Timeless Decisions

Memories

Red and Chloe rushed through the boys' dorms, their desperation evident as they knocked on door after door. "Sorry," Chloe muttered to the bewildered boys who answered, hastily shutting each door again. They were running out of options and growing more frantic with every second.

Red swung open yet another door, prepared to move on, when a familiar, mocking voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Not even going to acknowledge me, Red?" Zevon's voice oozed with sarcasm as he looked up from his potion work, a smirk playing on his lips. His eyes gleamed with a cruel amusement, enjoying the moment.

Red paused, her hand still on the doorknob, confusion washing over her. "What do you mean?" she asked, uncertainty creeping into her voice.

Zevon rolled his eyes dramatically, leaning back in his chair with an exaggerated sigh. "Are you dumb, or just faking it?" he sneered, his tone dripping with condescension. "I'm Morgian's best friend. You know, Morgian? Your other half? Or have you forgotten about him already, just like you've conveniently forgotten everything else?"

Red's face twisted in confusion, her mind struggling to catch up. "Eh, sure..." she said weakly, not fully comprehending his words. But something about his tone, that sharp edge of derision, stirred something deep within her, something painful.

Zevon's smirk widened as he saw her hesitation. "Oh, don't tell me you're playing the clueless card now," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Typical. You can't even remember Morgian, but you're dragging poor Chloe around like she's your emotional support puppy. It's pathetic."

Chloe shot him a glare, her hand still gripping Red's arm protectively. "Back off, Zevon. You've always had a way of making everything worse," she snapped, her voice edged with anger.

Zevon's eyes narrowed, his expression turning colder. "Oh, look who's talking. Miss Perfect Chloe, always sticking her nose where it doesn't belong. You think you're so much better than the rest of us, don't you? Always meddling, always judging. No wonder Red's so messed up—she's been hanging around with you."

"Zevon, enough!" Chloe fired back, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear. But before she could say more, Red let out a pained gasp, clutching her head as sharp, stabbing pain shot through her skull.

Images began flashing violently in her mind—Morgian's smirk, their first meeting, the laughter they shared with Elina and Maddox. Memories that seemed so real, yet so distant, like a life she could barely remember.

"Red?" Chloe's voice wavered, panic rising as she shook Red gently. "Red, please, stay with me!"

But Red could only grunt in pain, the memories tearing through her mind like shards of glass. The world spun, and she felt as if she was losing herself, drowning in a sea of forgotten moments.

Zevon watched with a twisted grin, his eyes gleaming with a sadistic pleasure. "Looks like the past is catching up with you, Red," he drawled, crossing his arms as he leaned against the doorframe. "Maybe it's time you faced it instead of running away. But then again, running away is what you're best at, isn't it?"

Chloe glared at him with pure hatred. "You're sick, Zevon," she spat. "How can you stand there and enjoy this?"

Zevon's smirk didn't waver. "Oh, please. Spare me the lecture. You're just mad because you can't fix this with your goody-two-shoes act. Face it, Chloe, you're as useless as she is."

Chloe's grip on Red tightened, her heart pounding with fear and fury. But before she could respond, Red's knees buckled, and she collapsed to the floor, overwhelmed by the onslaught of memories.

"RED!" Chloe cried, dropping down beside her, trying to pull her back to reality.

Zevon watched them both, his expression a mix of satisfaction and contempt. "Good luck with that," he said, his voice cold as ice. "You're going to need it."