#crycxbey

[crycxbey]

𝑰𝒏 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕

𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒕𝒆, 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒊𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍, 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒊𝒎, 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑫𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕, 𝒔𝒉𝒆'𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒏𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐 𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑨𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏, 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝑪 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆.

𝑵𝒐𝒘, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒂𝒎𝒆’𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒔; 𝑿𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒓, 𝒁𝒂𝒚𝒏𝒆, 𝑹𝒂𝒇𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒍, 𝑺𝒚𝒍𝒖𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒃, 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒊𝒂 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒖𝒏𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒗𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆. 𝑳𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒂 𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒈𝒂𝒎𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒆𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆.

𝑺𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆, 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒊𝒂 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈... 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒉𝒆𝒓.

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔:

𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑰

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑰𝑰

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑰𝑰𝑰

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑰𝑽

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑽

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑽𝑰

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑽𝑰𝑰

𝑰𝒏 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒆

𝑴𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒐𝒐𝒏!

𝑯𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆! 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒂𝒏 𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒂 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒅 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒈𝒐 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒖𝒓𝒈𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒏𝒐 𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝑰 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒄𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒍.

𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅, 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒚 𝒕𝒂𝒈 #𝒄𝒓𝒚𝒄𝒙𝒃𝒆𝒚𝒍𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔-𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝑨𝒐𝟑, 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒑𝒂𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒗. 𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒖𝒑𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒖𝒚𝒔 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚!

𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕

𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒆: 𝑰 𝒅𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒔 𝑨𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒊𝒂. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝑰𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒅

𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒆: 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔-𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝑨𝒐𝟑, 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒑𝒂𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒗. 𝑰𝒇 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒔, 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒕!

[crycxbey]

𝑰𝒏 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑰

𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕

𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒐𝒘: ↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺

January 9th, 2025

Sercia stepped through the garage door of her family home at exactly 6:30 PM, the weight of the day clinging to her like an invisible shroud. The lingering hum of customer complaints and ringing phones still echoed faintly in her mind, a reminder of the endless cycle of monotony that came with working at a call center. Her body ached with exhaustion, her limbs heavy from the hours spent confined to a chair, offering forced politeness to strangers who barely acknowledged her humanity.

"Another day, another dollar," she mumbled under her breath, her voice flat with resignation. Without sparing a glance at the rest of the house, she moved with practiced ease toward her bedroom, the one place where the world’s noise couldn't reach her.

As soon as she stepped inside, a familiar sense of relief washed over her. The soft white and light blue tones of her sanctuary wrapped around her like a comforting embrace, a stark contrast to the gray, fluorescent-lit atmosphere she had just escaped. She wasted no time kneeling down to untie her well-worn black Converse, fingers working swiftly at the laces. With a quiet sigh, she kicked them off unceremoniously, the shoes landing with a soft thud against the hardwood floor.

Straightening up, she let her purse slide off her shoulder, the strap slipping through her fingers as she draped it over the plush white chair tucked neatly in the corner of her room. The motion felt automatic, muscle memory guiding her as she exhaled another slow breath.

Her gaze flickered toward her bed, its sky-blue sheets crisp and inviting, practically calling her name. For a brief moment, she considered surrendering to its warmth, letting herself melt into the comfort of her pillows and blankets. But she shook the thought away.

No. She had a mission.

She glanced toward her desk, where her laptop and stacks of college notes sat in an unspoken challenge, almost taunting her. The neatly stacked papers and open textbooks were a reminder of the relentless cycle she lived, work, study, sleep, repeat. A quiet sigh left her lips as she rolled her shoulders, shaking off the fatigue clinging to her bones.

At twenty-one, she had mastered the art of late-night cramming, pushing past exhaustion in an effort to keep up with the never-ending stream of assignments, readings, and deadlines. She knew that if she didn’t start now, the weekend would swallow her whole, and with it, any chance of getting ahead.

With a resigned groan, she stretched her arms above her head, mentally preparing herself for another long night. She pulled out her chair, sat down, and opened her laptop, the screen’s glow casting a faint light against her tired features. The hours ahead would be grueling, but she had no choice.

