Beneath the Shattered Sky

Chapter 16: The Aftermath

The silence in the underground chamber was deafening, broken only by the faint hum of the now-disabled siphon. Maya remained on her knees, staring at the place where the rift had once pulsed with malevolent energy. The room smelled of burnt ozone and ash, the remnants of their battle etched into the very walls. 

Aiden slumped against the cold concrete, his face pale and tear-streaked. His mother’s preserved body—his last connection to her—was now reduced to dust, the catalyst destroyed along with the rift. He said nothing, his gaze distant, lost in a grief too profound for words. 

Dante crouched next to Maya, his hand brushing hers. “Are you okay?” he asked gently. 

She nodded, though her voice betrayed her exhaustion. “I think so. But Aiden…” 

They both looked at him, his figure shrouded in shadow. He hadn’t moved since the rift’s collapse. 

---

Hours later, the three of them emerged from the hidden floors into the biting cold of the stormy night. Rain lashed against their faces, soaking them as they made their way to the rooftop of Maya’s building—a place that had always been their sanctuary. 

Maya set a blanket over Aiden’s shoulders, though he didn’t react. He sat on the ledge, staring into the void of the night, his usual sharp confidence replaced by silence. 

“You did what you had to,” Dante said softly, breaking the quiet. 

Aiden didn’t turn to face him. “I destroyed her. I destroyed the only part of her I had left.” 

Maya knelt beside him, her voice tender. “You saved us. You saved so many lives, Aiden. Your mother would have been proud.” 

He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “Would she? She was the reason the rift existed in the first place. Her experiments with my father… they caused all of this.” 

Maya reached for his hand, but he pulled away, standing abruptly. 

“I need to be alone,” he said, his voice hollow. Without waiting for a response, he disappeared into the rain. 

---

Maya leaned against the railing, watching him go, her heart heavy. “I don’t know if he’ll ever forgive himself.” 

Dante stood beside her, his hand brushing hers again. “He will. Eventually. But right now, he needs time.” 

Maya turned to him, her expression soft. “And what about you? How are you holding up?” 

He shrugged, giving her a faint smile. “I’m fine. Just glad you’re okay.” 

Her gaze lingered on him, warmth spreading through her chest despite the cold rain. “You’re always there for me, Dante. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” 

He looked away, his usual shyness returning. “It’s nothing. I just… care about you, that’s all.” 

Maya tilted her head, studying him. “You’re always so modest. But you’re one of the strongest people I know.” 

Dante’s cheeks reddened, and he scratched the back of his neck. “Stop, you’ll make me blush.” 

She laughed softly, the sound cutting through the tension of the night. 

---

Later, as the storm subsided, Maya and Dante remained on the rooftop, wrapped in a shared blanket. They watched the clouds part to reveal the stars, their light faint but steady. 

“Do you think it’s really over?” Maya asked quietly. 

Dante hesitated. “I want to say yes. But with something like this… I don’t think we’ll ever truly know.” 

She nodded, leaning her head against his shoulder. “I just hope we can have some peace for a while.” 

Dante glanced at her, his heart swelling. “You deserve peace, Maya. More than anyone.” 

She closed her eyes, letting the warmth of his presence wash over her. For the first time in weeks, she felt a flicker of hope. 

---

In the distance, the unfinished building stood silent and foreboding. But deep within its hidden floors, something stirred—a faint hum, barely audible over the night’s quiet. 

The battle was over, but the war had just begun.