Something In The Way-SYLUS X MC X ZAYNE

Chapter 1 "The Eye"

A single red eye glowed in the darkness beyond my window, its gaze unblinking and cold. I felt a surge of dread, my hand going instinctively to my weapon, but as I blinked, the eye vanished, leaving only my own reflection staring back at me.

It's happening again...

My heart pounds profusely as I try to steady my breathing, but the feeling of being watched lingers, wrapping around me like a shroud. I find my myself  moving towards the window, peering out into the misty night, but there was nothing there. Just an illuminated city cascaded against a thick fog.

As I turned away, a whisper echoed through the room, soft and distorted, like the crackling of a radio station caught between frequencies. My head snapped up, my gaze darting around my apartment. The voice was faint, almost inaudible, yet it carried a familiar tone, a cadence that set me on edge.

"Devour him..."

I backed up, my heart racing as the words faded into silence. Images flickered before my eyes—fragments of memories that didn't belong to me. I saw flashes of blood, the twisted forms of Wanderers, and a battlefield littered with broken bodies. I gasped, clutching at my head as the visions grew stronger, searing into my mind. I had these thoughts before, when I...

"Sylus" I say aloud my heart sinking

Then, just as quickly as they had appeared, the images vanished, leaving me breathless and disoriented. I stumbled to the sink, splashing cold water on my face, trying to shake off the lingering sense of dread. My eyes met my own reflection, and for a moment, I swore I saw something else staring back at me—something, fierce, and filled with an anger that made my skin crawl.

I take a deep breath, gripping the edge of the sink making my knuckles turn white. I didn't know what was happening, but I knew one thing for certain: something is coming for me, and it wasn't going to stop until it had what it wanted.

As I straightened, the whisper returned, soft and insidious, curling around me like smoke. "Remember... remember..."

I closed my eyes, my mind racing with questions I had no answers to. But deep down, I knew that the red-eyed figure was no coincidence. They were signs, pieces of a puzzle I was only beginning to understand.

And somewhere, in the back of my mind, I felt the presence of something watching, waiting for me to remember the truth that lay hidden in the shadows of my past.

I moved to the window, the one where I had seen the glowing red eye. The city beyond was cloaked in fog, the streetlights casting a glow that illuminated nothing but mist. I scanned the darkness for any signs of movement, but the street was empty, silent. Only the rain remained, pattering softly against the glass.

A chill settled over me, and I instinctively wrapped my arms around myself. I could still feel the lingering presence of that eye, watching me from the shadows. I clenched my fists, trying to calm the surge of adrenaline that coursed through my veins. I knew I should call someone—maybe Xavier, who had a way of making light of everything, or even Zayne, despite his stoic nature. But something held me back, a nagging feeling that this was something I had to face alone.

With a sigh, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts, my finger hovering over     Zayne's name. I hadn't spoken to him since we escaped his dream like prison in Chansia hospital. His words still echoed in my mind, carrying the hint of an unspoken worry he never let me see. "Letting you step into this nightmare, perhaps was another mistake. But at least I have one last choice..." I knew he cared, even if he tried to keep his distance, and a part of me ached to reach out, to hear his voice.

But I hesitated. Our relationship had become so complicated, tangled with old memories and hidden feelings. And if I was honest with myself, I feared that hearing his voice would only remind me of everything I could never have.

Instead, I slipped my phone back into my pocket and turned away from the window. I needed answers, not distractions. The images I'd seen felt like pieces of a puzzle I was just beginning to uncover, and if I wanted to protect myself—I needed to find out what they meant.

I crossed the room, heading for the small bookshelf in the corner. I kept a few records there, things I'd collected over the years in my search for answers about the attack that had killed my family. Old newspaper clippings, files from the Hunters Association, even scraps of personal notes I'd made in my quiet moments of grief. I pulled out one of the folders, flipping through it with a determined focus.

As I scanned the familiar pages, a cold draft swept through the room, making me shiver. I glanced up, and there it was again—that faint, distorted voice, echoing from somewhere in the room.

"Remember... Devour him... He's right there..."

The words sent a chill down my spine, but I forced myself to stay calm. I closed my eyes, focusing on the sound, trying to make sense of the strange language. It felt like a warning and a command all at once, as if something—or someone—was trying to guide me down a path I didn't understand.

My fingers brushed against something cool and metallic inside the folder. I pulled it out, frowning as I examined it. It was a small, red pin in the shape of a crow. The pin that Sylus had given me...

A sudden wave of nausea washed over me as I held the pin, and my vision blurred. I staggered, reaching out to steady myself, but the room around me shifted, twisting into something unrecognizable. The walls seemed to stretch, the colors bleeding together, and the floor beneath my feet felt like it was slipping away.

I blinked, and suddenly, I was no longer in my apartment. I was standing in a darkened hall, lit only by faint, flickering torches. The scent of damp earth filled my nose, and the sound of distant voices echoed around me, murmuring words I couldn't quite make out. I turned, my heart pounding, as I realized I was not alone.

Figures surrounded me, their faces hidden in shadows, their forms indistinct and flickering like ghosts. I took a step back, instinctively reaching for my weapon, but it wasn't there. I was defenseless, vulnerable.

The voices grew louder, their words becoming clearer.

"She doesn't remember... she cannot remember..."

"Devour him... before he finds you..."

I felt a surge of panic, but I forced myself to stand my ground. I didn't know where I was or who these figures were, but I knew one thing: I would not let them control me.

"Who are you?" I demanded, my voice echoing in the darkened hall. "What do you want from me?"

The figures shifted, their forms dissolving into shadows that slithered along the walls. And then, from the darkness, a familiar figure stepped forward—a man with silver hair, his eyes gleaming with an otherworldly red light. Sylus.

He watched me with a cold, calculating gaze, his presence radiating a dark energy that made my skin crawl. I knew instinctively that he was the one connected to these visions, that he was somehow pulling the strings from behind the scenes.

"You're searching for answers," he said, his voice a low, rumbling purr. "But be careful, kitten. Some truths are better left buried."

I took a step toward him, defiance burning in my eyes. "You can't scare me. I've faced worse than you."

He smirked, a flash of amusement in his eyes. "Perhaps. But you have no idea what you're up against. Your past is not as simple as you think. And when you finally remember... you'll understand why you can't escape me."

The room around me spun again, the walls collapsing in on themselves as the vision dissolved. I found myself back in my apartment, clutching the edge of the table, my breath coming in short, shallow gasps.

My hands trembled as I released the crow pin, letting it clatter onto the table. With a steely resolve, I straightened, pushing away the fear that threatened to consume me. I was a Hunter, a defender of this city, and I would not be controlled by shadows and whispers. If Sylus wanted me to remember, then I will. And when I do, I will make him regret ever trying to invade my mind.

As I turned away from the table, I caught sight of my reflection in the window, and for a fleeting moment, I thought I saw the red eye staring back at me. But this time, I did not look away. I met its gaze, unflinching, determined. I will not run. I will fight. And I will uncover the truth, no matter what it takes.