𓍯𓂃𓂃𓂃

By 10 PM, her brain felt like it had been wrung dry, as if every ounce of comprehension had been squeezed out and left to evaporate. The words on the pages before her blurred, lectures and concepts tangling together into an incoherent mess. No matter how hard she tried to focus, the information refused to stick, slipping through her mind like water through cupped hands.

Alright, enough of that she thought with a sigh, pushing away from her desk. The chair creaked as she leaned back, stretching her arms above her head, her muscles aching from hours spent hunched over her notes.

She needed a break.

She reached for her phone; it offering a small comfort after the long, grueling hours of balancing both work and study. The thought of escaping into her favorite game, Love and Deepspace, felt like a well-earned reward, her own little slice of refuge from reality.

“Let’s see what’s going on with the gang today,” she murmured to herself, a small grin tugging at her lips as she collapsed onto her bed. With a few swipes, she unlocked her phone and tapped the game icon, the screen glowing softly in the dimly lit room. The opening sequence played, its ethereal music washing over her like a lullaby, but what truly held her attention wasn’t just the story, though it was undeniably good. No, what really captivated her was the intricate photo mode and the way each character felt so alive in their interactions, every subtle expression and dialogue choice pulling her deeper into their world.

She was so engrossed that she didn’t notice the creeping heaviness in her limbs, the way her breaths grew slower, deeper. Her blinks became longer, lingering a second too long each time. Eventually, her grip on the phone loosened, her fingers barely holding onto the device as exhaustion took its final claim. The screen still glowed, displaying Xavier’s soft gaze, as the phone slipped from her hand onto the bed.

The game continued to run, the faint hum of its background music filling the quiet space. And as her soft, rhythmic snores filled the room, it was as if Xavier himself stood watch over her slumber, frozen mid-motion on the screen, waiting.

𓍯𓂃𓂃𓂃

January 10th 20...

The shrill blare of her phone alarm shattered the early morning silence, ripping Sercia from the depths of sleep. 6:30 AM. She groaned, her body protesting as she sluggishly reached out to silence the intrusive noise. “Time for another round of work… yay,” she mumbled, voice thick with exhaustion.

Still caught in the haze of sleep, she stretched her arms out over the comforter, expecting the familiar softness of her well-worn blankets. Instead, her fingers met a fabric that was smooth, cool, and entirely foreign.

Her brow furrowed. “Huh?” voice puzzled as the odd sensation jolted her brain into wakefulness faster than the alarm had.

Blinking the sleep from her eyes, she pushed herself upright, her pulse quickening as she took in her surroundings. The bedding beneath her was pristine, an elegant white duvet draped over sleek gray sheets, both feeling far more luxurious than anything she owned. A cluster of neatly arranged pillows in soft shades of pink and white sat beside her, contrasting sharply with the chaotic pile of mismatched pillows she was used to.

A growing sense of unease prickled at her skin.

“Wait a minute…” she whispered, her voice hoarse with drowsiness but laced with rising confusion, “this is not my bed.”

Her gaze then swept across the unfamiliar space and her confusion deepened, sinking into her bones like a slow-moving fog. This wasn’t her room. It wasn’t even close.

The walls were a soothing blend of neutral tones, soft grays and crisp whites. Lending a modern feel to the space. Directly in front of the low platform bed she was on stood a contemporary coffee table with a circular glass top and metal legs. Two matching chairs flanked the table, their smooth surfaces blending with the aesthetic. One of them, however, stood out. A single red cushion resting against its seat, which was an unexpected pop of color in the otherwise muted palette. Beneath the table stretched a large, plush area rug, its shaggy texture adding warmth to the room.

