Celestial Guardians: Uniting Dimensions (Celestial Guardians Series, #1)

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Kevin's POV

Darkness.

That was my world when Lyra took me from my body. A suffocating, unyielding void that pressed against every part of me, making it impossible to tell where I began and where I ended. It wasn't just the absence of light—it was the absence of everything: time, space, even my sense of self.

I wasn't sure how long I had been trapped. Minutes? Hours? Days? It felt like an eternity. The walls of the bottle—the prison Lyra had crafted—were invisible but impenetrable. I slammed against them countless times and screamed until my voice was raw, but no one heard me. Not Jamaica. Not Nel. Not Damien.

Not even me.

The worst part wasn't the darkness or the silence. It was the memories. Lyra had made sure I couldn't forget. They played on an endless loop in my mind—every mistake, every failure, every moment I'd fallen short. Her voice whispered through the void, feeding the doubts I had buried long ago.

"You were never strong enough, Kevin. That's why your mother died. That's why your father abandoned you. You couldn't even protect the people you cared about. Do you think you deserve to be a guardian?"

I clenched my fists, but there was nothing to strike or fight against—just the relentless whisper of her voice, wrapping around me like chains.

But then, amidst the despair, a faint light flickered.

It was small, barely more than a pinprick in the void, but it was there. Warm and steady. I moved toward it instinctively, though it felt like wading through thick mud. Every step was a battle, every inch a victory.

The light grew brighter as I approached, and I realized it wasn't just a light. It was a memory.

Jamaica's loud and unapologetic laugh echoed through the school halls. Nel smirked as he cracked a joke he only found funny. Damien's quiet determination is how he always seems to carry the world's weight without complaint.

They were my friends, my family, the people who believed in me even when I didn't believe in myself.

"You're stronger than this, Kevin."

The voice wasn't Lyra's. It was Jamaica's, clear and resolute, cutting through the darkness like a blade.

"You're one of us. A guardian. And we don't give up."

I felt something stir within me—something I hadn't felt in what seemed like forever. Hope. It wasn't much, but it was enough. Enough to fight back against the darkness, to push against the walls of my prison with everything I had.

"Lyra!" I shouted, my voice echoing in the void. "You won't win. Not like this."

The walls of the bottle trembled, and a faint crack appeared on the surface. I felt her presence, cold and angry, pressing down on me.

"You think you can escape me, boy?" Her voice was like ice, but it didn't shake me this time.

I planted my feet firmly, drawing on every ounce of strength I had left. "I'm not just a guardian. I'm Kevin. And I'm taking my life back."

The crack widened, light pouring in as the bottle walls began to splinter. Lyra's screams filled the void, but I didn't stop. I couldn't stop. For Jamaica. For Nel. For all of us.

The light engulfed me, warm and blinding, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt... free.

Freedom felt strange, like waking from a deep sleep only to realize the nightmare wasn't over. I wasn't sure how to break free, but I wouldn't waste a second questioning it.

The light that had shattered my prison now carried me, pulling me toward the chaos below. Through the haze of dark energy and violence, I could see my body—my body—twisting and thrashing like a marionette in the hands of a cruel puppeteer.

And there they were. Jamaica, her face etched with a mix of determination and heartbreak, and Nel, fire burning in his eyes as he blocked blow after blow, holding nothing back. Every strike from my body sent waves of guilt crashing over me.

It wasn't me, but it was me.

I reached the edge of the battle and felt a strange pull, like gravity tethering me to the chaos. My body moved unnaturally, striking out at Jamaica. She dodged, but just barely. Nel lunged, his blade glowing with power as he aimed for my chest.

"No!" I shouted, though my voice was drowned out by the clash of blades and the roar of dark spirits.

I had no plan, just instinct. Diving forward, I thrust myself into the mass of shadows and pain that surrounded my body. The sensation was like plunging into ice water—jarring, disorienting, and suffocating.

I was lost again for a moment and trapped in the storm of dark spirits that swirled inside me. They clawed and snarled, refusing to let go, but I pushed back with everything I had.

"This is my body," I growled, resonating through the void. "Mine. You don't belong here."

One by one, the spirits faltered, their hold loosening as I fought to reclaim what was mine. It wasn't easy. Each step felt like dragging a mountain behind me, but I didn't stop. I couldn't.

With a final surge of will, I forced the last of them out.

The moment I opened my eyes, I was met with the sight of Nel's blade, inches from my throat.

"Wait!" I gasped, throwing up my hands. "It's me!"

Nel hesitated, his blade trembling as he stared into my eyes. I saw the doubt, the fear, but also the hope.

"Kevin?" Jamaica's voice was soft and cautious as if saying my name too loudly would shatter the fragile moment.

"It's me," I said again, lowering my hands. "I'm back. I swear."

Nel stepped back, his blade dropping to his side. "How do we know?" he asked, his voice sharp, but I could hear the crack of vulnerability beneath it.

I turned to Jamaica, meeting her gaze head-on. "Because you've always known me better than I know myself. You'd see through me if I was lying."

Her eyes searched mine, and I thought she wouldn't believe me. Then, slowly, she nodded. "It's him."

Relief washed over me, but it was short-lived. A shadow loomed behind me, and I spun just in time to see one of the Destroyer's men lunging toward me, blade raised.

I barely had time to react, but Nel was faster. He stepped between us, his blade clashing against the attackers with a force that sent sparks flying.

"Stay down," Nel barked, glancing at me over his shoulder.

I grabbed a fallen weapon and joined him, the weight of it unfamiliar but grounding. "Not a chance," I said.

We stood side by side together as more of the Destroyer's forces closed in. I didn't know how this battle would end, but I wasn't afraid.

I wasn't alone.

End of Chapter Twenty-Nine