glass—then disappeared.
"Damon," she breathed, "they're here."
"Yes." His voice went cold and calm. "And they chose the wrong night."
________________________________________
A Sudden Assault
A deafening bang hit the outer wall.
Elisa flinched violently. Damon's arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her tight to him. She felt his heart hammering as fast as hers—but the rest of him was terrifyingly controlled.
A second bang. Then a crack—like a tool wedging metal.
"They're trying to pry the window frame," he whispered.
"Can they get in?"
"They wouldn't be trying if they couldn't."
Her knees went weak.
Damon lowered his mouth again, his breath brushing her temple. "Elisa, listen to me. If they get inside, I need you to do exactly what I say."
She nodded quickly.
"No," he murmured, voice firm. "I need to hear you say it."
"I—I'll listen."
"Good girl."
Those two words sent a shiver through her—not of fear, but something warm and sharp. Something that steadied her when the whole world was trembling.
His hand slid down, gripping her hips, turning her behind a thick support column.
"Stay here. Don't move unless I pull you."
"I don't want you to get hurt again," she whispered.
He gave a low, humorless huff. "This time, they're the ones who should worry."
________________________________________
Glass Shatters
The window exploded inward.
Shards flew. Cold wind stabbed into the room. Elisa gasped, covering her head. Damon threw himself over her instantly—his body a solid shield against the raining glass.
Her heart thundered against his chest. He angled his body, taking the brunt of everything.
One shard sliced across his shoulder. She heard him hiss—but he didn't move, didn't flinch, didn't allow a single piece to touch her.
"Damon, your shoulder—"
"It's nothing."
A heavy boot crunched glass. Someone had landed inside.
Then another.
Two shapes.
Tall. Silent. Masked.
Elisa's breath strangled. Damon lifted himself enough to look over her, calculating every angle.
"It's the same team," he whispered.
"How do you know?"
"Because only trained assassins enter a room without making sound, even after breaking a window."
Her pulse turned ice.
"How many?" she whispered.
"Three… no, four. They surrounded the house."
Her stomach dropped. "We can't take on four—"
"I can."
She believed him. God, she didn't know why she believed him so much—but she did.
________________________________________
The Fight Begins
One of the figures stepped closer, shotgun raised.
Damon moved.
Not like a man.
Like a shadow breaking free.
He lunged from the darkness, sweeping Elisa behind him with one fierce pull. The shotgun fired, deafening in the small room. Wood splintered. A lamp shattered.
Damon's fist collided with the attacker's jaw so fast, Elisa barely saw it. The masked man hit the ground. Hard.
Another man rushed forward. Damon kicked the fallen weapon away and spun, grabbing a broken chair leg from the floor.
His voice dropped: "Elisa, close your eyes."
She didn't.
He blocked an incoming strike, trapped the soldier's arm, and drove the wooden leg into the man's shoulder—disarming him in one fluid motion.
Elisa watched, shaking. Damon moved like he'd done this his whole life. No hesitation. No fear. Just brutal, efficient precision.
But the third and fourth attackers were already crawling through the window frame.
"Damon—behind you!"
He reacted instantly. He grabbed her, twisted, and pulled her behind the bed frame as bullets rained through the room.
The bed shredded. The walls cracked. Dust filled the air.
She felt Damon's body cover hers again, his breath harsh against her neck.
"You okay?" he whispered.
"I—I think so."
He cupped her face briefly—checking for blood, injuries—then nodded.
"Stay low."
"Damon, if you go out there—"
He pressed his forehead to hers, just for a single electrifying second. His voice was raw. "I will come back to you."
Her heart slammed painfully. "You don't know that—"
"Trust me."
Then he was gone.
________________________________________
Chaos and Precision
Gunfire.
A grunt.
A crash.
Elisa crawled to the edge of the overturned bed, desperate to see.
Damon tackled one assailant, twisting the man's arm behind his back and slamming him into the floor. A sharp crack—dislocated shoulder.
Another man swung a knife. Damon ducked, grabbed his wrist, twisted—
A scream.
The blade clattered away.
Elisa gasped as one of the attackers crept behind Damon with a pistol.
"Damon!" she screamed.
Damon turned but not fast enough—
The man fired.
The bullet hit Damon's side.
He staggered.
"NO!" Elisa cried, rushing forward.
Damon's eyes snapped to her. "ELISA—STOP!"
She froze, tears stinging her eyes.
The attacker raised his gun again—
Damon surged up with sudden, violent strength. He grabbed the man's wrist and slammed it into the wall. Once. Twice—until the gun fell.
Elisa scrambled to Damon as he swayed, catching him under the arm. His blood was warm against her hand.
"You're bleeding again—"
"I've had worse," he said, but his voice shook this time.
"Damon, please—"
He cupped her cheek with his uninjured hand, thumb brushing away a tear. "I told you. Nothing will touch you while I still breathe."
Her heart splintered.
Something had shifted between them—something deep and terrifyingly real.
________________________________________
Reinforcements Arrive
The last surviving attacker scrambled through the window frame, grabbing the fallen shotgun.
Before Damon could react, the man aimed at both of them.
"Damon!" Elisa cried, pulling him behind her.
But Damon shoved her behind a pillar, taking the front.
"No," he growled. "You don't shield me. Ever."
The assassin pulled the trigger.
Click.
Empty.
Damon didn't hesitate.
He launched forward, tackling the man to the floor. A brief struggle—then the man went still.
Silence swallowed the room.
Elisa couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. Could barely stand.
Damon staggered toward her, clutching his side where blood seeped through his shirt. His legs buckled.
She caught him as he fell, lowering him to the floor.
"Damon, stay with me," she begged, shaking him. "Look at me—please!"
His eyes fluttered open, struggling to focus. "You… safe?"
"Yes," she whispered, tears spilling down. "Because of you."
"Good…" His head dropped against her shoulder. "Then… I can rest."
"No! No, don't close your eyes. Damon—!"
His breath ghosted against her neck.
"Elisa…" His voice was faint. "Don't… let them… take you. Not again."
She froze.
"Again?" she whispered. "Damon, what do you mean again?"
But he lost consciousness in her arms.
________________________________________
Cliffhanger End
A sudden alarm blared through the house—one she'd never heard before.
Then a robotic voice echoed over the intercom:
"Breached perimeter. Second wave incoming. Twelve minutes until entry."
Elisa stared in horror.
Second wave?
And Damon—her only protector—lay bleeding and unconscious at her feet.