~ Bk 1:Mysteries of the Dark Hearts: 𝑀𝑎𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜 𝑅𝑖𝑑𝑑𝑙𝑒 ~

♧◇..Victory & Valor..◇♧-18

Mattheo's POV:

My vision starts to clear as I jolt up breathing heavily, I look around the room, Petra and Victor passed out. Saya know where to be found as the doors are wide open. I look over my shoulder only to find Blackwood passed out beside me,her head hung low as her hair slightly covered her face.

3rd Person Pov:

Mattheo slowly regains consciousness, his head pounding as he blinks his eyes open. He looks around, taking in the scene of the room in disarray and Saya missing. Panic floods his body as he tries to hide it, trying to relax with a cold look on his face,not trying to look weak instead being emotionless.

As he tries his hardest to push down the feeling as he takes a breath.

His gaze lands on Raven, passed out beside him, her dark hair cascading over her shoulder. In the dim light of the room, she looks almost ethereal, a fierce etched on her features even in slumber.

For a moment, Mattheo is struck by a sense of awe as he watches her, his usual snark and competitiveness momentarily forgotten. He can't help but admire her strength and resilience, the way she carries herself with a cool confidence that is both intimidating and captivating.

But as quickly as the moment of admiration washes over him, Mattheo snaps out of it, remembering the urgency of the situation. He shakes Raven awake, his voice urgent as he tries to shake Raven conscious.

"Blackwood, get up Saya's gone, we need to find her," he says through gritted teeth, his tone laced with concern, but his gaze stern and cold.

Raven slowly blinks her eyes open, the faint light filtering through the window casting a soft glow in the room. As she focuses, she sees Marcus hovering over her, his expression a mix of worry and concern. A frown creases her brow as she takes in his glossy eyes, a stark contrast to his usually confident and composed demeanor.

She meets his gaze, her own eyes narrowing in suspicion as she tries to decipher the emotions flickering in his gaze. 'ʜᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋs ᴀᴡғᴜʟ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴀᴛ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ᴅᴏᴇs' she thought to herself.

A vulnerability that she's not used to seeing. The concern etched in his features catches her off guard, a stark reminder of the gravity of the situation they find themselves in.

Despite her own reservations and the lingering glare on her face, Raven can't ignore the slight shift in her perception of Mattheo.The hardened walls around her heart begin to crack ever so slightly as she sees a glimpse of the depth of his feelings, his worry for their missing friend mirroring her own.

In that fleeting moment of connection, Raven's gaze softens imperceptibly, a flicker of understanding passing between them. It's a silent acknowledgment of the unspoken bond that ties them together in the face of danger and uncertainty.

Mattheo rolls his eyes as he remains cold a glimpse of that moment of admiration still lingering in his mind as they set off to search for Saya. In the chaos and uncertainty of the situation, he can't help but feel a new sense of respect for Raven, a recognition of the strength and determination that lies beneath her tough exterior.

As they prepare to face the challenges that await them, Raven can't help but wonder what lies beneath the surface of Marcus's guarded exterior. And for the first time, she finds herself intrigued by the vulnerability she sees in his eyes, a glimmer of something that sparks a newfound curiosity and a sense of shared purpose between them.

Her gaze is sharp and focused, a flicker of surprise crossing her features at the genuine worry in his voice.

Without missing a beat, she pushes herself up, her expression shifting back to her usual guarded demeanor. "C'mon then?" Raven says motioning quickly for Mattheo to come join her, her voice cool and composed as sly smile prints her lips,prepared to face whatever danger lies ahead.