Bound By The Stars

Into The Shadows

Lydia was jolted awake by the sound of her name. “Lydia, get up! We need to leave the academy, fast!” Eryx’s voice was urgent, laced with worry.

Startled, she blinked against the dim light filtering through the library windows . Panic gripped her as she heard distant screams echoing through the halls of the academy. She jumped out from her chair, her heart racing.

“What’s happening?” she asked breathlessly, quickly pulling on her clothes.

“There’s something going on! Students are disappearing, !” Eryx grabbed her hand, his grip firm and reassuring. “We need to go now!”

They dashed through the narrow corridors, the sound of chaos growing louder with each step. Lydia’s breath quickened as she caught glimpses of terrified faces, students sprinting past them, some engulfed by a dark smoke as they ran.

“Eryx, where do we go?” she shouted over the noise, her heart pounding in her chest.

“Just keep moving!” he urged, pulling her along. They reached the exit gate just in time, bursting out into the open air.

As they stumbled into the sunlight, Lydia leaned against a nearby tree, gasping for breath. The world around them was in disarray, students scattered, some crying out for friends who had already vanished. Fear tightened its grip on her heart.

“Eryx, what’s happening?” she asked, looking up at him, desperation in her eyes.

“I don’t know,” he replied, his expression grave. “But we can’t stay here.”

Suddenly, the screams intensified, echoing from the woods. “We need to get to safety!” Eryx urged, and they took off running again. Lydia struggled to keep up, her legs burning with fatigue.

“Eryx, wait!” she gasped, her hand slipping from his grasp as she stumbled. She nearly fell, but Eryx reacted swiftly, catching her and lifting her effortlessly onto his shoulder.

“Oh, Lydia, you can’t be serious even now,” he laughed, his voice a mixture of relief and teasing.

She couldn’t help but giggle, even in the face of chaos. “Put me down! I can walk!”

“Not if you’re going to trip again!” he teased, but he lowered her back to her feet.

“Stop! We can seek shelter there!” Lydia pointed toward a familiar sight, the cave that had drawn her in before, where she had first encountered Xander.

Eryx hesitated, memories of her last encounter flooding back. “Lydia, I don’t think.. ”

“We don’t have any other options!” she insisted, her voice firm. With no time to waste, they hurried toward the cave, the weight of uncertainty hanging in the air.

As they entered the cave, a shiver ran down Lydia’s spine. This was the same place where everything had changed, where Xander had revealed his intentions. But with Eryx by her side, she felt a glimmer of safety, even in the darkness.

Inside, the cave was cool and dimly lit, the walls shimmering with the remnants of bioluminescent flowers. Lydia took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. “What do we do now?” she whispered, glancing up at Eryx, who looked just as concerned.

“We wait and see what happens next,” he replied, his voice steady, yet laced with tension. “But I won’t let anything happen to you, Lydia. I promise.”

She nodded, feeling a mix of fear and trust. Together, they prepared to face whatever threat lurked beyond the cave’s entrance.

As they sat in the cave, the silence was heavy with uncertainty. Lydia’s heart raced, her mind flickering between thoughts of safety and the lingering fear of Xander .

Eryx, leaning against the cave wall, seemed to drift off, but Lydia remained alert, her senses heightened. Hours passed, the cave still and dark, until the sound of soft, steady breathing filled her ears.

Eventually, fatigue overtook her, and she leaned against Eryx, succumbing to the warmth and comfort of his presence.

A few hours later, Lydia awoke suddenly, a cold breeze brushing against her skin. Panic surged through her as she remembered the cave’s previous closing.

The darkness felt suffocating. She blinked away the remnants of sleep, heart pounding, and breathed a sigh of relief when she noticed the soft glow of light spilling into the cave entrance.

“Eryx!” she screamed, urgency lacing her voice.