Something In The Way-SYLUS X MC X ZAYNE

Chapter 24 " ZAYNE"

Sitting in my office, I trace my fingers over the faded scars that line my forearm, a reminder of the nights when my Evol spiraled out of control. They ache now, a dull pain that matches the hollow feeling in my chest. My thoughts drift back to that night she stayed with me, when she fell asleep in my arms, bringing a warmth I had not felt in so long. For those few hours, I could almost believe I was capable of being something steady, someone safe. Her presence was grounding, a fragile comfort I was scared to hold onto too tightly.

But my nights have always been filled with shadows. Every time I close my eyes, I see her. Not peaceful or smiling, but broken, lifeless, slipping away from me while I stand helpless. My nightmares make a mockery of what I want, reminding me why I keep my distance. I am terrified that if I let her into my life, if I allow myself to fall completely, she will suffer for it. She deserves better—someone whole, someone who can protect her from the darkness I carry. Not the man whose every sleep is haunted by her death.

The sound of a knock breaks my thoughts, and I look up to see Dr. Greyson at the door, his expression hesitant. He starts discussing a patient, detailing their progress, but his words barely register. I nod absently, caught somewhere between duty and the ache I cannot seem to shake. Greyson pauses, noticing my distraction, his brows furrowing.

"Sir? Are you alright?" he asks, voice low and cautious.

Greyson," I begin, and he pauses, surprised. I never speak to my colleagues in anything but straightforward terms, never ask personal questions. "Have you ever... been in love?"

Dr. Greyson looks stunned for a moment, as if he's uncertain he heard me correctly. He stammers, "I—uh, well, yes. Once."

I nod, trying to seem unaffected, but my chest tightens with an ache I can't shake. "And... have you ever lost them?" The question comes out softer than I intended, almost inaudible.

Greyson seems at a loss, his confusion evident as he looks at me. "I... suppose, yes. I have." He studies me a little closer, clearly wondering what's going on.

"What does one do," I murmur, keeping my gaze on the papers scattered on my desk, "when they lose someone like that?"

He hesitates, then answers carefully. "It depends, I suppose, on how much you loved them. If you truly did..." He trails off, watching me as if waiting for a reaction.

Forcing myself to loosen the grip on my arm, I nod. "I'm fine," I say, though even I can hear the strain in my tone. He doesn't look convinced but simply nods before walking away, casting one last concerned glance over his shoulder.

As I leave my office, adjusting my cuffs, I feel the weight of others' eyes on me. Nurses glance my way, whispering and smiling, their admiration clear. I keep my expression cool, unaffected, ignoring their glances. They see only the doctor, the professional, the man who never falters. None of them know the truth, the shadows that cling to me. The only person who has ever seen through that facade... is her. And now I've lost her to him.

In the operating room, I focus on the task at hand, letting the precise rhythm of surgery become my anchor. The steady movements, the controlled environment, provide a sense of calm—if only for a few hours. When the surgery is complete, Greyson looks at me, respect clear in his expression.

"That was a great operation, sir," he says with a nod.

I acknowledge him with a curt nod. "Thank you. I'll be leaving for the night."

I change, swapping my surgical gown for my coat, and step out into the cold night air. Linkon's streets are crowded, the lights casting a dim glow over the bustling scene. People pass by, faces full of life, voices filled with laughter, while I drift among them, feeling like a ghost. My heart is heavy, my thoughts tangled in emotions I do not know how to confront. She told me this morning she was with him, and the jealousy that claws at me is fierce and consuming. It is not just that she is with someone else—it is that she is with him, and I cannot shake the bitterness that fills me, knowing he is by her side while I am left alone.

A couple walks past, hand in hand, laughing, and I stop in my tracks, the sight cutting deep. I remember the way she looked at me, the glimmer in her eyes, the way her hand felt in mine during those fleeting moments I allowed myself to reach out. But it feels like a lifetime ago, like a memory from someone else's life. She is the only one I have ever loved, and now I am left to watch from a distance as she slips away.

