Pandora
Sunlight tickled my face. I opened my eyes. This room . . . I didn’t know it. Wood paneling on the walls. Lace curtains moving in a breeze. Through the open window, birdsong drifted in, carrying the promise of spring.
When I sat up, a dull pain moved through my ribs. I touched my face carefully. The swelling had gone down. My finger was neatly bandaged. The wrap was perfect, not too tight, stable enough to support the broken bone.
Neo . . . I got out of bed. Pain shot through me again.
My knees buckled but I caught myself. More carefully this time, I moved to the door.
Floorboards creaked softly underfoot. The furnishings were sparse.
A few worn pieces, a small kitchen, a fireplace.
Through the open window, I could see a still lake surrounded by forest, and at the water’s edge stood Neo, motionless the way he always was, frozen in time in that inhuman way of his.
He was looking out across the water. The lake lay mirror-flat, catching the first warm rays of the sun.
Everywhere, tender shoots were pushing through the earth.
The trees were showing their first buds as tiny promises of spring.
"Neo?”
He turned. Relief flashed in his eyes. "You’re awake.”
"How long was I asleep?”
"Two days.” He came toward me, his movements careful. "I put you in the car and drove us out. We had to get out of Dreva. There could have been more of them.”
I nodded. "Where are we?”
"The Carpathians. About two hundred and fifty miles from Dreva.” He gestured toward the house. "It belonged to a man who died three years ago. We can stay here for a few days. Until you’re stronger.”
"And then?”
His jaw tightened. "Then we disappear. For good.”
He looked at me, and I saw the question in his eyes. The one he didn’t dare to ask.
"You mean together?” I whispered.
"Only if you want.” His voice was quiet. "I know I’ve stolen a normal life from you. That you became a target because of me.”
I raised my eyebrows. He was letting me go? Him, the one who had always threatened to find me anywhere, who had told me I could never escape him? If I wanted, I could leave. The thought made my stomach drop.
"What?” It was all I could get out.
He closed his eyes, as if the question caused him pain. "When I saw what they did to you . . . What you went through to protect me . . .” He stopped. "You deserve the choice, Pandora. You deserve a life without me. A life that’s safe.”
"You idiot,” I whispered. "Do you really think I could live without you now? After everything?” I stepped closer.
"You killed for me. You brought me to life. You think I can just walk away and go back to something normal?” My voice steadied.
"There is no normal anymore, Neo. There’s only you. Only us.”
Slowly he opened his eyes. Hope broke through them, mixed with disbelieving relief. "You want to stay with me?” he breathed. "After everything? Even knowing the danger?”
"There’s nowhere else I want to be.” I put my hand against his cheek. "You’re my home, Neo. The only thing I’ve ever really wanted.”
He flinched at the touch, as if it overloaded him. Slowly, he laid his hand over mine.
"Then we disappear together,” he said. "Just the two of us.”
I smiled. "Yes.” The word came easier than anything I had ever said. "But where? Where will we be safe?”
Neo looked back out at the water. Something like longing moved through his eyes. The amber was like a lake of light. "An island. Far off the coast.”
I followed his gaze. An island. Just the two of us, surrounded by endless sea. No Quantum Systems. No one hunting us. No world trying to tear us apart.
"That sounds perfect,” I whispered. "Like a dream.”
He looked at me. "It’s a promise.”
My heart beat faster. I could picture it: a small house on the beach, just us, forever. Free.
"You know what?” I tilted my head. "I forgive you for almost killing me with the load of that crane.”
He chuckled. A sound that was new, coming from him. "I’m glad.”
"Your emotions just got the better of you. Happens to anyone. Well, not everyone has superhuman powers, but still.”
"About that…” He scratched his neck. The gesture made him seem surprisingly human. "There’s one thing I haven’t told you yet. I might have almost caused World War Three between Russia and the U.S. that one time.”
My mouth fell open. "You did what?”
"I lost control for a second and ended up inside both countries’ nuclear warning systems, so each side thought the other had launched first. When the misunderstanding was resolved, they kept quiet about the whole thing so as not to cause global panic.
They’re trying to figure out which hacker group was behind it to this day. ”
My eyes widened. "Neo…”
"I was upset because you matched with someone on Tinder that day.”
Tinder? I searched my memory. It took me a second before it clicked. The last guy I’d matched with on the app. That had been in mid-October. The match had disappeared after a few minutes. I just thought he had changed his mind.
"Neo! You can’t end civilization every time you’re upset.”
