Viktor

The helicopter descended and landed gently on the floor of an abandoned factory site. The group got out stiffly and packed up their equipment. They had left the thunderstorm behind, because the sky here was clear with stars.

Aurelia ran alongside Pareios as they left the fence behind them and headed for the adjacent wooded area. Their footsteps were the only sounds in the dark and after about five minutes' walk they reached the spot. Aiden, who had gone ahead, kicked the underside of an angular, dark rock. A trapdoor opened beneath the man-high rock, revealing the otherwise hidden staircase that led down to the bunker.

Aurelia was pushed to the entrance by Viktor, but she broke free. "I should move a little more ..."

He looked at her carefully, but understood immediately. He had known her long enough to know her habits inside out. Most of the time, the mind and body were so excited after a fight that she urgently needed the exercise so that all the stress hormones were broken down. With the exhaustion came the mental calm.

Aurelia's gift was like a drug. An intoxication that seized them and pulled them further and further into its vortex. Once she started it was hard to get out of. The more she used intuition, the stronger it became, the more Aurelia became gripped by it. If she didn't get out in time, she lost touch with the present, lost herself in the thousands of future versions and couldn't find her way back to herself.

The exercise also helped break down this particular drug.

"I feel uncomfortable letting you go alone," objected Viktor, but Pareios thrust his equipment into his hand. He only kept the handgun.

"I accompany her. You left last time and your wife is probably waiting for you too. ”He stretched himself extensively and then turned to Aurelia. "But please do me a favor and let me get into my bed before sunrise, okay?" His tone was reproachful, but he grinned cheekily and Aurelia thought she couldn't see the slightest trace of regret in his eyes. He was a hunter through and through.

His words were not meant as a question, so she didn't answer, but instead handed Viktor her things as well.

Then she spun around and started walking.

Since Pareios wanted to be here again soon, she accelerated and after a few meters fell into a sprint. Of course he followed without any problems and so they ran side by side through the dark forest. Aurelia had to avoid the trees and roots, which required all her concentration and prevented her from any further considerations for the time being.

The cool wind whistled in her face, making her hair flutter. It was like a cleansing shower for the mind. With every springy step on the soft ground it became clearer and she could now hear the sounds of the forest and those of Pareios more clearly. Now she felt just like herself again and gave in to her nature. Running, heard the constant pounding in her chest. The clarity that set in was a relief. As if after a day at a construction site full of noise you were finally sitting at a quiet, crystal mountain lake in the evening.

Mental cleansing made her aware of other things. Again she could feel this special aura of Pareios. The passion in each of his movements, how he ran smoothly and powerfully next to her.

All of this was familiar to her in a noncommittal way, but at that moment it was suddenly irritatingly alien. She was more than aware of his presence, she didn't care anymore.

The warmth that his body gave off to the surroundings was reflected on her skin. As if his aura would capture her, his heat and mood carried over to her. At first it was just a spark, but then the delicate glow grew to an incessant glow. A feeling of liveliness, completely different and much more intense than she usually felt when running, captured her heart and made it beat faster. Spellbound and confused by Pareios' effects, she became aware of who this gift was from.

From this guy, of all people.

Not even Viktor, her best friend, had had the power to lift her deafness over the years.

Excited by this feeling, she increased the speed and smiled inwardly. He would understand her invitation and accept the challenge. That was the language they both understood. Something they had in common.

As suspected, she had awakened his ambition and his breathing was now faster. But he stayed by her side effortlessly, even overtook her.

Aurelia made a pleased sound and flew only half a stride behind him. Even surprised by this outbreak of joy, she registered that he too had become pricked up and noticed the change in mood. Damn crap!

"Well wait!" She gasped out between her teeth. Then she bumped into Pareios, causing him to avoid a tree and lose his lead. While she was grinning, he swore to himself and called to her: "How was that saying?"

He was running so close to her now that her arms brushed against each other. It literally burned where her skin rubbed against his. A tingling sensation conquered her body from there. She was now completely enveloped by his aura and almost felt connected to him.

"There are two situations in life where everything is allowed, in which there are no rules," he gasped, smiling broadly at her from the side.

Suddenly he threw himself at her.

Aurelia was completely perplexed. How could he outsmart her like that? That had never happened to her before. Was she so distracted? And if so, from him?

The escape reflex sprouted in her as soon as they rolled down a slope together and landed in a heap of leaves.

Pareios was on top of her with his entire weight and although she tried with all her might to free herself, she was still pushed to the ground. In the dim light of the moon, which fell only sparsely through the leaves, she could see his eyes flashing with delight. In the liquid gray that Viktor also possessed, she discovered golden speckles that gave his gaze incredible intensity. It looked like a glittering swarm of fireflies in a gray-gold summer twilight.