Chasing Shadows

Chapter Fifty-Four: Unspoken Tensions

The evening light filtered through the blinds of Ethan’s small living room, casting long shadows on the walls as he sat slumped on the couch. Rascal, his adopted stray, lay sprawled at his feet, his head resting on Ethan’s leg, providing a soft warmth that helped ground him. Across from him, Jonah sat in the old armchair they’d dragged in years ago, watching his friend with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

“So… you gonna tell me what happened?” Jonah asked, his voice breaking the silence. He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, waiting patiently for Ethan to answer.

Ethan sighed, rubbing his temples as if trying to ward off an incoming headache. “It’s Callum,” he muttered. “That kid… something’s off about him.”

Jonah raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Oh, the new sidekick? Didn’t take long for you to hate him, huh?”

Ethan shook his head, the tension from earlier still clinging to his muscles. “It’s not that I hate him. I just—he’s got this attitude. Like he thinks he’s better than everyone. And Asher… Asher doesn’t see it. He’s totally buying into Callum’s whole ‘I’m-the-perfect-hero’ act.”

Jonah’s eyes widened a little, clearly surprised. “Wait, really? You mean Asher actually likes him?”

Ethan let out a hollow laugh, leaning back against the couch cushions. “Yeah. Callum’s been buttering him up non-stop. Compliments him on every little thing, acts like he’s this golden child. And it’s working. Asher thinks he’s some kind of prodigy.”

Jonah frowned, shifting in his seat. “That kid rubbed me the wrong way from the start. I mean, the way he walked in all cocky, acting like he owned the place. I don’t trust people like that.”

“Yeah, well… neither do I,” Ethan muttered darkly. He ran a hand through his hair, frustration clear on his face. “Today, I tried to show him around the base, be decent, y’know? But he just—he’s so smug, Jonah. He told me, in my face, that he was going to be the future main hero.”

Jonah blinked in disbelief, then snorted. “What? He actually said that?”

Ethan nodded, his eyes narrowing at the memory. “Yeah. Like it was a done deal. Like he’s already got it all figured out.”

Jonah’s lips twitched, a grin forming as he tried to hold back laughter. “Wow. The guy’s got balls, I’ll give him that.” He paused, then burst into laughter. “I mean, who even says that out loud? ‘I’m going to be the future main hero!’” He mimicked Callum’s voice in an exaggerated, over-the-top tone, his hands dramatically framing his face.

Despite himself, Ethan let out a chuckle. “It’s not funny.”

“It’s hilarious,” Jonah said, still grinning. “C’mon, man. The kid’s a joke. He’s trying way too hard to get Asher’s attention. That never ends well.”

Ethan sighed, his body relaxing slightly as the tension in his chest eased. “Yeah, well, Asher’s eating it up. He’s even starting to take Callum’s side over mine.”

Jonah gave a low whistle. “Yikes. That’s rough.”

“Yeah,” Ethan muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “We’ve started doing missions with him too. It’s only been a few weeks, but every time we go out, Callum’s all over Asher, kissing up to him like it’s a competition. I swear, it’s like he’s constantly trying to prove something.”

Jonah’s expression softened as he watched his friend. “And you?”

Ethan shrugged, though the movement was tight, almost defensive. “I just… ignore him. I know what he’s doing, and I’m not gonna play along. I’m not going to give him the satisfaction.”