Gnosis

CHAPTER 7: THE DAY THAT WAS I

Word Count: 4,780

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Electricity crackled ominously, drawing all eyes upward as a blinding blue light burst above the counter. The sound of static filled the room, starting as a faint hum but quickly intensifying into a loud, grating noise that reverberated from the ceiling. Glasses on the shelves rattled, and the wooden beams creaked under the pressure of the unseen force.

The blue light expanded, swallowing the air above the counter in a dazzling, electric embrace. The room seemed to hold its breath as the light reached its zenith, and with a deafening crack, Five and (Y/n) were hurled out of it. They tumbled onto the bar counter, their bodies colliding with a heavy thud that sent shockwaves through the room.

Five held (Y/n) tightly in his arms, his grip protective even as they landed with jarring force. His usually composed expression was twisted in pain, his teeth clenched. (Y/n) clung to the briefcase wedged between them, her knuckles white from the strain. The both of them were groaning in pain..

(Y/n) rolled off Five, trying to regain her bearings. Her vision swam, the room spinning as she sat up. The briefcase slipped from her grasp, landing with a dull thud beside her. She blinked rapidly, trying to focus on her surroundings as the static in her ears gradually faded.

"Je—Jesus!" Allison's voice pierced the stunned silence, her eyes wide with shock as she took in the sight of the two sprawled across the bar.

"You guys, am I still high, or do you see them too?" Klaus asked, his eyes wide with confusion.

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March 28, 2019

                         - The Umbrella Academy

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"Five, (Y/n), where have you two been?" Luther's voice filled the room as he rushed toward the counter. His towering frame loomed over the bar, eyes wide as he took in the disheveled appearances of his brother.

Five barely managed to roll off the edge of the counter, his body giving out as his legs wobbled beneath him. He would have collapsed to the floor if Allison and Luther hadn't darted forward, catching him by the arms just in time. They both steadied him, helping him stand upright.

Once he was somewhat stable, Five turned and extended a hand toward (Y/n), who was still perched on the bar. She accepted his help, sliding off the counter with a soft groan.

"Are you two all right?" Diego asked. His sharp eyes darted between them, scanning for signs of serious injury.

"Who did this?" Luther asked.

"Irrelevant," Five responded curtly, waving off Luther's question. He snatched the coffee cup from Allison's hand without so much as a glance in her direction. She barely had time to protest, her mouth falling open.

Five grunted slightly as he took a few steps forward, putting some distance between himself and the group. He turned his back to them. Though he was trying to remain composed, (Y/n) caught the subtle grimace on his face, the brief wince of pain. She frowned, a flicker of suspicion crossing her features, but she chose to stay silent for the moment.

"So, the apocalypse is in three days," Five announced, his voice cutting through the din as he slurped his coffee loudly and let out a heavy sigh. "Our only chance to save the world is, well, us."

"The Umbrella Academy," Luther said, nodding slowly, as if trying to reassure himself that they could pull this off.

"Yeah, but with us, obviously," Five clarified, gesturing to himself and (Y/n) as he cast a pointed look around the room. The two of them stood apart from the others, both still catching their breath. (Y/n) had seated herself on a nearby stool, the briefcase now placed on the counter before her.