To her left, a streamlined hanging rail displayed a neatly arranged selection of clothing, and further along, an expansive floor-to-ceiling glass door dominated most of the left wall, letting in a soft, diffused light that cast subtle shadows across the room. Beside it, a wavy shelf held an assortment of carefully placed items; decorative trinkets, books, and under it were storage compartments.

Turning her head to the right, she spotted a small black couch positioned against the wall, draped in a fluffy white throw blanket and a single pillow rested against it. Beneath the couch was another rug, but unlike the larger one at the room’s center, this one was shaped like a rose, its petals outlined in bold black and white.

Above her, a silver pendant lamp hung from the ceiling, its light casting an ambient glow throughout the space. The soft hum of technology buzzed subtly in the background, making her turn around. An expansive digital display covered the entire back wall, its illuminated surface blinking with unfamiliar data and visuals.

The entire room exuded a contemporary elegance; clean lines, soft colors, and an intentional blend of textures that gave it an effortlessly curated look. It was undeniably stylish, a perfect balance of modern luxury and understated comfort.

But it wasn’t hers.

Sercia’s room was her haven, a cozy space with white walls and light blue curtains that filtered in the light, giving everything a soft glow. The familiar sight of her posters, scattered trinkets, and half-open bookshelf always grounded her. But this room… this room felt wrong.

The air carried a faint, unfamiliar scent, something clean, like fresh linen, yet tinged with a subtle trace of something richer. The neatness of the space set her on edge. Her heart pounded as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, the sudden chill of the hardwood floor beneath her bare feet sending a sharp contrast to the warmth of the duvet she’d been wrapped in. A shiver crawled up her spine, but whether from the cold or unease, she wasn’t sure.

Slowly, she stood, her gaze flickering across the room in search of answers and her eyes eventually landed on the coffee table a few steps away. Something about it pulled her forward, her movements tense, as if drawn by an unseen force.

On the table, a red candle sat unlit, its wax pristine. Beside it, a small bunny light, its soft glow off. And then, her breath caught in her throat, a brooch.

Not just any brooch. A black crow, crafted from dark metal with intricate feather details, each line carved with precision. Embedded in its center, a deep red ruby gleamed under the soft lighting, catching the light at just the right angle.

Her fingers hovered over it, hesitant, as an icy prickle of recognition traced down her spine. She knew this brooch. The shape, the color, the weight of its presence in the room, it was unmistakable.

“This is… Sylus’s brooch,” she whispered, her voice trembling as reality began to warp around her. “The one he gave to the MC… Aspen.”

Her heart pounded in her chest; each beat a deafening echo in her ears. Her brain scrambled for an explanation, grasping at logic, but all it found was a wall of disbelief.

“No way. No freaking way.”

She stumbled back a step, her breaths growing uneven, chest rising and falling in rapid succession. A familiar prickle of panic crept up her spine.

“Okay, Sercia, deep breaths,” she muttered to herself, squeezing her eyes shut for a brief moment. “This is just… a dream, right? You passed out playing the game, and now your brain’s just… yeah, just being weird. That’s all.”

Her words did little to calm the storm brewing inside her.

Opening her eyes again, she forced herself to scan the room once more, hoping, praying, for something, anything that would ground her in reality. But instead, she found more details that made her stomach churn.

A photograph.

Sitting atop a short gray shelf positioned beside the left side of the bed, a simple picture frame stood as if waiting for her attention. A strange sense of dread coiled in her gut as she approached, her fingers cold against the smooth surface as she picked it up.

The moment her eyes landed on the image; her blood ran ice cold.

Aspen.

Caleb.

Standing together in Azure Square.

The bustling plaza, the futuristic architecture; she had seen it countless times on her screen, but this wasn’t some scene. This was real. Her hands trembled as she placed the photo back down with far more care than she intended. A sharp inhale caught in her throat.

No. No, no, no. This wasn’t possible.

The walls around her suddenly felt suffocating, too pristine, too real. Her mind screamed at her to move, to see for herself.

