Subdue-X

Shadow With A Name

I woke up on the floor soaked in sweat, as if I had just jumped out of the shower. My hair clung to the side of my face, sticky and damp, while my muscles throbbed, rigid and tender. My knees felt locked in place, every attempt to move them causing a stabbing ache. Blinking through the haze in my eyes, I pushed myself to sit up, my breaths shallow, chest heaving with the strain of it all.

When I stood, a wave of dizziness hit me hard, forcing me to grip the wall outside the bathroom. The cold plaster under my palms did little to steady my spinning head. Sweat dripped from my hairline, and the burn in my lungs intensified with each ragged breath.

The door creaked open suddenly, and I jerked in alarm, spinning around too fast, my vision blurring as Christian stepped inside.

He scanned me with those bloodshot eyes, the dark circles underneath standing out against his pale skin. "You don't look well."

I managed a dry, rasping laugh, though it felt like sandpaper scraping my throat. "You either."

His lips twisted in a thin smile, but it was hollow, almost bitter. "Looks like you've lost a marathon."

I shook my head slowly, swallowing down the dryness in my throat. "I just got too warm," I croaked, trying to keep my breathing steady, though it felt like my heart was trying to punch its way out of my chest.

Christian nodded sharply, though I could tell he didn't believe me. His movements were tired and stiff as he crossed the room, pulling open the thick curtains. Light flooded in, slicing through the darkness like a blade. My eyes stung instantly, a sharp pain behind them forcing me to duck into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me.

The darkness in here was comforting, soothing in a way the light could never be. I leaned back against the cool tiles, letting my head rest for a moment.

Christian's voice reached me through the door, softer now. "Ana?"

"I'm just going to take a shower."

I stumbled to the shower, turning the water on hot, hoping the heat would melt away the tightness in my skin. But as the water cascaded over me, scalding, it did nothing to ease the discomfort. I felt like my nerves were on fire, every drop of water a pinprick, a reminder of the chaos beneath my skin. Desperate, I flipped the water to cold, gasping as the icy stream hit me, but it did nothing either.

My mind raced, threatening to spiral out of control. Images flickered at the edges of my vision, shadows moving, creeping. That shadow. It had taken everything last night. I pressed my hands to the wall, squeezing my eyes shut, fighting the panic rising in my throat.

Get it together, Ana. You're still here.

I shut the water off and stepped out, wrapping a towel around myself. As I exited the bathroom, the sunlight hit me again, harsh and blinding. Christian was sitting on the bed, his hands folded tightly, knuckles white. His eyes flicked up to meet mine, and for a brief moment, I saw the relief in them.

"Refreshed?" he asked, though there was a weight in his voice that undercut the casualness of the question.

I shrugged, my voice a murmur. "From what exactly?"

He raised an eyebrow, leaning back slightly. "The sweat?"

"It wasn't particularly distressing," I mumbled, finding some clothes in the dresser-parachute pants with a messy design and a white shirt. I was trying to focus on anything but the gnawing unease in the back of my mind. "Breakfast?"

"More like a late lunch," he muttered, glancing at the clock. I followed his gaze. 3 p.m. I rubbed at my forehead, feeling the itch of irritation settling into my skin.