Something In The Way-SYLUS X MC X ZAYNE

Chapter 2 "You Belong To Me"

The rain had let up by morning, leaving behind a washed-out, dreary light that filtered through my apartment window
I closed my eyes, trying to drown out the thoughts racing through my mind. I had read the file over and over, hoping to find a loophole, a mistake, something to tell me that none of it was real. But there it was, printed in cold, clinical ink. I wasn't just some Hunter with an unfortunate past. I was a walking anomaly, an artifact stitched into my heart, a ticking bomb waiting to go off.

I felt the urge to rip the file to shreds, to destroy every word that held my secrets, but I knew it wouldn't change anything. This was my reality now, no matter how much I hated it. And there was Sylus, lurking in the shadows, waiting for me to play his game. The thought made my stomach turn, a sick mix of fear and anger curling inside me.

I forced myself to stand, shoving the file into a drawer. No matter what Sylus wanted, I couldn't afford to fall apart. I had a job to do, a city to protect. I wouldn't let him or anyone else dictate my fate.

I strapped on my Hunter uniform, checked my weapons, and left my apartment. The air outside was crisp, the morning quiet with the early hum of the city waking up. Linkon City was always restless, always on edge, but there was something different today. I could feel it, a tension hanging thick in the air.

As I walked through the bustling streets, I tried to shake off the lingering memories of the fight. The flash of teeth, the glow of its eyes—it felt like a bad dream. But it wasn't the Wanderer that had haunted me all night; it was the red eye in my window, the cold, taunting voice, and the vision that followed.

Sylus had his claws in me, and I hated how much it unnerved me. He'd seen me at my most vulnerable, knew things about me that even I didn't understand. I clenched my fists, a chill running through my veins as I thought about him watching me. He was out there, somewhere in the shadows, laughing at my confusion, waiting for me to stumble into whatever trap he had set.

I reached the Hunters Association and made my way to the training center. A few Hunters were scattered around, sparring or testing their Evols in controlled combat rooms. It was familiar, comforting, and I welcomed the distraction. I focused on warming up, each punch, each kick, grounding me back in reality. I needed this—an outlet to channel the frustration that had been building since last night.

As I trained, I thought of Zayne. Despite everything, my thoughts always drifted back to him, especially when I was overwhelmed. I'd tried to convince myself that he was just a childhood memory, a comforting echo of a time before my life had turned to chaos. But it was more than that. He was a constant, a steady presence that I could never quite let go of.

I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen him smile. He was always so guarded, so composed, even with me. But there were moments, brief and fleeting, when he'd let down his walls. I remembered those moments vividly: his hand on mine, his quiet laughter, the way his eyes softened when he thought no one was watching. He cared, I knew he did, but he kept his distance, like he was afraid of what might happen if he got too close.

I shook my head, forcing myself to focus. Zayne was a distraction I couldn't afford, not now. There were too many questions, too many dangers lurking in the shadows. I couldn't let myself get tangled up in old feelings, not when the past had a way of creeping back when I least expected it.

After a few hours of training, I made my way back to the locker room, exhaustion settling into my muscles. I grabbed a towel and ran it over my face, staring at my reflection in the mirror. My own eyes looked back at me, tired and haunted. I barely recognized myself anymore. I was just a shell, a mask I wore to keep going. I didn't know who I was beneath it all, and maybe I didn't want to know.

As I turned to leave, a cold chill prickled the back of my neck. I froze, my hand hovering over the doorknob. The room was empty, but I felt it—an unsettling presence, like someone was watching me. I scanned the room, but there was nothing, no one. Just shadows and silence.