Without another thought, she spun on her heel and rushed toward the massive glass doors at the far end of the room. Her pulse roared in her ears as she grasped the handle, yanked it open, and sprinted onto the balcony.

Then she froze. Her mouth parted. Lungs forgetting to function.

Linkon City sprawled before her, stretching toward the horizon in a dazzling display of glass and steel. It was exactly as she remembered it from the game; the sleek skyscrapers towering like sentinels, the steady stream of traffic weaving through the streets below, the distant hum of life carrying on as if none of this was out of the ordinary. The morning sunbathed the cityscape in a golden glow, catching on the reflective surfaces of buildings and casting long, shifting shadows.

But this time, it wasn’t pixels on a screen. This time, she could feel it. The warmth of the sun on her skin, the cool bite of the railing beneath her fingertips, the faint scent of something crisp in the air.

It was real. Too real.

Her breath hitched. “What the actual hell…” she whispered, the words barely escaping as her throat tightened.

Her fingers curled tighter around the railing, her knuckles turning white as her mind struggled to make sense of the impossible. No, no, this isn’t happening. This isn’t real. It can’t be.

“This isn’t funny. This has to be a dream… right?” The last word wavered, cracking under the weight of her doubt. Her grip loosened, and she stumbled back into the room, a dizzy wave of panic crashing over her. She clutched her head, pressing her palms against her temples as if she could physically hold her thoughts together.

“Okay, okay… think,” forcing herself to focus. “If I’m here, then…”

Her hands slowly lowered, her breath catching as realization slammed into her like a bolt of lightning.

Where the hell is Aspen?

The question sent a fresh wave of dread rolling through her, sharp and suffocating. If she was in this world, in Aspen’s place, then what had happened to her? Was she out there somewhere?

Her pulse pounded so loudly in her ears that it drowned out the city’s distant hum. A million questions crashed through her mind, colliding in a chaotic storm of fear and uncertainty. But one thing was clear she needed answers. Fast.

Her first instinct was to grab her phone. She swiftly leaned over the bed and snatched the device, its familiar weight providing a fleeting peace. The screen flickered to life as she tapped it, the lock screen displaying the time: 6:55 AM. Her eyes then darted to the top corner of the screen, and she felt her stomach drop. No bars. No Wi-Fi. Nothing but an empty signal icon mocking her.

She stared at the screen in dismay, her thumb swiping down to toggle airplane mode off and on in a desperate attempt to force a connection. No luck. Again. And again.

“Great,” she threw her head back with an exasperated sigh. “No service. Of course not.”

Her fingers clenched around the phone before she exhaled and shoved it into her pocket. Standing here freaking out wouldn’t help. She needed to figure out where she was and, more importantly, where Aspen was.

Bracing herself, she turned to scan the unfamiliar room, determination pushing aside the unease she felt. As she moved through the bedroom again, she took in every detail with newfound awareness. The bed was slightly disheveled, the fabric still creased from her presence. Absentmindedly, she brushed her fingers over the duvet, the soft material grounding her. This was real. She was really here.

Her gaze swept over the neatly arranged furniture before settling on the nightstand once more. This time, she noticed something she had overlooked, a tablet next to the photo. Curious, she picked up the device, its smooth surface cool against her fingers. Tapping the screen, she was immediately met with a passcode lock. “Figures,” setting it back down with a sigh.

Turning away, she left the room and moved through a small hallway that led into an open-floor common area. The area was seamless, the bedroom’s style flowing into the space beyond. The same modern, minimalistic walls. The contemporary furniture. But despite its polished design, there was a warmth to it, subtle details that made it feel lived-in. It was quintessentially Aspen.

She stepped into the kitchen next, her fingers trailing along the countertop before she began to open the cabinets and drawers. Plates, cups, and utensils were all neatly arranged, perfectly in place. She then moved to the refrigerator and pulled it open. The cool air brushed against her skin as she peered inside, finding an array of food items neatly stored and organized.

