Hellbound Hearts

16. New Trouble

Moisture. Cold. Darkness. I can feel everything deep within my bones. My body won't respond to any signal from my brain. I can't even lift a finger. Glass shards beneath me dig deeper, slicing through my skin. Blood pours from my wounds, and a warm, sticky sensation spreads. I'm not sure what just happened. I tremble uncontrollably, each spasm bringing excruciating pain. I wish it would finally stop. Raindrops shoot down from the black clouds, soaking my bloody clothes and plastering my hair to my burning face. Each drop feels like needles. Lightning splits the sky, illuminating the darkness, and thunder echoes over the sound of rain. I lie on the cold pavement, vulnerable and exposed, as my strength fades and my consciousness slips away. It's slowly getting easier to let go, and I'm not sure I want to resist. My eyes begin to close, but I hear a new sound—someone approaching. I can't turn my head. I only see the blurred overcast sky. But I know I'm not alone.

Bright flash.

Deafening thunder.

Silence.

Footsteps on the wet asphalt.

I spring up from a lying position as if stung. My heart pounds wildly, threatening to leap from my chest. Breathing is hard, and I can't focus or recognize my surroundings. For a moment, it feels like I'm still in the rain, with thunder echoing in my ears. I press my throbbing temple with my fingers.

"Are you okay?"

A familiar voice pulls me back to reality. I realize I'm in my room. Cody stands in the doorway, looking confused. It dawns on me that he's now living with us. And not just anywhere, but in my room.

"Just a nightmare?" I mutter uncertainly.

"You guys dream too?" he arches an eyebrow.

I look at him silently, trying to gauge his intentions. Cody's face shows genuine surprise. He's not mocking me.

"Of course, we're human too," I say, trying to sound enthusiastic.

"That part's still unclear to me," Cody mutters skeptically. "I'm not sure it's an accurate description."

I can't help but smile. He's curious, still left in the dark about this strange metamorphosis. Our eyes meet, and I realize there's no avoiding the impending conversation.

"Would you like to know more?"

Eventually, he nods. Before I know it, I'm explaining everything I think matters: insights into the world beyond ours, its complexities, the mysterious guardians, and the origins of the entity that now resides within me.

Cody listens silently, his expression a blend of awe and intrigue. When I finish, there's a moment of silence. He processes the information, his expression unreadable.

"Okay, but I'm still confused about something. You have abilities, yet you can still be harmed. What's the point of it all?" Cody raises an eyebrow.

"Ah, the call of the savior," I chuckle.

Cody rolls his eyes and sighs.

"What would you do if you knew the exact date of your death? Would you still carry on like some messiah?" he asks curiously.

"Probably nothing," I shrug. "I'd just meet my fate, doing what I'm doing now."

"But why?" Cody frowns.

"Because last time I died, no one gave me a heads-up."

My words spill out before I realize it. My eyes quickly dart to Cody as my heart skips a beat. His face pales slightly, his expression puzzled.

But he doesn't leave. I take it as a good sign and watch him carefully. After a few moments, he looks back at me, our eyes locking again.

"How?"

"I know it sounds strange, but it's actually pretty incredible. I was given a second chance, on the condition that I'd become a demon hunter. I'm not fearless. I just take responsibility for still being here," I try to explain.

Cody sits for a moment, slightly open-mouthed.

"That's just insane," he murmurs, looking down. "I could never have imagined that."

I appreciate his calm reaction, though I can't shake the worry that my words might haunt him.

"You don't need to dwell on it. It's my burden to bear. This new life isn't a perfect gift, but it gives me the chance to be here. And I don't intend to die a second time anytime soon. Trust me—it really sucks."

*

A week has passed since Cody moved in with us, and things have been going smoothly. My anxiety has started to ease as Cody gets along well with Kaja and Eleonora. Arthur keeps his distance but doesn't intimidate him.

Watching Cody and Kaja in conversation, I catch snippets of Kaja sharing stories from our lives. It's reassuring to see Cody's curiosity still alive.

"I'm going to train," I tell Eleonora. "It's my lunch break."

"Don't overdo it," she smiles.

I nod, casting one last glance at Cody. Unexpectedly, our eyes meet, and I feel a wave of embarrassment. I quickly avert my gaze and head to the basement.

Today, I'll skip the warm-up. My body is already brimming with adrenaline from some unknown source. But despite my attempts to clear my mind, I struggle to concentrate.

After several failed attempts, I begin to feel heat radiating from my palms and realize something is happening. I sweep my hand through the air and open my eyes to see flames beginning to form.

Sustaining the fire is challenging, but I don't give up. Inhaling deeply, I try to make it spread. My hands shake, and sweat drips down my forehead.

Suddenly, a blue light flashes before my eyes, and I instinctively jump back. In an instant, the fire disappears. Bewildered, I can't quite understand what just happened. But for a brief moment, the flames burned brighter than ever.

I feel a metallic taste of warmth on my lips but smile contentedly. My head rings, and I feel exhausted, so I slump to the floor to rest.

"Going to pass out again?"

This time, it's Arthur. I look up at him. He's ready for training, dressed in his usual black sportswear.

"Just relaxing," I chuckle.

Arthur grins.

"Wipe snotty your nose," he teases.

Remembering the blood, I quickly wipe my nose and wave it off.

"It's nothing. Has it been half an hour already?"

"Yup, my turn." Arthur approaches the padded side of the basement. "But Elle won't mind if we spar till the first knockout."

Sparring with Arthur is something I look forward to. He's a challenging opponent, and our matches are always intense. Plus, we never complain about the pain we cause each other.

For a while, we engage in a passionate fight, but our focus is interrupted by hurried footsteps. I turn to see Eleonora, slightly out of breath.

"Level three. If we lose him, there'll be trouble."