THE HEROS OF GODOLKIN | GEN V AND THE BOYS FIC |

11

Claire sat silently, her mind spinning as the surreal confrontation unfolded in Cate's childhood room. Cate stood nearby, visibly shaken, her eyes darting between Claire and the others trapped within their shared dream.

"They're in our minds," Claire murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, eyes searching Cate's. She could feel the tension in the air, the weight of what they were about to face. Cate turned to her, her expression unreadable, yet her voice held a firmness.

"You shouldn't be here." She wasn't speaking to Claire but to the group tethered to their minds. Desperation laced her words.

"We're here now, trying to wake you up," Marie's voice cut through, firm yet compassionate. Suddenly, the group manifested within the room, faces mirroring their collective confusion and fear. "You can wake up now. I won't stop you anymore," Cate conceded, her voice cracking slightly as she relinquished the last bit of control.

Claire glanced at Max, his eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions-hurt, anger, and love. He understood what she had done to him, the manipulation that had bound him to her, and yet the affection lingered. Guilt washed over her, but at the same time, a dangerous thrill simmered beneath the surface. She had power, and the temptation of it was intoxicating.

"Max," Claire sighed, guilt and a hint of arrogance flashing across her features.

"Come on, let's all wake up and get the fuck out of here," Jordan snapped, impatience thick in their tone. They were restless, survival instinct kicking in.

"You're wasting time," Claire retorted with a scoff, leaning back as if the weight of the situation didn't faze her in the least. She shrugged nonchalantly. "We've been through this already. You're messed up, I'm messed up. The one thing that's crystal clear is that we're all seriously screwed up." Marie said.

Claide, her frustration boiling over, glared at her. "Who's we? I'm not," Claire chuckled darkly, her gaze daring anyone to contradict her.

Andre's eyes narrowed, a sharp scoff escaping his lips as he watched Claire's bravado unfold. Cate, meanwhile, sat down, defeat written all over her.

"I don't wanna wake up," Cate muttered, her voice fragile, broken.

"Do you not care? If she dies, we all die!" Max's voice broke the mounting tension, a raw plea as he looked at Claire, desperation seeping into every word.

Claire's expression barely shifted, her detachment unnerving. "Honestly, I don't mind it," she said, her voice flat, careless.

"No. Fuck that," Andre growled, his anger bubbling over. "Doesn't matter what the fuck you want." His voice was like a whip, cutting through the haze.

"Andre, I'm sorry," Cate whispered, her words trembling with regret.

But Andre wasn't having it. He stepped forward, his rage palpable. "No. Sorry doesn't cut it. You wanna forget your problems and not wake up? No, fuck you." His face was inches from Cate's now, his words filled with venom.

In a sudden flash, Claire surged to her feet, stepping between Andre and Cate, her voice sputtering with indignation. "Back up, Andre!" Her hands shook slightly, her entire body thrumming with unspoken tension. She didn't notice the subtle shift in the air around her.

"I didn't want someone I love to burrow into my fucking brain!" Andre spat, his eyes blazing as he looked between Cate and Claire. "You manipulated us. Both of you."

Max tried to intervene, his tone placating. "Andre, calm down."

Andre turned sharply, his anger now directed at Claire. "The only reason you're so calm is because she's making you be in love with her."