At least there was some comfort in knowing she wouldn’t starve. But that wasn’t her main concern. She closed the fridge door with a quiet click and took a deep breath.

As she left the kitchen and continued exploring the space, every detail confirmed what she already suspected, that this was definitely Aspen’s apartment.

But where was the hunter? The thought hit Sercia again, harder this time, sending a fresh wave of worry through her chest. Her fingers twitched at her sides as she continued her search through the apartment and by the time she circled back to the common area, her nerves were raw, frayed from the growing silence that swallowed the space.

With a weary sigh, she dropped onto the couch, sinking into its plush cushions. Her hands fidgeted in her lap for a moment before she pulled out her phone once more, flipping it over, tapping the screen, willing something to change.

The lock screen flickered on. Still no signal. No sudden miracle.

She bit the inside of her cheek, staring at the screen as if she could somehow force bars to appear through sheer willpower. But deep down, she already knew, it was useless. Her jaw tightened as she exhaled through her nose. Slowly, she pocketed the device and ran a hand down her face.

“Alright, let’s think,” her palms pressed against her thighs. “I’m stuck in a game. I have no idea how I got here. I don’t know where Aspen is. I don’t have my car, my wallet, or any money—uh, gold, whatever it’s called here. And on top of all that, I don’t have cell service.”

She let her head fall back against the couch, staring at the ceiling.

“I am so screwed.”  

“This isn’t even funny,” she muttered as frustration bubbled in her chest. “How does this even happen? One minute, I’m snapping photos with Rafayel; the next, I wake up here?” She exhaled sharply, shaking her head. “God, this isn’t even making any sense.”

Her gaze flickered toward the large windows spanning the living room wall. Drawn by the soft glow spilling through, she turned her head, her breath hitching slightly at the sight beyond the glass.

Linkon City stretched before her, bathed in the golden light of the morning sun. Towering skyscrapers pierced the sky, their glass facades shimmering like liquid gold. It was a breathtaking view, the kind she’d only ever experienced through a screen. And for a second, awe flickered in her chest.

Until reality crashed down like a lead weight.

The beauty of it all meant nothing when she was trapped here. She had no way of knowing if, or how, she could get back. No clues, no answers, and worst of all, no one to turn to. She had nothing but the clothes on her back and a phone that was nothing more than a useless brick.

Her fingers then curled into fists as she tried to focus, tried to think.

Okay… What are my options?

Her mind immediately turned to the love interests.

She knew from the game that Xavier lived just one floor above. The idea of seeking him out flickered through her mind for a split second before she immediately shut it down.

“Absolutely not,” shaking her head. “I may have created Aspen, but we are not the same. He’d take one look at me and call the authorities. Or worse, knowing how he can get.”

Xavier wasn’t exactly the warm and welcoming type to strangers. He was sharp and had zero tolerance for anything suspicious, especially when it came to Aspen. What could possibly be more suspicious than some random stranger showing up at his door, claiming to know his missing partner?

She glanced down at herself, taking in her own appearance.

Sure, she and Aspen had some similarities; brown skin, black hair, both 5’5 in height. But that was where the resemblance ended. Aspen’s hair was longer, falling in soft, effortless curls, while hers was short and coily. Then there were the eyes; Aspen’s were a striking purple, and Sercia’s? Dark brown.

And their styles? Completely different. The young hunters outfits were always cute yet elegant, perfectly fitting the story and vibe of the city. Sercia, on the other hand, was still wearing a simple sweater and flared jeans. She looked like she had just walked out of a 70’s sitcom from her world.

Yeah. No.

She could already picture it: Xavier answering the door, looking her up and down with his unreadable stare.

“Who are you?”

“Uh… so, funny story… I woke up in your partners apartment, and I have no idea how I got here.”

Instant arrest.

