Expelled Souls

Shadows and whispers

The training yard buzzed with energy, people moving in unison, sparring, practicing, their shouts echoing through the stone-walled hideout. Ivy stood beside Noah, watching as the others trained in combat. Though her gaze was fixed on the fighters, her thoughts wandered elsewhere, swirling with the words she had overheard, the glances that lingered too long when Noah wasn’t by her side.

It was clear: she didn’t belong here.

With Noah around, they treated her civilly enough, even smiling at her in passing. But the moment he left for his own training, their masks dropped. Whispers followed her wherever she went—whispers about her bloodline, her parents, and how she was no better than them. Dark, they called her. Just like her parents.

At first, Ivy tried to shake it off, focusing on Alethra’s lessons, pushing herself to master control over the dark energy she could absorb. But the comments sank deep, burrowing into her thoughts, making her question herself. What if they were right? What if, no matter how hard she tried, she was destined to be just like her parents?

Alethra’s sharp tone cut through her spiraling thoughts during one training session. “Focus, Ivy. If you let your mind wander, the darkness will consume you. Is that what you want?”

“No,” Ivy whispered, her voice barely audible. She wasn’t sure if she was convincing Alethra or herself anymore.

---

By the time Noah finished his training and returned to her side, Ivy was exhausted—both mentally and physically. But she masked her fatigue with a smile, leaning into him as they walked back to their room.

Everyone seemed so different when Noah was around, almost friendly. But Ivy knew better. The second his back was turned, the kindness faded, replaced by thinly veiled hostility.

“I think you're doing great,” Noah said, his voice warm as he squeezed her hand. “You’re handling everything so well.”

Ivy didn’t respond, merely nodding as a heavy weight settled over her heart. She wished she could believe him, but the truth was, she felt like she was falling apart. Training was harder each day, and every whisper about her parents only pushed her deeper into the pit of self-doubt.

---

When Noah was away training with the physical force, Ivy hid in their room. She’d barely eaten in days, food losing all appeal. The isolation was suffocating, but somehow, being alone was better than facing their judgments. The thought of walking out and enduring more whispers, more side glances, made her stomach turn.

She curled up on the bed, pulling her knees to her chest. Being a ghost had been easier—no whispers, no expectations, no endless judgment. She missed the days when it had been just her and Noah, wandering the hospital halls, unseen, unburdened. She wished they could go back to that time when things were simpler, when their only concern was finding each other.

A soft knock broke her from her thoughts. The door creaked open, and Noah stepped inside, his brow furrowed in concern.

“Ivy?” His voice was soft as he closed the door behind him. “What’s going on? You’ve been avoiding everyone.”

She turned her head slightly but didn’t meet his eyes. “I’m fine.”

Noah wasn’t convinced. He crossed the room and sat beside her on the bed, reaching out to brush a strand of hair away from her face. “You don’t seem fine.”

Ivy finally looked up at him, her heart aching. “It’s just… it’s hard. They hate me, Noah. Everyone thinks I’m like my parents. Dark. Twisted. I hear them whispering about me, saying things behind my back.”

Noah’s face softened as he listened, his hand gently resting on her knee. “Ivy, they don’t know you. You’re not like your parents. You’re nothing like them.”

“I don’t know anymore,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “What if they’re right? What if I am like them? I keep feeling like I don’t belong here, that I’m just pretending to be someone I’m not. I’m not good for you, Noah. I’ll only drag you down.”

To her surprise, Noah let out a quiet laugh, his fingers tracing her arm. “You think you’re not good for me? Ivy, you saved me. Without you, I wouldn’t be here.”

Ivy’s eyes welled with tears as she looked at him, her heart heavy with doubt. “But I don’t feel like I’m saving anyone. I feel like I’m drowning.”

Noah moved closer, cupping her face in his hands, his thumb brushing away the tear that rolled down her cheek. “You’re not drowning. You’re just scared. And I get it, I really do. But you’re not alone in this.”

He leaned in, pressing his forehead against hers, his voice a gentle murmur. “I love you, Ivy. You don’t have to be perfect or strong all the time. You just have to be you.”

Her breath hitched at his words, her hands gripping the front of his shirt as if afraid to let go. “I don’t want to be the reason you suffer, Noah.”

“You’re not,” he whispered, his lips brushing against hers. “You’re the reason I’m still fighting.”

He kissed her softly, his hands moving to cradle her waist as he deepened the kiss. Ivy melted into him, the weight of the world slipping away as she clung to him. His touch was gentle yet insistent, as if he was trying to prove to her just how much she meant to him.

Before she knew it, they were lying down, Noah hovering over her, his body pressed against hers. His lips trailed along her neck, sending shivers down her spine.

“Ivy,” he murmured against her skin, his voice filled with emotion. “You’re everything to me.”

Tears slipped from the corners of her eyes as she held him closer. “I love you, Noah.”

His eyes met hers, and for a moment, the rest of the world didn’t matter. In this room, it was just them—no whispers, no judgment, no fear. Just the two of them, becoming one.