Morning light streamed through the gym’s large windows, casting long shadows on the polished wooden floors. The place was empty except for the sounds of two figures sparring in the center of the mat. Asher’s movements were precise and controlled, each swing and parry executed with a kind of effortless grace that spoke of years of training and discipline. Ethan moved with him, matching the rhythm—though his reactions seemed a fraction of a second slower than usual.
“Keep your guard up,” Asher murmured, his voice steady but firm.
Ethan gritted his teeth, blocking the next strike just in time. He knew he was off today—had been off for the past few days, really. Ever since that night in the park, his thoughts had been plagued by Zane’s words, the strange conversation they’d shared. It made focusing on his training almost impossible.
Asher seemed to notice. He always did. With a swift feint, he broke through Ethan’s defenses, tapping him lightly on the side. “That’s the third opening you’ve left in under ten minutes.”
Ethan let out a frustrated breath, stepping back and dropping his stance. He rubbed his face with his hand, trying to shake off the lingering fog clouding his mind. “Sorry. Just… a lot on my mind.”
Asher lowered his own stance, studying Ethan with a scrutinizing gaze. The older man wasn’t one for prying, but his concern was evident in the way his brows furrowed slightly, the way he crossed his arms over his chest.
“Talk to me, Ethan. You’re distracted. What’s going on?”
Ethan hesitated, glancing away. He knew he should tell Asher—about seeing Zane, about what the man had said. But something held him back, a niggling doubt that made the words catch in his throat. Would Asher understand? Or would he see it as another sign that Ethan wasn’t strong enough to handle this life?
“I’m fine,” he said finally, hating how unconvincing it sounded even to his own ears. “Just… tired, I guess.”
“Right,” Asher said quietly, his expression hardening. “And I’m supposed to believe that’s all it is?”
Ethan’s frustration bubbled up again, but this time it wasn’t directed at Zane or himself—it was at Asher. At the way he always seemed to expect more, to demand perfection even when Ethan felt like he was falling apart at the seams.
“What do you want me to say, Asher?” he snapped, stepping forward. “That I’m struggling? That I feel like I’m losing control? Would that make you happy?”
Asher blinked, taken aback by the sudden outburst. But he recovered quickly, his gaze steady as he regarded Ethan with a mix of concern and patience. “No,” he said softly. “It wouldn’t make me happy. But it would help if you were honest with me—if you told me what’s really going on instead of bottling it all up.”
Ethan turned away, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. He could feel Asher’s eyes on him, waiting—expecting him to explain. But how could he explain something he didn’t even fully understand himself?
“I just… I don’t want to disappoint you,” Ethan murmured, his voice barely audible. “Or make you think I’m not cut out for this.”
“Ethan, look at me,” Asher said, his tone firm but not unkind. When Ethan finally turned to face him, Asher took a step closer, his gaze unwavering. “You are not a disappointment. And there’s nothing you can say that will make me think any less of you.”
Ethan swallowed, a lump forming in his throat. He wanted to believe that—to trust in Asher’s words the way he always had. But Zane’s voice lingered at the back of his mind, whispering doubts and uncertainties that made it hard to breathe.
“I saw Zane,” he admitted suddenly, the words spilling out before he could stop them. “The other night. He… I don’t know. He just showed up out of nowhere.”
Asher’s jaw tightened, his expression shifting instantly from concern to something darker—something colder. “And you didn’t tell me?”
“It wasn’t—” Ethan paused, struggling to find the right words. “It wasn’t like the other times. He didn’t attack or threaten me. He just… talked.”
Asher’s eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering across his face. “Talked? What do you mean, ‘talked’?”
“I mean he acted like he actually cared,” Ethan said, the frustration boiling over again. “Like he was worried about me. I know it’s probably some kind of manipulation tactic, but—”
“But it got to you,” Asher finished quietly, his gaze softening as understanding dawned. He let out a slow breath, pinching the bridge of his nose as if trying to stave off a headache. “Ethan, that’s what Zane does. He gets into people’s heads—makes them doubt themselves, makes them question everything. You can’t let him do that to you.”
“I know,” Ethan muttered, his shoulders slumping. “I just… it’s hard. He said things that made sense. Like maybe I’m not—”
“No,” Asher interrupted sharply, his voice cutting through Ethan’s doubts like a knife. “You are enough, Ethan. Zane doesn’t know you. He doesn’t see what I see.”
There was such intensity in Asher’s gaze that it made Ethan’s chest tighten, his breath catching in his throat. He felt exposed under that scrutiny, as if Asher could see every fear and insecurity he was trying so hard to hide.
“I see someone who’s brave, who’s strong—stronger than you give yourself credit for,” Asher continued, his voice steady. “Someone who’s more than capable of standing on his own, but who doesn’t have to. Because I’m right here, Ethan. I’ve got your back. No matter what.”
The words washed over Ethan like a balm, soothing some of the rawness that had been eating away at him. He blinked, fighting the sudden prickling sensation behind his eyes. “You really believe that?”
“I do,” Asher said without hesitation. “And I need you to believe it too.”
Ethan nodded slowly, taking a deep breath as he tried to absorb the weight of Asher’s faith in him. He wanted to hold onto it, to let it drown out the lingering echoes of Zane’s voice. But he knew it wouldn’t be that simple. This wasn’t something that could be resolved with a few reassuring words. It would take time—time and trust.
“Okay,” Ethan said quietly. “I’ll try.”
“That’s all I ask,” Asher replied, his expression easing into a small, genuine smile. “Now, let’s take a break. I think we’ve both had enough for today.”
Ethan managed a faint smile of his own, nodding in agreement. Asher turned and headed towards the water cooler in the corner of the gym, leaving Ethan standing alone in the middle of the mat. He took a moment to breathe, to let the tension drain from his shoulders.
Maybe Asher was right. Maybe he was stronger than he thought.
But even as the thought crossed his mind, the memory of Zane’s calm, measured voice lingered, a shadow at the edge of his consciousness.
I’m not your enemy, Ethan. Not unless you make me one.
Ethan shook his head, trying to push the words away. He couldn’t afford to let them fester. Not when Asher was right here, offering his unwavering support.
Trust. It was such a simple word. But maybe that was the hardest part.
Taking one last steadying breath, Ethan followed Asher to the water cooler. It wasn’t much, but it was a start—a small step towards reclaiming the confidence he’d lost.
And right now, that was enough.
YOU ARE READING
Chasing Shadows
Teen Fiction"Chasing Shadows" is a tale of darkness, obsession, and unexpected desire. Zane, a calculating villain with a vendetta against the city's beloved hero, Asher, finds his meticulously crafted world disrupted by an unexpected presence-Ethan, the hero's...