Sercia snorted at the ridiculous thought, but the humor faded almost as quickly as it came.

Even if she did go to Xavier, there was no guarantee he’d even be home right now. He could be at the Hunters Association handling business, or already out hunting Wanderers somewhere.

And as for the other love interests?

Sure, she had some idea of where they might be based on the game, but it wasn’t like Love and Deepspace had a map function for her to rely on. Locations in the game shifted between scenes, and there was no telling how far apart they were in this world. She couldn’t pinpoint the exact location of them right now. Heck, she didn’t even know where Aspen’s apartment was located in this city.

“This sucks,” she groaned, pressing her fingers against her temples as if she could physically rub away the overwhelming frustration.

Her mind flitted through a dozen half-formed plans, each one unraveling as quickly as it came. She could try venturing outside, but without gold or any clue where to go, she’d just be wandering aimlessly. She could stay here and wait for someone to come knocking at the door, but what if no one ever did?

Her stomach twisted as the weight of her predicament fully sank in.

She wasn’t just lost. She was completely and utterly stranded in a world she didn’t belong to. And the one person who might have been able to help her was nowhere to be found.

As Sercia teetered on the edge of losing her mind, a faint sound pricked at the edges of her awareness.

Soft. Subtle. Almost imperceptible. At first, she dismissed it as a trick of her overstressed brain, a figment of her imagination conjured up by sheer panic. Maybe the weight of confusion was pressing down on her so hard that she was starting to hallucinate. But then it came again, clearer this time.

Scritch-scritch. A faint shuffle.

Her breath hitched and for a split second, her heart stopped, as if her entire body had short-circuited. Then, every nerve in her being snapped to attention, her skin prickling with unease.

“Okay… I know I didn’t just hear that,” she muttered, barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly would make whatever was lurking in the silence more real.

Her eyes flicked around the dimly lit room, scanning the unfamiliar space with a mixture of apprehension and dread. She strained to listen, ears sharpening to pick up any more anomalies.

Then it came again, unmistakable this time. And it came from the kitchen.

Her stomach twisted, and adrenaline surged through her veins.

Something was there.

"Alright, Sercia," she whispered to herself, inhaling deeply as she rose to her feet. "You’ve watched enough horror movies to know how this could end, but you’re not going down without a fight."

Her fingers curled into fists for as she scanned the room. She looked for something, anything, that could serve as a weapon. Her eyes darted across the space until they locked onto a small but solid-looking object on the coffee table. An abstract decorative statue. It wasn’t a knife or a bat, but if she swung it with enough force, it could do some serious damage. Without hesitation, she snatched it up, gripping it tightly in both hands. The weight felt reassuring against the fear slithering up her spine.

She took a cautious step forward. Then another. Her bare feet glided noiselessly against the floor as she edged toward the kitchen, her body tense with anticipation. The closer she got, the more acutely aware she became of her own heartbeat, a relentless thud-thud-thud drumming in her ears.

Then she heard it again, scritch-scritch.

She froze, barely breathing. The noise was coming from inside one of the lower cabinets near the dishwasher. She had checked the kitchen earlier and nothing had been out of place. No sign of anything unusual. But now, something was in there. Her grip on the statue tightened, her pulse a rapid staccato in her chest. She swallowed hard, pushing past the rising dread. Whatever was hiding in that cabinet, she was about to find out.

"Alright," Sercia whispered under her breath, gripping the statue so tightly her knuckles turned white. She could feel the hammering of her pulse in her fingertips, but she forced herself to steady her breathing. You got this. Whoever, or whatever you are, you messed with the wrong one today.

Positioning herself just to the right of the cabinet door, she took one last deep breath. Her muscles coiled with tension, bracing for whatever nightmare she was about to face. Then, with a sudden burst of movement, she let out a fierce scream, part intimidation and part battle cry, as she yanked the cabinet door open and raised the statue high, ready to strike.