"Watch me.”
I hit his chest as if I was scolding him for making a bad joke instead of almost causing the apocalypse. I tried to stop myself from laughing, but I couldn’t. A couple of months ago, this news would have scared me to death. Now, I found it… endearing. Oh my god, I was in too deep.
"Come,” he said. "You need to eat.”
My stomach felt strangely light. I nodded. "I want to wash up first.”
As we went inside, his hand rested at the small of my back, burning through the fabric of my shirt. I was full of anticipation for a whole life with him. The two of us on a remote island, where he could fuck me whenever he wanted.
The bathroom was small. An old mirror above the sink showed me my face. The swelling and bruises were still visible. And yet there was a deep peace in my expression. I belonged to him now. Completely. There was no way back. For the first time in my life, something felt right.
A bucket of water stood beside the bathtub. I took a washcloth and dipped it in. Still warm. Neo must have heated it just in case I woke up.
I washed the last few days off my skin. In the mirror, I looked at the fading bruises across my ribs. When I pressed the cloth against them, I winced. On my arm I noticed a tiny cut. Strange. I didn’t remember them hurting me there.
I pulled on the fresh clothes Neo had laid out for me. Jeans and a thin sweater.
He was already waiting at the kitchen table. Bread, butter, and honey were laid out. A cup of tea steaming. I sat and spread honey on a slice of bread. The honey ran sweetly down my throat. With every bite, something in me came back.
"Here.” Neo held out a white pill. "Painkiller. I have plans for you today.”
My mouth fell open. I stared at his hand.
"What?” A dark smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. "Did you think I’d gone tame? I gave you the choice, but you chose to let me destroy you.”
The familiar heat spread between my legs immediately. I didn’t want him tame. I wanted him exactly like this. I took the pill carefully and washed it down with tea. Anticipation burned low in me.
I spread another slice of bread with honey. Then I slowly, thoroughly licked the spoon, watching him the whole time. His pupils dilated. His hands closed into fists. His jaw locked, as if fighting the urge to rip the spoon from my hand and throw me onto the table.
"Little tease,” he growled. His voice had gone rough. "You’re playing with fire.” But he didn’t move. Not yet. He was enjoying watching me provoke him.
I set the spoon down and slipped my finger into my mouth, slowly sucking the honey off, holding his gaze.
"Enough.” He stood. "I know something better you can do with that mouth.”
My breath stopped. The way he looked at me . . . like he was about to consume me whole.
He came around the table like a predator. His gaze didn’t let me go. "Stand up,” he said quietly.
I obeyed. My legs were trembling. He stopped in front of me and his hand moved through my hair. Then his fingers closed around the back of my neck.
"You wanted to play,” he murmured against my ear. "Now we play by my rules.” He opened his pants. "Suck my cock.”
I bit my lip. My panties were already soaking wet. Heart hammering, I sank to my knees. His cock sprang free. It was hard and thick. I looked up at Neo, found his eyes before I touched the tip with my tongue and licked off the precum.
"More,” he breathed. His hand settled in my hair, guiding me. "Take all of it.”
I opened my mouth wider, took him in until my lips met the base of his shaft. His fingers tightened in my hair, held me in place.
"Good girl,” he murmured. The way he said it made me shiver. I wanted to please him. I wanted to belong to him.
"You’re so beautiful,” he whispered. "On your knees in front of me. Exactly where you belong.”
He thrust into my throat. Tears gathered at the corners of my eyes. He was pushing me to my limit, and I didn’t want him to stop. I gripped his ass, moaned around him. The vibration made him shudder.
"Enough.” He pulled me up. "I want to fuck you. Now.”
He kissed me like he was drowning. Like I was air and water at once.
"Neo, wait . . .”
"No.” His eyes burned. "I got a taste. Now I want everything.” His hands tore at my sweater. "You don’t understand,” he gasped against my mouth. "I can’t stop. I don’t want to stop.”
My clothes hit the floor. His hands were everywhere, and my skin burned under his touch.
"Neo, slow down . . .”
"No.” He lifted me, carried me to the sofa.
"I need you. Right now.” He laid me down, his eyes consuming me.
"You’re so beautiful. So perfect. And you’re mine.
” His lips moved down my throat, kissing and biting the sensitive skin until I moaned.
His tongue traced along my collarbone, then lower to my breasts.
He took one nipple into his mouth, sucking hard while his hand squeezed the other.
I arched beneath him, my back lifting off the sofa.