With a sigh, I turn and keep walking, letting the city swallow me up. The world moves around me, alive and vibrant, but I feel disconnected, caught in a haze of memories I cannot escape. I glance down at my hand, at the scars that tell stories I have never shared, reminders of battles fought in solitude. Now, all I am left with is the pain of what I can never have.

As I walk down the crowded streets, lost in the endless loop of regret and longing, the bustle of city life suddenly fractures with a scream. I freeze, instincts kicking in before I fully process the chaos unfolding around me. A towering Wanderer, monstrous and hulking, has materialized from the shadows, its grotesque, clawed arms sweeping at everything in its path, scattering people like leaves. The terrified screams grow louder as the beast turns its focus toward the helpless, desperate souls scrambling to get away.

Without a second thought, I break into a run, my mind and body slipping into a familiar rhythm. The icy tendrils of my Evol flare to life in my hands, wrapping around my fingers in a silvery frost. I am no hunter, but I know I cannot stand by while innocents are being torn apart. My steps are quick and calculated, my movements precise as I aim to intercept the Wanderer, to draw its attention away from the crowd.

I barely make it halfway toward the beast when it notices me, those soulless eyes locking onto mine with a look that sends a shiver down my spine. It lunges, but I am faster. My ice Evol surges, forming jagged spikes that I hurl at the Wanderer, piercing its thick skin. It howls in pain, a sound that echoes through the streets, but it only seems to grow angrier.

I press on, weaving through its relentless swipes as I aim for its weak spots, sending shards of ice into every opening I find. The streets are now empty except for the monster and me. For a moment, I think I might be winning. The Wanderer stumbles, injured and staggering, but as I prepare to deliver a final blow, its massive claw swings toward me in a brutal arc.

I try to dodge, but I am a split second too late. A sharp, searing pain rips through my chest as its claws tear into me, sending me crashing to the ground. Blood spills from the wound, warm and sticky, staining my shirt as I struggle to breathe. Every inhale is agony, my chest aflame with pain, and I can feel the strength draining from my limbs. The world blurs around me, the edges of my vision darkening as I fight to stay conscious.

Somewhere in the distance, I hear the shouts of a hunter squad finally arriving. They converge on the Wanderer, attacking it with brutal efficiency, their weapons flashing as they finish what I couldn't. The monster falls, defeated, but I am barely aware of it. All I can feel is the cold, the numbness spreading from my wound as I lie on the ground, helpless.

A shadow looms over me, one of the hunters calling for help, their voice frantic and muffled as if coming from underwater. My vision blurs further, and I know I am fading, slipping away into the quiet embrace of darkness.

As the world around me fades, a single memory surfaces, piercing through the pain like a beacon of light. Her face, radiant and full of life, smiling at me with a warmth I can almost feel. It is a memory of a moment that never truly belonged to me, yet it is all I have left. I cling to it, letting it wash over me, as if it might somehow bring me peace in these final moments.

In my mind, she is happy, laughing, free from the shadows that haunt my life. I see her with a look of pure joy, her eyes alight with a love that I was never meant to have. And in that vision, she is safe, far away from the danger and darkness that surrounds me now. It is the one solace I hold onto, the thought that maybe, even without me, she will find happiness.

The pain fades, replaced by a numbness that creeps over me like ice. I can feel my body giving up, the darkness closing in, but still, I hold onto her face, that smile, that fleeting moment of warmth. In these final breaths, I am not the doctor or the fighter, not the cold, distant man I have tried so hard to be. I am simply a man who loved, even if he was never loved in return.

The sounds of the city fade into a distant hum, the cries and chaos of the world drifting further and further away. I close my eyes, surrendering to the darkness, with only her memory as my guide. And as everything slips away, a single thought lingers, a wish unspoken: that she might find the happiness I could never give her.