Chasing Shadows

Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Aftermath

Ethan stood in the alleyway, his heart still racing from the chaotic events that had unfolded just moments before. Sirens wailed in the distance, but all he could hear was the pounding of his own heartbeat in his ears. He couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that settled in his stomach like a heavy stone.

Where was Asher?

A part of him wanted to run back to the ruins of the building, to dive into the wreckage and search for his friend. But as he took a tentative step toward the collapsing structure, a loud groan echoed from the rubble, followed by a cascade of dust and debris.

Ethan froze, his breath caught in his throat. “Asher?” he called, his voice trembling slightly. “Is that you?”

Silence stretched on, and for a moment, Ethan feared the worst. But just as panic began to creep in, a loud crash erupted from the heap of concrete, and a figure emerged, coughing and sputtering.

“Ethan!” Asher’s voice was hoarse, but unmistakable. He staggered into the open air, brushing dust off his clothes as if he’d just stepped out of a dusty old attic rather than the ruins of a collapsing building.

Ethan rushed forward, relief flooding through him. “Oh thank god! Are you okay?!”

Asher turned to him, eyes narrowed in irritation. “Ah yes, I’m fine! A building just collapsed under my feet, but I’m fine! OF COURSE I’M NOT WELL, DUMBASS!” He threw his hands up in exasperation, sending a cloud of dust swirling around them.

Ethan blinked, taken aback by Asher’s sudden outburst. “I—I just meant… I was worried!”

Asher rolled his eyes, his expression a mix of frustration and disbelief. “Worried? You thought I’d just waltz out of there like it was a stroll in the park? I’m pretty sure I just had a near-death experience!”

“Yeah, well… you look good for someone who’s just survived a disaster,” Ethan said, attempting to lighten the mood, though he knew the comment sounded a bit ridiculous.

“Wow, thanks,” Asher replied dryly, brushing more debris off his shoulders. “Maybe I should start modeling for disaster recovery ads.”

Ethan couldn’t help but chuckle at the image, despite the tension still hanging in the air. “Well, if you’re offering, I could use a new poster for my wall.”

Asher shot him a glare, but a hint of a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I try,” Ethan replied, his heart finally starting to settle as he stepped closer. “But seriously, you’re okay, right? No injuries? I mean, aside from the emotional trauma of falling through a roof.”

Asher snorted. “Oh sure, my therapy bill is going to be through the roof after this,” he said, taking a deep breath to steady himself. “But other than that, I think I’ll survive. Although my dignity might be a different story.”

Ethan couldn’t resist teasing him further. “You had dignity before? I missed that memo.”

“Shut up,” Asher said, but there was no real bite to his words. He looked at Ethan, his expression softening as the tension of the moment began to fade. “You really thought I was gone, didn’t you?”

Ethan shrugged, trying to play it cool, but his heart betrayed him with a swift flutter. “Maybe a little. I mean, it’s not every day your best friend falls into a void.”

“Void, huh?” Asher quirked an eyebrow. “Next time, try not to sound so poetic about it.”

As they stood there, the reality of the situation began to sink in. The air was thick with dust and the smell of charred debris, and they could hear the sounds of chaos from the other side of the building. Emergency vehicles were starting to swarm the area, their lights casting eerie shadows on the crumbling structure.