Chasing Shadows

Chapter Fifty-One: A New Face in the Shadows

The weeks bled into months, the seasons shifting almost imperceptibly as Ethan’s search for Zane continued. Every night, after long hours of patrols and missions with Asher, he’d slip away, visiting all the places that once felt familiar—the rooftops Zane used to haunt, the alleys he’d appear in like some ghostly protector. But each time, he came up empty-handed.

Zane had vanished completely. No shadows lurking in the corner of Ethan’s vision, no fleeting glimpses of a familiar figure blending into the night. It was as if he’d been swallowed whole by the darkness he wielded so effortlessly.

Yet, despite the lack of results, Ethan never stopped looking. He couldn’t. Even as hope dwindled and reality settled in like a cold weight on his chest, he kept going, kept searching, driven by a desperate need to find him—to say the things he’d never said, to apologize for letting things fall apart between them.

His obsession didn’t go unnoticed.

---

“You’re distracted.”

The comment came out of nowhere, slicing through the silence of the base’s training room. Ethan looked up from where he’d been absently practicing his strikes on the punching bag, sweat dripping down his brow. Asher stood at the entrance, his arms crossed, a frown pulling at his lips.

“What?” Ethan replied, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. He forced a smile, trying to mask the exhaustion that had become a constant presence in his eyes. “I’m fine.”

Asher’s frown deepened. “You’ve been off your game for weeks, man. You’re not paying attention, you’re missing signals during missions—it’s like you’re not even here half the time.”

Ethan’s stomach twisted uncomfortably, but he shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “Just… tired, I guess. All these late nights are catching up to me.”

Asher studied him for a long moment, his gaze searching. Then he sighed, shaking his head. “Look, if something’s going on, you can talk to me. You know that, right?”

Ethan’s smile wavered, but he nodded quickly. “Yeah, I know. I’m good. Really.”

But Asher didn’t look convinced. He lingered for another few seconds, his expression softening into something like concern before he finally turned away, muttering something under his breath that Ethan couldn’t quite catch.

Ethan watched him go, a pang of guilt gnawing at his insides. Asher didn’t know—couldn’t know—about Zane. He didn’t understand why Ethan was so distracted, so lost in his own thoughts. And Ethan couldn’t tell him. How could he explain that he was missing someone who was supposed to be their enemy? That he was aching for the one person Asher would never accept?

---

“Hey, man. You good?”

The voice snapped Ethan out of his reverie, and he glanced up to see Jonah approaching, a lopsided grin on his face. Ethan tried to muster a smile in return, but it felt strained, hollow.

“Yeah, just thinking,” Ethan muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets. Jonah’s grin faded, his eyes narrowing with concern.

“Still no sign of him, huh?” Jonah asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. Ethan shook his head, his gaze dropping to the ground.

“No. It’s like he’s… disappeared.”

Jonah hesitated, then placed a comforting hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “You’ll find him. Or… maybe he’ll find you.” He chuckled softly, though the sound lacked humor. “You two have a weird way of showing up in each other’s lives, you know?”