Embers of Ice: The guy in a dream

Promo

„But I crumble completely when you cry
It seems like once again you've had to greet me with goodbye"
505 - Arctic Monkeys

The world outside had crumbled into chaos, a once familiar town now swallowed by murky green-yellow water. (Y/N), her heart pounding in her chest, watched from the narrow slit of her window as creatures unlike any she had ever imagined fell from the sky. The ground was crawling with beasts—massive, muscular, some scaled, some armored. And in the distance, a lone boat swayed on the ominous sea. The cries that had echoed through the town moments before had faded into an eerie, unsettling silence.

She pulled away from the window, feeling the coolness of the walls against her back. The weight of the moment settled in—a new world, one that made no sense. A world that had come crashing down in an instant.

(Y/N) stepped quietly into the hallway. The air was thick with tension, and though the creatures outside stirred her fears, it was the suffocating silence inside her home that urged her to move. She needed to find someone, anyone.

But before she could reach her neighbors' door, a girl she didn't know appeared from the shadows, her eyes wide, her hands trembling as she grabbed (Y/N) and pulled her down to the floor. "Stay low," she whispered urgently. "They'll see you."

For a moment, time seemed to still. The girl's name was Fonnie, and in the coming moments, they would find their fates tangled together in a way neither could foresee. An older woman soon joined them, her face tight with desperation. Her selfishness was palpable as she whispered dark plans, suggesting they sacrifice (Y/N) and Fonnie to the beasts. But her greed was her undoing—before she could carry out her plan, the animals reached her, dragging her into the depths of the strange water.

Fonnie's hands flickered with energy as she created a shimmering shield above them, protecting them from the deadly creatures descending from the sky. (Y/N), her mind racing, summoned her own strength. Ice crackled in her palms, forming a path towards the boat. She had discovered this ability, a gift in this madness, and now it would be their way out.

The boat cut through the water, the sea creatures lurking just beneath the surface. (Y/N) fortified the underside with her ice, ensuring they wouldn't break through. Together, they sailed through the storm of chaos, eventually finding refuge in the shadow of towering trees and looming mountains.

The forest offered little comfort. Massive beasts prowled, their ancient forms hunting anything that dared move. (Y/N) and Fonnie sought shelter in a small cave, slipping and sliding down into a deeper chamber, their breaths ragged with exhaustion and fear. Inside, they found an altar, an ancient structure of stone with markings neither of them could read. In the center was a fountain, its water glowing faintly, whispering secrets they couldn't yet understand.

An old man greeted them, his voice like the wind through the trees. His eyes held knowledge, a history untold. They were not alone. A young girl soon joined him, offering fruits and vegetables, her presence as calm as the forest surrounding them. But it wasn't long before another figure emerged from the shadows—a younger man, cloaked, his face hidden beneath a hood. His eyes, when they met (Y/N)'s, burned like embers.

He was different from the others. His demeanor, his intensity—it set her on edge. "Your stone," he demanded, his voice low but sharp. (Y/N)'s hand instinctively moved to her pocket, where the cold weight of her element stone rested. She hesitated. Revealing her ice element to him would put her at risk—her power was his opposite, and he knew it. His own stone, emblazoned with the fire symbol, pulsed in his hand.

As the others stepped out of the room, she knew they were discussing their fate. The man's frustration was evident, his desire to take what belonged to her almost palpable. But she stood her ground, refusing to give up the one thing that could save her.

They escaped, the cold air biting at their skin as they fled through the mountains, losing him in the dense woods. But the memory of his fire, his intense gaze, clung to (Y/N) like a shadow. They found shelter in an old factory, squeezing through tunnels and hiding with a group of survivors. The leader, an old man attached to life support, gave off an unsettling air. The place, once a promise of safety, turned darker with each passing day. People began to die, one by one, until (Y/N) discovered the truth—the leader had sinister plans for them all.

She fled once more, this time with Fonnie and a boy they had met, Gallahan—Han. The three of them pressed on, their bond growing stronger with each step away from the horrors they had narrowly escaped.

But (Y/N) couldn't shake the memory of the man from the cave. His face haunted her dreams, a strange mix of fear and desire swirling in her chest. And then, one night, she awoke to find him in her room, his presence as dangerous as it was intoxicating.

"You shouldn't leave your window open," he murmured, a grin on his lips as he hovered over her, fire flickering in his hand. She met his gaze, her own dagger poised at his throat.

The tension between them was electric, a thin line between life and death. But instead of striking, he leaned down, pressing his lips to hers in a swift, unexpected kiss. Her mind whirled as she felt the heat of him, the danger he brought, but when she opened her eyes, he was gone. Only the faint scent of smoke and a drop of blood on her lips remained.

Morning came with a strange stillness. Fonnie noticed her distraction but said nothing. Han was sweet, his quiet affection a steady presence beside her. But (Y/N)'s thoughts were consumed by the man who had stolen into her night.

The window remained open, night after night, as she waited for his return.

~

Tysm for reading! I'll upload a character list and turn this into a full story once I get the chance!<33333