Dante walked away from the van. The metal door slid shut behind him. The sound was heavy. It sealed the team inside. The air outside was cold. It smelled of salt and oil. The harbor waves crashed against the concrete below. The rhythm was steady. It matched the beat of his heart. He walked fifty meters into the shadows. He stopped near a stack of rusted containers. The metal was cold against his back. He leaned on it. He waited. His phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out. The screen glowed in the dark. The number was unknown. It was encrypted. But he knew the source. He knew the rhythm of the call. He answered. He put the phone to his ear. He did not speak first. He waited for the voice on the other end.
Sophie said, "I know you sent the message."
Dante said, "You should not be calling this line."
Sophie said, "Answer the question."
Dante said, "It does not matter."
Sophie said, "It matters to me."
Dante said, "Stay home for several days."
Sophie said, "No."
Dante said, "Sophie."
Sophie said, "Do not say my name like that."
Dante said, "Like what."
Sophie said, "Like you are saying goodbye."
Dante was silent. The wind picked up. It whipped his coat around his legs. The fabric snapped in the breeze. He gripped the phone tighter. The plastic creaked under the pressure. He looked at the van in the distance. The lights were dim. The team was working inside. They did not know he was here. They did not know who was on the line.
Dante said, "It is not safe."
Sophie said, "Nothing is safe."
Dante said, "This is different."
Sophie said, "Is it."
Dante said, "Yes."
Sophie said, "Then tell me why."
Dante said, "I cannot."
Sophie said, "You never could."
Dante said, "Stay inside. Lock the doors."
Sophie said, "I told you. No."
Dante said, "Sophie. Listen to me."
Sophie said, "I am listening. You are the one who is not speaking."
Dante said, "There are things you do not know."
Sophie said, "There are things you do not say."
Dante said, "It is for your protection."
Sophie said, "I do not need protection."
Dante said, "Everyone does."
Sophie said, "Not me."
Dante said, "Do not make this difficult."
Sophie said, "You made it difficult."
Dante said, "I am trying to keep you alive."
Sophie said, "Then trust me to stay that way."
Dante did not answer. The argument was circular. It was old. It was the same argument they had had years ago. Before he left. Before the blood. Before the shadows. She wanted to stand beside him. He wanted to stand in front of her. They could not both be right. One of them had to yield. He would not yield. He could not.
Kairo said, "She is a liability."
Dante said, "Stop."
Kairo said, "She is compromising your focus."
Dante said, "I said stop."
Mūn said, "He is afraid."
Dante said, "I am not."
Mūn said, "Then why do you pull away."
Dante said, "To keep her safe."
Mūn said, "From what."
Dante said, "From me."
Sophie said, "Are you still there."
Dante said, "Yes."
Sophie said, "You are thinking too loud."
Dante said, "I am silent."
Sophie said, "I know your silence."
Dante said, "Then you know I mean it."
Sophie said, "Stay home. That is your solution."
Dante said, "It is the only one."
Sophie said, "It is the cowardly one."
Dante said, "Call it what you want."
Sophie said, "I will call it what it is."
Dante said, "Sophie."
Sophie said, "Do not hang up."
Dante said, "I have to."
Sophie said, "If you hang up, I will find you."
Dante said, "Do not try."
Sophie said, "Try me."
Dante said, "You do not know what you are walking into."
Sophie said, "Neither do you."
Dante said, "I know enough."
Sophie said, "You know nothing."
Dante said, "I know you are in danger."
Sophie said, "I know who put me there."
Dante stiffened. The words hit him like a bullet. They struck the armor. They found the gap. She knew. She knew about the client. She knew about the contract. She knew about the lie. He had thought he was protecting her. He was only hiding from her.
Dante said, "What did you say."
Sophie said, "You heard me."
Dante said, "How."
Sophie said, "I am not blind, Dante."
Dante said, "You should be."
Sophie said, "Why. So I do not see you."
Dante said, "So you do not see what I am."
Sophie said, "I already see it."
Dante said, "Then you should run."
Sophie said, "I am not running."
Dante said, "Sophie."
Sophie said, "Tell me the truth. Just once."
Dante said, "I cannot."
Sophie said, "Then I will find it myself."
Dante said, "Do not."
Sophie said, "Watch me."
The line went dead. The silence returned. It was louder than the wind. It was louder than the waves. Dante lowered the phone. He looked at the screen. The call had ended. The time was displayed. Three minutes. Forty-two seconds. It was not long enough. It was too long. He had said too much. He had said too little. He slipped the phone into his pocket. He turned away from the containers. He walked back toward the van. His steps were heavy. They crushed the gravel beneath his boots. The sound was sharp. It cut through the night. He reached the door. He stopped. He looked at the metal handle. He did not open it yet.
Mūn said, "How many times will you try to pull away."
Dante said, "As many as it takes."
Mūn said, "She will not let you."
Dante said, "I know."
Mūn said, "Then why do you try."
Dante said, "Because I have to."
Mūn said, "For her."
Dante said, "For her."
Mūn said, "You are hurting her."
Dante said, "I am saving her."
Mūn said, "From what."
Dante said, "From this life."
Mūn said, "It is too late."
Dante said, "It is never too late."
Mūn said, "You are lying to yourself."
Dante said, "I am surviving."
Mūn said, "There is a difference."
Dante said, "Not for me."
He opened the van door. The light spilled out. It hit his face. It was bright. It was harsh. The team looked up. Isaac was typing. Kisuke was cleaning his weapon. Eikichi was watching the monitors. They did not ask where he had been. They did not ask who called. They knew better. They knew the rules.
Dante said, "Status."
Isaac said, "Broker is dead. Contacts are tracing."
Dante said, "Speed it up."
Isaac said, "Working on it."
Dante sat in the corner. He leaned his head back. He closed his eyes. The image of Sophie was behind his lids. She was standing in the light. She was not afraid. She was angry. She was right. He was lying. He was hiding. He was failing.
Kairo said, "You are weak."
Dante said, "I am human."
Kairo said, "Humans die."
Dante said, "So do demons."
Kairo said, "Not us."
Dante said, "Not yet."
He opened his eyes. The van was quiet. The screens glowed. The city outside was dark. The verification clock was ticking. Thirty hours remained. He had promised to find the client. He had promised to keep her safe. He was failing both. But he would not stop. He could not stop. Eikichi looked at him. The eyes were sharp. They saw everything. They saw the crack in the armor. They saw the blood on the hands. They saw the fear in the heart. Eikichi did not speak. He just nodded. It was a silent promise. It was a silent warning. It was enough. Dante looked away. He focused on the map. The red dot pulsed. It was the client. It was the target. It was the end. He would find it. He would end it. He would save her. Even if she hated him for it. Even if she never forgave him. It did not matter. Only her safety mattered. Nothing else mattered. He checked his weapon. The magazine was full. The slide was locked. He was ready. He was always ready. But for the first time, he was afraid. Not of death. Not of pain. He was afraid of losing her. Not to death. To truth. The truth was the real enemy. The truth was the real killer. And it was coming for them both.
A/N: Thank you for reading Chapter 7 of Shadow Contract. The tension between Dante and Sophie is rising. Will Dante tell her the truth before it's too late? Please add this to your library and leave a review if you are enjoying the story. Your support keeps the story going!