Something In The Way-SYLUS X MC X ZAYNE

Chapter 7 "Fractured Dreams"

Zayne stood on the precipice of consciousness, trapped in a dream that felt as real as the scars etched into his skin. The coldness surrounded him, an icy grip that was all too familiar. He was alone in a stark white room, the fluorescent lights flickering overhead, casting an eerie glow across the sterile space. It was a hospital room, and the scent of antiseptic filled the air.

In the bed before him lay the woman he loved, your face serene. Zayne took a step closer, his heart pounding in his chest as he reached out, letting his scarred hand hover just above yours. "Letting you step into this nightmare, perhaps was another mistake," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "But at least I have one last choice."

His fingers trembled as he concentrated, feeling his EVOL stirring to life within him. The icy crystals erupted at his fingertips, sharp and cold, trailing up his arm like tendrils of frost. He watched as the icy shards danced along your skin, sparkling in the stark light before coalescing at the palm of his hand. The blue glow pulsed, shimmering with an intensity that echoed the depths of his feelings for you.

He pressed his hand against his chest. "I'd give anything for you," he whispered, his breath hitching as he felt the icy grip of despair tighten around his heart. A wave of black ice enveloped his skin, creeping up his arm, mingling with the blue light that pulsed between them. He shivered, caught in the dichotomy of warmth and coldness, a physical manifestation of the conflict raging within him.

In that moment, Zayne felt as if he could reach across the abyss of their realities, willing to embrace the darkness that threatened to consume him. He would do anything to save her, even if it meant surrendering his own light. "You deserve a normal life," he murmured, his voice cracking as he fought back the tide of emotions that threatened to drown him. "Even if it means my misery."

But just as quickly as the moment had begun, it shattered. The icy light flickered and faded, his dream collapsing around him like glass shattering on the floor. He gasped, waking abruptly in his bed, drenched in sweat and disoriented. His heart raced, the remnants of the dream still clinging to him like a fog.

Zayne turned to the empty side of the bed beside him, the sheets cold and untouched. A tear slipped down his cheek, falling into the emptiness of the night, the quiet amplifying the aching void left by your absence. "Where are you?" he whispered, his voice breaking. The silence answered him with a deafening roar, reminding him of the distance that separated you.

It had been weeks since you left for the N109 Zone, and the void you left behind was suffocating. Zayne had tried to reach you, to bridge the chasm that had opened between the both of you, but it felt as if something darker was at play, pulling you away from him. He clenched his fists, feeling the icy grip of his EVOL pulse under his skin, the scars that adorned his hands serving as a painful reminder of the power he struggled to control.

With a deep breath, he pushed himself up, the coolness of the room biting against his skin as he moved to the window. He stared out into the night, the world beyond dark and foreboding, and for a fleeting moment, he wished he could turn back time, to when things were simpler, to when you were together without the shadows of your realities looming over them.

He gripped the windowsill tightly, the wood splintering under the pressure of his grip. The icy energy surged within him, begging for release, but he held it back, knowing all too well how dangerous it could be. He closed his eyes, allowing the memories of your laughter, your smile, and the warmth of your presence to wash over him, a balm against the sharp edges of his loneliness.

"She deserves better," he whispered, knowing full well the battle raging inside him. His heart was at war with itself—one half longing to fight for you, while the other recoiled in fear of what that fight might entail. He wanted you to live a life free from the burdens he carried, even if that meant enduring his own anguish.

In that moment of vulnerability, he wished he could reach out to you, to feel your warmth beside him once more. He wanted to tell you how he felt, to let you know you are everything to him. But the words remained lodged in his throat, suffocated by the very shadows he feared would consume you.

As Zayne turned back to the room, the flickering light from his bedside lamp caught his eye, illuminating the small trinket you had left behind—a simple silver necklace that glinted in the soft glow. He picked it up, the weight of it grounding him as he traced his fingers over the delicate chain.

"I won't let you go," he vowed softly, feeling the icy tendrils of his EVOL recede just a little at the promise he made. "I'll find a way to bring you back to me."

He placed the necklace against his heart, the chill of his EVOL wrapping around him, and in that moment, he felt a flicker of hope. It was a reminder of your strength, of the connection you both shared that transcended the boundaries of your worlds. Zayne would fight for you, not just against the darkness that threatened to tear you all apart but also against the doubts that haunted him.

He set to work, preparing himself for whatever challenges lay ahead, fueled by the undying love he held for you. The world outside remained dark and cold, but within him burned the promise of hope, the belief that love could conquer even the deepest shadows.