Lupine Echoes

Chapter 14: Nightfall's Descent

Jaden no longer cried.

His tears had dried up somewhere between the football field and his walk back to the freshman dorms. The path seemed longer than usual, every stride heavy, as if his body was still tethered to the emotions he'd left behind in Adam's townhouse. But even amidst his exhaustion, a dash of resolve pushed him forward. There was hope now, an idea that had crystallized in his mind like the stars he often summoned—bright, purposeful, and persistent.

The senior residential area was miles away from where Jaden lived, separated by lawns of manicured grass and winding paths that snaked through the heart of Lightcrest University. It gave him ample time to clear his head, to ground himself, and to remember the purpose driving his steps.

He pulled out his phone and opened the Notes app. His thumbs hovered over the screen before he started to type, the plan unfurling in bullet points. Just like his mother's method of reframing, he needed to find a way to present Van Boxtel Technologies' crimes in a way that the public couldn't ignore. He needed to get it out there. He needed—

"Hey, you're back," Teddy's voice interrupted his thoughts.

Jaden looked up, blinking in surprise as he walked into his suite, and his eyes fell on Teddy, who was sheepishly smiling at him from inside the star forcefield. The vibrant rainbow hues glimmered around him, just as they had with Skylar, creating a surreal sight in the otherwise mundane room.

"T-Teddy?" Jaden stuttered. "What the... Why are you in there? Where is Skylar?"

Teddy sighed dramatically, leaning against the shimmering wall of the forcefield as if it were nothing more than an inconvenience. "Long story short, your star barrier had a bit of a temper tantrum. I tried to help Skylar get out, and... well, the forcefield decided to swap prisoners. He escaped, and I got stuck."

"What? Teddy! Why would you do that?" Jaden grunted, dragging a hand down his face. "Skylar is sort of dangerous right now. He could hurt a lot of people..." he added, "if he didn't get himself killed first. That is why I trapped him here in the first place."

A wave of worry swept over him as his mind drifted to Skylar. What was he planning now? If he still intended to kidnap Wilton and hack into his brain, there was no way he could infiltrate Van Boxtel Technologies headquarters on his own. Skylar was smart, brilliant even, but desperation had pushed him closer to the edge.

Would he really risk a suicide mission to ram his way in, even if it meant dying in the process? And what if he did succeed? Van Boxtel Technologies was vital to Veridian; so much of the city's infrastructure relied on it. Jaden's stomach twisted with the thought of the potential fallout.

Teddy's eyebrows arched, and he theatrically clutched his chest. "Dangerous? Sweet, charming Skylar? The same guy who almost knocked himself out trying to throw that chi bolt at your star barrier? Shocking."

Jaden blinked, momentarily caught off guard, before giving him a flat stare. "I'm serious. He's—"

"Oh, I know you're serious," Teddy interjected, wiggling his fingers against the forcefield with an air of mock indignation, "but if he's that dangerous, why did you leave him in our suite? Were you hoping he'd turn me into a human pancake? Where's the love, Jaden? Where's the concern for your poor, delicate, incredibly fragile roommate?"

A reluctant smile formed on Jaden's lips, the heaviness lifting just a bit. Teddy was always like this—lighthearted, bringing joy and jokes even when things were dire. It was hard not to feel a little lighter around him.

"You are such a drama queen," Jaden grumbled before softening, the worry still lingering in his eyes. "But honestly, he wouldn't have hurt you. I don't think he wants to hurt anyone. He is just... complicated. He's been through more than anyone should have to."