Bad Dreams | Newt x Reader (Being Edited)

Chapter 82-Secrets Revealed

Warnings: Grief, angst, arguing, mentions of dead bodies, murder, decapitation.

100 days after his death

After waking up and crying myself sick, I had a hot shower and went back to bed. Memories of Nik flicked through my broken mind, hovering over the best fragments.

Someone knocked on the door and opened it, but I ignored them. The bed dipped as they sat down beside me. I knew who it was before he even placed a hand on my back. I let out a long sigh, trying to distract myself with the feeling of his touch. Élliot went to speak but someone else knocked and opened the door. Some Corrupt I didn't know.

"There's someone at the gate asking for you," the boy said.

Élliot sighed. "I'll be back," he promised me and left.

Leo barged in several minutes later without knocking. The raw panic ravaging his face was enough for me to be up and out of bed in an instant.

"What is it?" I asked, grabbing my clothes.

"It's the Phoenix," he said out of breath, "She's here."

Less than a minute of hurried changing later—which Leo had quickly spun around to give me privacy—I was sprinting down the hallway with Leo in tow. With my ability, I brought the elevator hurtling up its shaft and stopping at the right floor. The doors slid open and we both got it. I pressed the ground floor button but then decided to use my abilities to speed up the process. Leo nearly fell as the elevator dropped faster. I caught his arm, steadying as the elevator came to an abrupt stop.

The doors opened immediately and I was out and running within the second. My heart pounded, sick with fear of what might have happened to Élliot. I wasn't going to lose someone else. A voice echoed down the hallway and I slowed, quietening my footsteps.

"I know she's here!" Coralie snapped.

I summoned illusions, hiding myself from sight just before we entered the throne room. Leo sucked in a breath at the sight of her glaring up at Élliot, who was draped across his throne as if this was any ordinary day.

"Go to Bella and Kei," I whispered, catching sight of our friends standing against the wall.

Kei's sharp eyes were fixed on the Phoenix, his fingers flexing. He barely acknowledged Leo when he made it to them. Their combined abilities were important here.

"I already told you, she left last night," Élliot drawled, running his hand through his black hair. "I am not her jailer."

Coralie shifted, folding her arms across her blue shirt. Around her waist was a belt holding a holster at her hip with an unnecessary gun. The pocket of her black cargo pants bulged slightly, holding something within. She radiated heat, her ability feeding off her anger.

"I know she is here." Coralie moved closer to him with a decisive step. "You know why?"

In the corner of my eye, I saw Kei jerk forward, ready to protect his friend. Leo gripped his arm.

"Why?" Élliot asked.

"Because there haven't been any attacks. The Wraith is here and in your tower."

Élliot exhaled, his head tilting back as he laughed quietly. "The Wraith isn't real."

"Even if they were, we would know if they were in the tower," Bella added, shooting a glance at the throne.

"I saw who she was in her mind," Coralie argued, taking another damming step closer to Élliot. "And Wicked has been covering them up for years!"

"Then why are you here contradicting that?" Élliot demanded, sitting up to stare down at her.