𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬, 𝐛𝐧𝐡𝐚 𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬

[39]

Two of hearts

39

___

Sora paced restlessly around the dimly lit apartment, her mind a tempest of conflicting emotions. The weight of her decisions pressed heavily on her shoulders, manifesting in a dishevelled appearance that contradicted her usual polished demeanour. The well-respected hero's trial loomed, an obligation she had abandoned without a second thought. Guilt gnawed at her conscience, but she couldn't fathom stepping into a courtroom while the chaos of her personal life enveloped her.

Clad in a worn robe and slippers, Sora bit at her fingernails, a nervous habit she rarely succumbed to. Her usually impeccable hair was tangled, and the absence of makeup revealed the extent of the internal turmoil she grappled with. If anyone were present to witness the disarray, it would be an unsettling sight — a stark departure from the composed and collected Sora the world knew.

The emptiness of the apartment amplified the weight of her decisions, the silence echoing her internal conflict. Guilt clung to her like a heavy shroud as she replayed the events that led to her daughter's expulsion from their home. Matteo's whereabouts remained unknown, adding another layer of uncertainty to her already tumultuous existence.

Sora's thoughts swirled with a maelstrom of emotions, and in the quiet solitude, she faced the consequences of her actions. Regret coursed through her veins as she realized the gravity of kicking Y/n out, especially in the wake of the traumatic events that had unfolded. Yet, the resentment lingered, an unwelcome companion in her guilt-ridden conscience. If only Y/n had heeded her warnings, perhaps they could have lived a semblance of a normal life.

The weight of Sora's decisions hung heavy in the air, a suffocating reminder of a family on the brink of collapse. The ticking of the clock seemed to measure the passing moments, each one carrying the burden of choices that couldn't be undone.

Sora's senses were abruptly assaulted by the acrid scent of burning, and her eyes widened in alarm. She sniffed the air, a faint whiff of smoke guiding her through the apartment's dimly lit space. The realization hit her, and she hurriedly followed the ominous trail, her heartbeat quickening with each step.

As she reached Y/n's room, her eyes widened in disbelief at the sight that unfolded before her. Thick smoke billowed from the open doorway, and the acrid fumes stung her eyes and throat. Sora coughed, waving her hands to disperse the smoke, only to be met with an unsettling revelation.

Y/n's bedroom curtains were consumed by an angry blaze, the flames dancing with an intensity that sent shivers down Sora's spine. The fire seemed to possess a malevolence of its own, defying the conventional laws of extinguishment. Panic surged within her as she grappled with the alarming reality.

Summoning water from her palms, Sora aimed to quench the fiery rebellion. However, to her shock, the flames defied her efforts, seemingly dodging the water streams she directed toward them. Her disbelief deepened as she attempted to douse the flames, only to witness the fire evading the very water meant to extinguish it.

"No... This can't be happening," she murmured, a knot of fear tightening in her chest. The flames danced and flickered, moving with an uncanny agility that defied logic. Panic seized her as the fire crept dangerously close to her feet, seemingly taunting her with its elusive dance.

In a desperate attempt to regain control, Sora shot her hands into the air, summoning a torrential downpour that cascaded from the ceiling. The water forcefully met the flames, extinguishing the stubborn fire that had proven immune to her previous attempts.