But the swing never came.

The moment her eyes landed on the source of the noise, the scream caught in her throat and died. Her arms, mid-motion, locked up as her brain struggled to process what was in front of her. Nestled among a couple of toppled cleaning bottles, sitting in the cramped space of the cabinet, was… A fox?

A baby red fox, to be exact. Its tiny body was curled up, its fur a striking orange-red hue that almost shimmered. Its fluffy tail was tucked close to its body, its delicate paws barely visible beneath the soft tufts of fur. Everything about it looked small, fragile, and adorable. But that wasn’t what made her breath hitch. That wasn’t what had her frozen in place, staring in utter disbelief.

It was its eyes.

Large, round, and glowing a stark, unnatural white. Like twin moons set into its tiny face, eerily luminescent, pulsing faintly with an otherworldly light.

Sercia swallowed hard, her grip on the statue loosening slightly as she took an involuntary step back.

"What the…" she whispered, her voice unsteady as her heart thudded painfully in her chest.

The fox blinked up at her, silent and its eyes unreadable. It didn’t move, didn’t twitch, just watched. Almost as if it were waiting. Waiting to see what she would do next.  

They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity, neither moving, locked in a silent standoff. Sercia's mind raced, a chaotic whirlwind of thoughts and disbelief. Is this real? Am I hallucinating? Did I hit my head and not notice? Her pulse pounded against her ribs, the room around her blurring as her focus tunneled onto the tiny creature before her.

Because this wasn’t just any fox. Everything about it; the glowing eyes, the way it sat so unnaturally still, the almost too-perfect sheen of its fur. It felt like something ripped straight out of a fantasy RPG. Then, to make matters even weirder, it tilted its head. Not in a skittish, animalistic way. No nervous flick of its ears, no sudden jerk of movement. Just a slow, deliberate tilt, its gaze never once wavering from hers. It was studying her. Sercia’s grip on the statue tightened before she forced herself to relax. Slowly, cautiously, she knelt down, lowering herself to the fox’s level.

“…Okay,” she murmured, her voice careful, almost reverent. “You’re adorable. Like, unfairly adorable.”

The fox remained unmoving, watching.

“But…” she hesitated, searching its face for any sign that this was just an ordinary animal and failing miserably. “What are you doing here? And what’s up with your eyes?”

For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then, as if acknowledging her words, the fox sat up straighter. There was something unnerving about the way it held itself; poised, controlled. Almost regal.

And then… it spoke.

“Finally,” it said, its voice smooth, melodic, and unmistakably human. “You’ve found me.”

Sercia’s jaw dropped, her breath catching in her throat as the statue slipped from her fingers and hit the floor with a heavy thunk.

“What—what the heck,” she stammered, scrambling back on instinct, her hands fumbling for support. “No, no, no, no, no. I did not just hear that. Foxes don’t talk. Animals don’t talk!” Yet here she was, staring at a glowing-eyed fox that had just spoken to her.

The creature, unfazed by her panicked outburst, blinked at her with an almost bored expression. “Are you done screaming?” it asked, voice smooth and eerily calm. “Because we need to talk. You’re in danger.”

Sercia let out a sharp, disbelieving laugh, her hands shaking as she pointed at the fox. “Oh, I’m in danger?” she echoed, her voice cracking slightly. “You’re a talking fox with freaky glowing eyes, and I’m the one in danger? What even is this?” She ran a frantic hand over her face, heart hammering in her chest. “Did someone spike my food yesterday? Am I in a coma? This has to be a fever dream, right?”

The fox sighed. Not a small, animal-like huff, an actual exasperated sigh, like a tired teacher dealing with a particularly slow student. “I don’t have time to watch you freak out right now,” it said, a firm edge to its voice. “What you need to know is that you’re not supposed to be here. And if you don’t act quickly, you won’t be able to leave.”

