Darker Days

Chapter 2

"So, how do you know?" Is he showing extreme signs of possession? Because if he-"

"Idiot do you not SEE him in there?" Snapped Zane at Lance, the team's friend and med expert.
"He's lost- look at him!"

Lance looked, not at James's universe chamber, through the dark yet somewhat transparent seal to Dorian, but to Zane, whose eyes were highlighted crimson in his madness. Lance backed away slowly. He knew where this would escalate to if he persisted any more.

"All right then. I'll leave you to it." He left.

Zane stood, eyes still glowing in rage. Artisa came and took his arm gently.

"Zane, come with me. You're too upset, plea-"

"The hell do you want me to be right now!?" Said Zane, pulling away from Aarti, only to stride to a dark wall and face it. She looked at him, tears starting to form in her eyes. Artisa ran to her room, the teafrs silently streaming down her face.

"Hey, Aarti wait" yelled James to her, but she was already gone.
"Dammit man!" He snapped at Zane.

"..." He sighed as James approached, unbeknownst to him.

"Hey man, look-" whispered James to Zane while patting him on the back.
"I know this probably isn't the best time to say this, but you should just tell her that y-"

"No", he cut him off quietly.
"That would ruin everything. I- we..." He sighed again. James stood listening intently.
"What would it do to tell her with this war going on? She already doesn't listen in battle."

James stood back, finding a response.

"Dude, you know she's crazy about you. If you tell her, she'll be calmer, fight better. She'll work better. Give it a chance, give her a chance." He removed his hand from Zane's back and walked away.

Zane looked down, taking in what his friend had to say. ~I need to tell her~. He pushed himself from the wall, and slowly made his way to Aarti's room.

"...Aarti" he said under his breath as he gazed at her door, a hint of love highlighted within the icy, gray-blue of his eyes. He knocked softly.
"Aarti.. Artisa please let me in. I need to speak with you-" he blushed, "..privately".

He waited a moment, hearing no movement beyond the door. Then he heard the mechanical lock on the door release as the door slid to the left, allowing him access. Zane stood in the frame of the door, full of hesitation and and fear of rejection. Finally, he worked his nerves and took a few steps toward then stopped as the door closed behind him. He walked further into her room and stopped at her bed, which was empty but which she clearly had been in recently. Zane hadn't noticed the faint sound of water until he heard Aarti's shower cut off. He sat on the edge of her bed and waited.

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