Something In The Way-SYLUS X MC X ZAYNE

Chapter 29 "The Foreboding"

The dreamy was vivid—eerily so. I stood barefoot in the middle of a grand courtyard, the stone beneath my feet cool and smooth. Around me, jasmine flowers bloomed in wild abundance, their scent heavy and intoxicating. Their delicate white petals glowed faintly under an unnatural red sky that churned with ominous clouds. It wasn't a sunset; it was something more p how sinister, the crimson hue darkening the world like blood spilling over the heavens.

A cold breeze swept past, carrying a faint whisper I couldn't make out. I turned, my eyes scanning the castle walls that surrounded me. The structure was ancient, looming with a sense of foreboding. Vines crawled up its surface, their tendrils wrapping around the stone like veins.

Then it began.

The sky above erupted into chaos. Shards of ice burst forth, jagged and glittering like deadly crystals, while tendrils of red energy crackled and lashed out in retaliation. The two forces collided with violent intensity, each trying to overpower the other. The icy shards shattered into mist upon contact with the red energy, and the crimson light burned brighter, pulsating like a living thing.

My breath caught as I watched, frozen in place. The red energy felt familiar, like a memory buried deep within me. It wasn't fire, though it had the same consuming intensity. It moved with a purpose, almost sentient, and the sky seemed to tremble under its power. The ice, sharp and unyielding, fought back fiercely, a cold force of nature refusing to be extinguished.

I couldn't move, my feet rooted to the spot. The jasmine around me began to wither and burn, their once-sweet scent turning acrid. The ground beneath me cracked, fissures forming as if the earth itself was breaking apart. The red energy shot downward, heading straight for me, and—

I woke up with a gasp.

My chest heaved as I sat up in bed, disoriented and drenched in sweat. The dream clung to me, its details sharp and unnervingly clear. My heart raced as I tried to shake the eerie feeling it left behind. I glanced around my small apartment, the familiarity grounding me, but my mind refused to settle.

The clock on my nightstand read 7:42 a.m. "Shit," I muttered, throwing off the covers. I had overslept, and work wasn't going to wait for me. I hurried to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face, trying to scrub away the remnants of the dream. But it lingered, the red energy and ice locked in battle playing over and over in my mind like a warning.

After quickly pulling on my uniform and tying my hair back, I headed to the living room to grab my gear. My eyes fell on the gun Sylus had gifted me, still sitting on the coffee table where I'd left it. The intricate engravings caught the morning light, making the weapon look even more otherworldly.

I hesitated, my hand hovering over it. Part of me didn't want to take it. Not because I doubted its quality, it was leagues beyond my old weapon...but because of what it represented. The memory of Sylus's voice on the phone, calm and commanding, resurfaced. He hadn't spoken to me since that call, hadn't reached out since the hospital. I blamed myself. I had prioritized Zayne, and maybe I should have, but losing Zayne...almost losing him...had forced me to confront my deepest fear, losing someone I cared about. And now, I missed Sylus in a way I couldn't fully articulate.

With a sigh, I grabbed the gun and replaced my old one in the holster. "You win, Sylus," I muttered under my breath, shaking my head as I secured it. It felt right, though I wasn't ready to admit that to anyone—not even myself.

As I left the apartment, my thoughts shifted to Zayne. He was being discharged today. His recovery had been almost miraculous, and despite the chaos surrounding everything else, the knowledge that he was healing gave me a strange sense of relief. For a moment, I allowed myself to smile.