The Prototype

Chapter 23

As the vortex spun tighter, lightning sliced through the storm, and Maia's anger twisted reality itself. Each pulse of her rage filled the air, choking them with tension as they struggled against the fierce winds and suffocating darkness.

Ethan took a steadying breath, looking up at Maia, who held Solace helplessly in her grip. Despite the pain twisting her face, there was a flicker of sorrow deep in Maia's eyes, as if some part of her was still aware of the person she'd been before all this anger and betrayal had taken over.

"Maia," he called, his voice barely reaching her through the maelstrom. He forced his voice to soften, his tone almost pleading. "I know things have been...broken between us. And I know you feel betrayed. But you have to know it wasn't just you. I felt it too." He clenched his fists, willing her to hear him. "We both deserved better than this."

For a split second, Maia's gaze softened as she met Ethan's eyes, a flash of pain slipping past her hardened expression. But as she glanced at Solace—still helpless in her grip—the sorrow twisted back into rage. The hurt had sunk too deep.

"Better?" she scoffed, her voice cold and sharp. "Is that supposed to make everything right? I needed you, Ethan. I was counting on you! And you abandoned me."

Rowan, lying nearby, groaned as he struggled to his feet. "Ethan, buddy," he muttered with a weak chuckle, "I don't think talking's gonna get us anywhere. She's kind of past the warm-and-fuzzy stage."

Ethan shot him a look that was both exasperated and grateful. Even in the middle of all this chaos, Rowan could somehow find the space for sarcasm. But they were running out of time.

With only seconds ticking down on the clock, Ethan looked at Nathan, who gave a determined nod. Nathan activated his levitation device, rising alongside Rowan and Ethan, their determination unwavering. Together, they launched themselves toward Maia, pushing through the winds and storm, every fiber of their being focused on reaching her and pulling Solace free.

"Maia, stop this!" Ethan's voice rang out, filled with every ounce of emotion he had left. "Don't do something you can't take back!"

Maia's face twisted, her gaze zeroing in on Ethan as he hurtled toward her. She raised her hand, dark energy coiling around her like tendrils. With a sudden, fierce burst, she sent a pulse of energy ripping through the air. Ethan swerved, narrowly avoiding the blow, but one of the dark tendrils struck him across his chest, knocking the breath from his lungs. He tumbled back, gasping as pain seared through him.

Nathan and Rowan rushed in, determined to reach Solace. Nathan's face was set, his expression fierce as he focused on Solace, pulling every ounce of power from his levitation device to close the distance. But Maia's grip tightened around Solace, and Solace cried out, her voice faint but filled with pain as Maia's energy surged through her, intertwining with the prototype.

Nathan reached out, straining as he tried to grasp Solace's hand. "Hold on, Solace! We're here!"

The prototype on Solace's wrist began to glow, absorbing the dark energy from Maia and amplifying the effects. Solace's face contorted in pain, her body shuddering as the energy surged through her.

"Ethan!" she called, her voice breaking, fear etched across her face. "I can't—I can't hold on much longer!"

Ethan's heart twisted, and with a surge of determination, he pushed himself forward, ignoring the pain in his chest. He reached Maia, managing to grab hold of one of the prototype pieces that was fused to her. The moment he touched it, a searing jolt shot through him, burning his hand, but he held on, gritting his teeth against the pain.

"Maia," he gasped, "please. Stop this. You're hurting her... you're hurting all of us!"

Maia's face flickered, her gaze shifting between Ethan's pleading eyes and Solace's pain-stricken face. For a moment, her resolve wavered, and the dark energy around her began to falter. But then, the bitterness resurfaced, consuming her expression once more.

"You don't get to ask me to stop," she hissed, wrenching herself free from his grip. She clutched the prototype piece, holding it close, the energy radiating from her more powerful than ever.

Ethan stumbled back, clutching his burned hand, pain etched across his face. But even through the agony, he met Maia's gaze, his eyes filled with sadness and regret.

"Then don't do it for me," he said quietly. "Do it for yourself. For the person you were before all this anger took over."

Maia's expression faltered, and for a moment, she looked almost lost, as if Ethan's words had reached something deep within her. But then she hardened, and with a fierce cry, she raised her hands, gathering every last ounce of her power.

The vortex above them roared to life, lightning crackling and swirling around them, and the ground shook beneath their feet. The countdown on their watches ticked down to the final seconds.

With a final, desperate surge, Rowan and Nathan reached for Solace, pulling her free from Maia's grip. Solace gasped, collapsing into their arms, her face pale and exhausted, but alive.

As they fell back to the ground, the vortex began to collapse, the energy imploding in on itself as Maia's power surged out of control. She hovered in the air, her face twisted in pain and fury, as the dark energy consumed her, pulling her into the depths of the storm she had created.

In one last, fierce explosion of light, Maia vanished, the vortex imploding and leaving nothing but silence in its wake.

The four of them lay on the ground, bruised, battered, and exhausted, the storm finally dissipating around them. The sky above was clear, the stars shining down on them as they lay in silence, the weight of what had just happened settling over them.

Ethan reached for Solace's hand, his fingers brushing against hers, a silent reassurance that she was still there, still with him. Solace looked at him, her face filled with a mixture of relief and sorrow, her eyes reflecting the same emotions he felt.

"We did it," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Ethan nodded, his gaze lingering on the spot where Maia had vanished, a pang of sadness piercing his heart. "Yeah... but at what cost?"

Nathan placed a hand on his shoulder, his expression solemn. "Some battles... they take more than they give."

Rowan let out a weak chuckle, his face pale but his eyes bright. "Well, at least we don't have to deal with Maia's mood swings anymore."

Ethan rolled his eyes, but a faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Despite everything, Rowan still found a way to bring light into the darkest of moments.

As they lay on the ground, the weight of their journey settling over them, they knew that the scars of this battle would stay with them forever. But they also knew that they had faced the darkness—and come out the other side, together.

The journey ahead was uncertain, and the wounds would take time to heal. But for now, in the quiet aftermath of the storm, they were grateful to be alive, and grateful to have each other.