Dulled 20

Chapter 20 

She looked away. 

He caught her chin, gentle but firm. “Then show me your face.” 

“Not yet.” 

“Why?” 

“Because I still remember the man who told me I was a mistake.” 

His hand dropped. 

And her words stabbed deeper than any scalpel. 

She walked away, leaving him standing there, breathless and gutted. 

But that night, he followed her. 

I no longer wonder. 

Now, hunting. 

The halls were silent after midnight. 

Ares knew this house better than he knew his own mind. Every corridor, every stair, every 

shadow. He moved like a ghost, his steps muffled by years of money poured into perfect marble. 

She thought he was asleep. 

She always thought he was asleep. 

But tonight, she was wrong. 

He followed her up the second–floor corridor, past the broken wing that hadn’t been touched 

since his accident, into the private solarium that overlooked the city skyline. 

He saw her through the glass door. 

Alone. 

She stood at the edge of the balcony, back straight, scarf billowing in the wind like a banner of 

surrender. Her hands were bare. Her mask lowered to her neck. 

12:00 Sun, Oct 12 

Chapter 20 

And she was whispering. 

He opened the door soundlessly and stepped out. 

The night air struck them both in the chest sharp, unforgiving. 

She didn’t notice him at first. 

Until he spoke. 

“What are you doing?” 

She turned sharply, eyes wide. “You shouldn’t be out of bed.” 

“Neither should you.” 

She stepped back toward the railing. 

“You always did like balconies,” he said. “Dramatic place for secrets.” 

“Were you following me?” 

“Obviously.” 

Her eyes shimmered. “You shouldn’t be here.” 

“I could say the same to you.” 

Silence. 

He stepped closer. 

“What were you saying just now?” 

“Nothing.” 

“Don’t lie.” 

She looked away. “Just… a name.” 

“Whose?” 

She didn’t answer. 

“Was it mine?” 

Still silence. 

2/5 

12:00 Sun, Oct 12 

Chapter 20 

He stepped beside her. They both stated out over the city. Lights blinked like stars fallen from 

heaven 

“You know I used to come up here every night after the accident?” he said. “Roman thought I 

was trying to throw me off.” 

He didn’t answer. 

Her voice dropped. “I would’ve caught you.” 

He turned. “Even after what I did?” 

“Yes.” 

“Why?” 

“Because I still saw the man underneath.” 

He stepped closer. “Even now?” 

She faced him slowly. 

“I see both men now.” 

He looked at her mouth. Her mask rested at her throat, forgotten. Her lips were soft, familiar, 

parted as if waiting. 

He reached up, hand hovering just beneath her chin. 

“Can I?” he asked, voice low. 

She didn’t move. 

Didn’t stop him. 

He touched the edge of the scarf. Brushed it aside. 

Then he touched the mask. 

She closed her eyes. 

But before he could pull it up 

12:00 Sun, Oct 12 

Chapter 20 

She whispered his name. 

“Ares…” 

It wasn’t a warning. 

It was a memory. 

He stepped back, breath hitched. 

And she turned away. 

He didn’t touch the mask again. 

He didn’t need to. 

Because her voice alone had already stripped her bare. 

And she knew it. 

Behind her, he saw the journal on the garden bench. 

Open. 

Wind–torn. 

A single page was half–burned in the ashtray beside it. 

He picked it up. 

He read the words. 

“Selene, 

I don’t deserve your love. But if I ever crawl back from this hell, it will be because you carried me 

through it.” 

He looked up. 

She was gone. 

Only the wind remained. 

And the name burning between his fingers. 

12:01 Sun, Oct 12 

THE PHOENIX’S REVENGE