My Hero Origins- Artemis Divil Story

Chapter 5

It had been a week since Artemis was kidnapped by his own family, leaving everyone in a state of turmoil. The Monarch hadn't opened on the first, prompting the staff to gather for an urgent meeting to discuss their next steps. Tension hung thick in the air as everyone voiced their concerns and brainstormed possible strategies.

Shino, in particular, was struggling. Sleepless nights had taken their toll; dark circles framed his eyes, and his mind raced with worry. He felt a crushing weight of responsibility, believing that they should have done more to protect Artemis. As the meeting progressed, it became increasingly clear that their plans were faltering. Ideas that seemed promising at first quickly unraveled under the pressure of their situation. Each suggestion was met with skepticism, and doubts crept in, overshadowing their resolve.

The urgency of the situation loomed large, and with every passing hour, the fear for Artemis's safety grew. They needed a breakthrough, a glimmer of hope to rally around, but time was slipping away, and Shino feared they might be running out of options.

He was already awake and fully dressed by the time he would normally be just stirring from sleep. His eyes burned and stung, a harsh reminder of the restless night he'd endured, and he felt utterly exhausted, as if he had run a marathon in his mind.

The weight in his gut was heavy, a gnawing emptiness that settled deep within him. All he could think about was Artemis, the echo of his absence filling every corner of his thoughts. The relentless hums in the back of his mind whispered that Arti was in pain, suffering just as he had when he was forced to stay with their father. Each thought pierced him like a knife, a reminder of how fragile their world had become.

Sleep had become a distant memory, slipping away from him like grains of sand through his fingers. He could barely bring himself to eat, the mere thought of food making him feel sick. He felt utterly lost, adrift in a sea of despair. Blake had been trying to push medications on him, suggesting he see therapists again, but he rejected the idea vehemently. What he needed wasn't a pill or a therapist's couch; he needed to know that Artemis was safe, that he would come back to him.

Shino: "RikKu? It's time to wake up now," he called softly, knocking gently on her door. He heard her stir awake inside, a small comfort amidst the chaos. A faint smile crossed his lips as he walked upstairs to the kitchen to make breakfast, hoping to find a moment of normalcy, even as his heart ached for the brother he feared he might never see again.

He decided it was finally time to have breakfast. Sleep had eluded him for days, each time he closed his eyes, bringing nightmares that felt all too real. The hollow ache in his stomach reminded him he was absolutely starving, and to avoid keeling over from hunger, he resolved to sit down for a meal with RikKu.

RikKu was in a fragile state herself. She cried often, her grief palpable. She had expressed her reluctance to stay at the dorm or visit the café they used to frequent with Artemis. Each place reminded her of his absence, forcing her to confront the harsh reality that he was gone. Shino understood all too well how those memories could twist the knife deeper, and he wished he could shield her from that pain.

The atmosphere at school was thick with an unsettling heaviness. Teachers had issued a quiet directive: they weren't allowed to discuss Artemis's situation openly, even as they assured everyone that they were doing something to address it. That hollow promise only fueled Shino's anger. How could they expect them to move on when Artemis had been forcibly taken by them? He could be hurt, or worse-dead-and yet they were left in a state of limbo, denied the closure they so desperately needed. The thought made him sick; a burning rage coursed through him as he grappled with feelings of helplessness.

Sometimes, he was almost relieved that Pissed wasn't around to play the hero. If only he had his license, he could confront the situation head-on, find answers, and deal with it in his own way. But that was just a fantasy now; if he were capable of handling this, he would have already come charging in to rescue Artemis.