The Celestials [Taegyu]

Chapter 12 ; He, Who I Loved

song ; summertime sadness (lana del rey)

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Eugene raced through the thick forest, his legs burning and his lungs gasping for air. Just ahead, Soule sprinted alongside him, their feet pounding the ground as the sounds of the High Priest's men drew nearer.

Behind them, their village lay in ruins, a mere wisp of smoke and ash, but there was no time to stop. They couldn't afford to slow down.

Lucien and Cassian had managed to escape, narrowly evading capture, but worry gnawed at Eugene. His heart pounded, driven not only by the effort of running but also by the fear that not everyone would make it out.

"Keep going!" Soule called back, his voice a mix of breathlessness and urgency.

"We're almost there!"

Eugene remained silent, his attention fixed on keeping their pace steady, but the weight in his chest only intensified. Memories of Cassian surged through his mind, a stark reminder of how narrowly he had escaped capture.

He thought of his adoptive younger brother, Lucien, who was struggling to keep up during their flight. With each step they took away from the village, the burden of guilt grew heavier.

At last, after what felt like an eternity, they stumbled upon a refuge-a cave concealed deep within the woods. It was cramped, barely accommodating all of them, but it offered safety, at least for the moment.

The sounds of their pursuers had faded into the distance, and a profound exhaustion enveloped them. Eugene leaned against the cold stone, gasping for breath as tremors coursed through his body.

Lucien and Cassian, having finally caught up, were equally drained. The four of them sat in silence, their ragged breaths the only sound echoing in the dark cave.

Eugene glanced over at Soule, who stood watch by the entrance, his eyes sharp while the others tried to rest.

"Get some sleep while you can," Soule murmured, his voice heavy with fatigue.

"I'll keep an eye out."

Eugene nodded, too exhausted to argue. He closed his eyes, succumbing to the weariness that dragged him into a restless slumber.

Yet even in sleep, the haunting images of the burning village, the cries, and the chaos lingered in his mind. His dreams became disjointed, filled with fleeting memories of happier times-laughter and warmth before everything fell apart.

Then, the dream shifted to a darker place. The warmth vanished, replaced by a chilling emptiness. Soule was nowhere to be found. Eugene stood alone in the village square, surrounded by shadows, calling out for Soule but receiving no answer. Panic surged within him as he screamed for his friend, his voice breaking with desperation.

In an instant, he was awake-his eyes snapped open to an eerie silence enveloping the cave. His heart raced as a wave of familiar dread washed over him.

"Soule?"

Eugene called out, his voice hoarse and strained. He pushed himself up, scanning the cramped surroundings, but Soule was nowhere to be found.