Beauty and the Unconquered Beast

Chapter 5 The Man in the Alley

The Man in the Alley

The street had finally begun to quiet down. The ambulance had taken the injured driver away, Police officers were collecting statements from witnesses. The restaurant had closed its front entrance because of the broken glass.

Vireya stood beside the sidewalk, staring at the wrecked sedan. Something about the crash bothered her also Serena Vale had said the same thing.

‘It wasn't an accident.’

Vireya looked at Evren. He was standing several feet away, speaking with one of the officers as his expression hadn't changed since the crash. Calm, almost indifferent.

She still couldn't understand him. Most people would have been shaken after nearly being hit by a car. Evren looked as if someone had simply interrupted his lunch.

When he finished speaking, he walked toward her. “Are you ready?”

Vireya looked at him. “Ready for what?”

“To leave.”

She frowned. “You're not even going to ask what happened?”

“I know what happened.”

“No. I mean the crash.”

Evren looked toward the wreck. “Someone tried to hit you.”

Vireya's expression hardened. “You think so too?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“The driver didn't brake.”

Serena, who had been standing nearby, turned when she heard that. “Exactly.”

Evren glanced at her.

Serena walked toward them. “I checked the preliminary evidence. The brakes appear to have been functioning.”

Vireya frowned. “So he didn't lose control.”

“No.” Serena looked at the damaged road. “He accelerated.”

A chill ran through Vireya. “Someone wanted me dead?”

“I'm not saying that yet.” Serena looked directly at her.

“But someone wanted to scare you. Maybe hurt you.” Evren said nothing.

Serena noticed. “You don't seem surprised.”

“I've been around dangerous people.”

“That doesn't answer my question.”

“It wasn't a question.”

Serena stared at him. “Do you ever give a straight answer?”

“When necessary.”

She sighed. “I already don't like you.”

Evren nodded. “That's fine.”

Serena looked at Vireya. “You're really going to marry this guy?”

Vireya opened her mouth then closed it. “I don't know yet.”

Serena looked at Evren. “Good luck.”

Evren didn't react.

Vireya smiled helplessly.

“You really don't like him.”

“I don't like people who act like they're above everyone.”

“He doesn't act like that.”

Serena glanced at Evren. “He barely acts like he exists.”

Vireya laughed.

Evren looked at both women. “Are you finished?”

Serena rolled her eyes. “See?”

Vireya smiled again. For a moment, the tension disappeared.

Then Evren's eyes moved toward the alley across the street his expression changed, barely.

But Serena noticed. “What?”

Evren didn't answer. He was staring at a dark figure standing between two buildings. A man, long black coat, black gloves. His face was partially hidden beneath the shadow of a hood. He wasn't looking at the police, he wasn't looking at the damaged car, he was looking directly at Evren. Their eyes met, the stranger smiled. Then he disappeared into the alley.

Evren immediately started walking.

“Evren?”

He didn't stop.

Vireya watched him disappear around the corner.

Serena frowned. “What was that?”

“I don't know.”

“You're lying.”

Vireya looked at her. “How do you know?”

“Because he looked like he recognized someone.”

The alley was empty. Evren stood beneath a flickering streetlight he looked around and see nothing, no footsteps, no movement. But there was a cigarette still burning on the ground fresh Evren crouched, he picked it up s familiar brand and he remembered it.

Blackhaven.

His eyes hardened, someone from his past was here or someone who knew about it.

He stood.

A voice came from behind him. “You really did come back.”

Evren turned but see nothing.

The voice came from somewhere farther down the alley. “You look different, Evren.”

Evren said nothing.

The stranger stepped out from the shadows a man older than Evren perhaps in his forties. A scar crossed one side of his face.

He smiled. “I heard the stories.”

Evren's eyes remained cold. “What stories?”

The man's smile widened. “Blackhaven.”

Evren didn't move.

“You survived five years in that place.”

The man stepped closer.

“They said you were a nobody when you went in.”

He laughed quietly.

“An illegitimate Valcero son.”

Evren's jaw tightened.

“But you didn't stay a nobody.”

The stranger looked almost amused.

“They gave you a name.”

Evren's eyes narrowed.

The man whispered it. “The Beast.”

Silence. For the first time since returning home, Evren felt something he hadn't felt in years not fear but recognition someone knew.

The stranger continued. “Do you know how many people inside Blackhaven still talk about you?”

Evren stepped forward. “Who sent you?”

The man's smile disappeared. “Still direct.”

“Who?”

“You haven't changed.”

Evren grabbed the man's collar as he slammed him against the wall with a loud thid and a crack formed. “Answer me.”

The stranger didn't fight back as he cough blood. Instead, he laughed. “You really are the Beast.”

Evren released him. “Last chance.”

The man straightened his coat. “Tell your grandfather that some people haven't forgotten what happened.”

Evren's eyes hardened. “What happened?”

The stranger stepped backward. “You'll find out.”

He turned, Evren caught his wrist.

The stranger suddenly smiled. “Careful.”

Evren looked at him. “There are people watching.”

Evren released him as the stranger walked away. Before disappearing into the darkness, he looked back. “The Beast was supposed to stay buried in Blackhaven.”

Then he vanished.

Across the street, Serena Vale stood beside her police vehicle. She had followed Evren, she hadn't heard the conversation. But she had seen enough a stranger had met him.

They had argued and Evren had grabbed him.

Serena immediately reached for her radio. “Unit Seven, check the alley behind the restaurant.”

Static, then a response. “Copy.”

She looked toward the alley a few seconds later, another officer appeared.

“Nothing here.”

Serena frowned. “Are you sure?”

“Empty.”

She looked at Evren, he was already walking back toward Vireya. Calm again as if nothing had happened. Serena narrowed her eyes there was something wrong with him she just didn't know what it is.

Vireya was waiting beside the car. “You disappeared.”

“I needed to check something.”

“What?”

“Nothing important.”

She stared at him. “You're a terrible liar.”

Evren opened the passenger door for her. “Get in.”

Vireya didn't move. “What happened in the alley?”

“Nothing.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

“Yes.”

She stared at him. “You're impossible.”

“So, I've been told.”

She finally got into the car.

Evren closed the door. Before entering the driver's side, he looked across the street.

Serena was watching him.

Their eyes met.

Serena didn't look away.

Neither did Evren.

She was suspicious.

He could tell.

She would investigate and that was her job.

And for some reason, Evren didn't mind maybe because he knew she wouldn't stop, maybe because, unlike most people, she wasn't afraid to look closer.

Serena crossed her arms.

Evren finally looked away.

As the car drove off, Serena watched the taillights disappear as she opened her notebook. Under the incident report, she wrote one name.

EVREN VALCERO.

Then beneath it: Find out who he really is.

Three hours later, in an underground bar on the other side of the city, the man from the alley entered a private room.

Someone was already waiting.

“You saw him?”

The man nodded. “The Beast.”

“And?”

“He's alive.”

The person sitting in the darkness remained silent.

“Does he remember?”

The man smiled. “Maybe.”

“Then we have a problem.”

“No.”

He sat down. “We have an opportunity.”

A glass was placed on the table as the stranger picked it up. “Five years ago, the Beast disappeared.”

He looked toward the dark window. “Tonight, he returned.”

A pause…. “And this time, he's not alone.”

The photograph of Vireya Montclair was placed on the table beside it was another photograph. Evren Valcero.

The stranger smiled. “The marriage changes everything.”