Something In The Way-SYLUS X MC X ZAYNE

Chapter 17 "Escape and Reckoning "

The morning sun barely reached through the heavy curtains of Sylus's mansion, casting faint golden streaks across the floor. I stood by the window, heart pounding, replaying last night's kiss in my mind—his lips on mine, the heat, the undeniable pull. It had been more than a kiss; it had been surrender, and that was why I had to go.

Without making a sound, I pulled on a hoodie, tugging the hood low to hide my face. My pulse raced as I tiptoed through the hallways of his mansion, my footsteps muffled by the luxurious carpets beneath me. I couldn't bear to face him again, not after that. Not yet. I slipped out of the front door, holding my breath until I was far enough from his home to exhale in shaky relief.

Once I escaped the N109 Zone, the streets of Linkon City stretched out before me, familiar and yet somehow threatening. The tall buildings cast long shadows as I walked, my head down, my hands shoved deep in my pockets. I was on high alert, every sound sharpening my senses. The city had become a place of secrets and danger, and I needed answers—answers that kept slipping through my fingers like sand.

By the time I reached the Hunter's Association, my mind was spinning. The night before felt like a blur, and I struggled to focus on why I had come back. The truth was tangled, always just out of reach, but I knew I had to keep searching. I stepped into my small, cluttered office and shut the door behind me, trying to regain some sense of control.

Just as I sat down at my desk, the hologram news outlet lit up, and my blood ran cold.

"Authorities have terminated several terrorist groups linked to tampering with flux stabilizers throughout the city," the robotic anchor announced. "These groups were also involved in planting radio frequency chips designed to attract wanderers, causing widespread destruction."

I froze, my eyes glued to the screen as it flickered to show the aftermath—smoke still rising from demolished buildings. Then I saw it. The old man's house, reduced to rubble. A photo of him appeared, his weary eyes staring back at me, and beside him, the girl who had died right before my eyes.

"No..." I whispered, my stomach twisting into knots. I had been there. I had seen him, spoken to him. Was he really part of a terrorist group? Was he as mad as everyone had thought, or was there something deeper at play? Doubt gnawed at me, and the thought that maybe I had been wrong all along crashed over me like a tidal wave.

I couldn't stop the scream that tore from my throat, my fists slamming into the desk. Papers flew everywhere as I grabbed anything I could get my hands on and hurled it across the room. Anger and confusion twisted inside me, tightening into a knot I couldn't untangle.

"What the-!"

The voice cut through my rage like a blade, and I turned to see Jenna standing in the doorway. Her eyes, usually cool and calculating, were filled with concern as she took in the mess I'd made.

"What the hell's going on?" Jenna demanded, her voice stern but not unkind. She looked around, taking in the mess I'd made "You're out of control. This isn't like you."

I stood there, chest heaving, the silence between us thick with tension. She was right. This wasn't me. I was unraveling, slipping further and further away from the person I used to be.

"Take a few days off," Jenna said, stepping forward, her voice softening. "You need time. Whatever's going on, you won't figure it out like this."

I didn't argue. Shame flooded me as I nodded, swallowing the words I wanted to say. She didn't understand. No one did. I wasn't just chasing shadows—I was chasing my own sanity, and every step forward felt like two steps back. I needed answers, and I was running out of time to find them.