Era of Ezri

Who the hell are you?

The rest of the day felt like a drag as Haku spent hours pacing the pebble border separating the eternal fire from The Cult, trying to make sense of the information Jun had given him earlier, however, it appeared he wasn't having any luck.

And I watched Offrost's commander for the first time lose some semblance of calm and control, his demeanour had changed completely as he ran his fingers through his hair repeatedly, disturbing the cool waves. He looked unsettled by the revelation that although I was going to somehow 'save the people', I was also going to destroy everything he was.

I wasn't surprised at his concern.

I was sitting atop a small boulder nearby, watching him think for what felt like forever until eventually, darkness crept up on us and all the cult members had gone to their beds.

"Haku," I said, finally breaking the silence of the night whilst the fire crackled.

Haku didn't even raise his head to acknowledge me, ignoring me as though I was a leaf in the breeze.

"Aren't you tired?" I asked a bit louder, but still received no response.

I watched as he stared into the flames, like the intensity of the light wasn't burning his corneas, if he was simply a Collector, he could never. There was something about Haku that wasn't adding up, the ways he was almost faster and stronger than me were suspicious and I couldn't forget the time he'd managed to deflect my powers.

I decided a more direct approach was needed.

I climbed down from the rock with slow and steady movements, ensuring not to startle The Commander. It didn't take me long to cover the ten feet between us and in seconds I stood before his now frozen frame.

He was like a statue made from marble, unblinking and unmoving, if I didn't know any better I would've assumed he was dead.

"Hak-"

In the blink of an eye, his hand was around my neck.

"If you think we won't kill you Ezri, you're mistaken," Haku spat as he pushed me backwards until I was leaning over the same boulder I'd previously sat on.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I gasped as I grabbed his hand.

"All it would take is one twist to snap your fragile little neck." Haku hissed, his hand twitching like he was barely holding himself back.

I squinted in the darkness and noticed something worth noting, the man in front of me was different from the Commander.

This man seemed rabid, depraved and fueled by a thirst for blood that made him seem hardly human at all, like a monster lurking in the darkness. There was this lifelessness to his eyes, like a doll trapped in a glass cabinet.

"Who are you?" I asked, "You're not Haku."

Things were beginning to make sense, Haku wasn't the one to choke me or throw me across the room, he was bitter and rude-yes, but violent and aggressive-not so much.

"I'm not,"

"So, who are you?"

"A shadow,"

"What does that mean, you possessed Haku?"

"No... I've always been here. Me and Haku are one in the same yet different."

"Are you like some... hallucination?"

"No," The shadow growled, his hand tightening around my throat. "I have proved to the Commander time and time again that I am more than some delusion."

I wheezed as it became harder to breathe.

"I'm sorry, I meant- so you're another... like another... personality," I said as I struggled for breath.

Finally satisfied, Haku's other personality nodded, loosening his grip.

"How many of you are there?" I asked.

"Just me," The Shadow replied as he ran his fingertips up and down the length of my neck.

"Tell us Ezri, were you sent here to infiltrate our ranks? Did Blaze place you in the forest in hopes we would capture you and bring you and your little friend to Offrost? Is that how my end has begun? I told Haku we should've killed you in the hospital, you would only cause us more problems, more pain and look... I was right."

The shadow pushed me back hard against the smooth stone, so much so I may as well have been lying on my back. Haku's second personality wore a sly yet menacing expression like he wanted to torture or crush me but, something was holding him back- some hesitation.

If only I could put my finger on it and press the right button. He was already suspicious of me, paranoid and hungry as a wolf but, I just had to figure out what it was that had kept him from killing me.

Maybe it was Haku trying his best to restrain his other half or maybe The Shadow suspected I knew something that could turn the tide of the war between Offrost and Gloria Bridge? He could be waiting, hoping I'd reveal the golden piece of information that would finally bring the win he and Haku were desperate for.

But, the Shadow seemed too impatient and too arrogant to play the long game, if he saw something he wanted, he'd take it.

Or, it could be Haku's brother, muttering August's name that time had saved my life. There was always the possibility he suspected I could wake him but, I'm not sure I could do so. This card was a dangerous one to play, their brother's life was extremely precious and if I were to use August to escape this predicament, I'd better have some idea how to bring him out of his coma, which in this case, I had none.

There had to be something else, something that was smiling in my face but I had yet to truly acknowledge it.

What did I already know about the Commander? He wanted the Mirrors, he hated Blaze and wanted to avenge his family.

And?

He was cold, closed off and seemed to separate himself from his people like he placed himself above them.

And... he's always alone.

Maybe, just maybe, the Shadow is tired of being alone and needs a new toy to play with.

Betting my life on this one idea, this one shred of hope, I spoke.

"Let's play a game," I said. 

Author's note

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, it's been 9 days since the last update so, just over a week which is an improvement. I'm aiming for one chapter a week, anyway, happy reading. 

Also, please don't forget to vote and/ or leave a comment, your support is loved and appreciated 💜🌸.

-Y