Sercia stared at the creature, her mind scrambling to piece together some kind of logical explanation, but nothing made sense. Her pulse roared in her ears, and for the first time since waking up, she was acutely aware of how wrong everything felt, like she was standing on unstable ground in a place she wasn’t meant to be.

“Not supposed to be here?” she repeated, her voice quieter, the words heavy on her tongue. “What does that even mean?” Her chest tightened. “Where’s Aspen? And why the hell are you in her cabinet?”

The animal’s eyes narrowed slightly, its body perfectly still. “I’ll explain everything,” it said, its voice softer now, almost coaxing. “But first, you need to trust me.”

Sercia then let out a hysterical laugh, the sound high-pitched and borderline unhinged. “Oh, sure,” she said, throwing up her hands in exaggerated surrender. “Because trusting random, glowing-eyed, talking foxes is totally a thing normal people do. Yep. Absolutely. Makes perfect sense.”

The fox merely tilted its head again, looking thoroughly unimpressed by her sarcasm. “You and Aspen are more alike than you think,” it said smoothly.

The words hit her like a slap. Her laughter died instantly, and her expression hardened as she leaned forward slightly, suspicion tightening in her chest. “What do you mean by that?” she demanded, her voice low and wary.

The fox didn’t respond right away. Instead, it stepped out of the cabinet, its small, delicate paws silent against the floor. Its movements were graceful and measured. Too controlled for an ordinary animal. It stood before her now, glowing eyes steady as they met hers.

“If you want to get out of here,” it said, “you’ll need my help. But first,” the foxes tone even but firm, “you need to decide, are you ready to accept that this is your reality now?”

A cold weight then settled in her stomach. Her mind screamed at her to reject everything to insist that this was a hallucination, a dream, a prank, anything other than what it appeared to be. But deep down, in the part of her that knew things without understanding why…

She already had her answer.

The air in the room felt heavier. Her pulse thrummed against her ribs, and she clenched her hands into fists to keep them from shaking. This was too much. Too insane. Too impossible. And yet, it was happening. She swallowed hard, her throat dry.

She could refuse. She could keep fighting against reality, keep pretending this wasn’t real. But something told her that wouldn’t change a damn thing.

Because this is real.

And whatever this fox was and whatever all of this meant, she was in it now.

Drawing in a deep, shaky breath, she slowly nodded. “Alright,” she murmured, barely above a whisper. Then, a little stronger, “Let’s hear it.”

ꫂ ၴႅၴ Taglist: @llamabois

𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈! 𝑳𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆, 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘. 𝑨𝒍𝒔𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔!

[crycxbey]

𝑰𝒏 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒆

𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕

Hello everyone! I hope you're all having a great day. I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for reading and supporting In Her World. I know it’s been a few weeks since my last update, but I want you to know how much I truly appreciate each of you. Thank you for giving this story a chance and taking the time to read it.

Life has been pretty hectic lately, as I’ve just started a new job and reached the more demanding parts of my college courses. I work and attend college full time, and with my new position, my schedule has become a lot fuller than I expected.

That being said, I’m not going on hiatus or giving up on this story, I am working on the next chapter whenever I can. I just wanted to share the reason for the delay and let you know that future updates might take a little longer until things settle down over the next few weeks.

Thank you again for all the support. Your comments, enthusiasm, and love for this story mean so much to me, and I’m so excited for you to see what’s coming next.

See you soon!

[crycxbey]

𝑰𝒏 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑽𝑰𝑰

𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕

𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒐𝒘: ↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺

January 23rd 2044

There was a sharp tap, tap, tap against the glass.

It stirred her at first, barely. Stirring a flicker of consciousness at the edge of her sleep. But when it came again, louder this time and more insistent, Sercia jolted upright with a sharp inhale, heart stuttering as her eyes blinked open against the pale haze of morning light filtering through the windshield. Her body was stiff and crumpled awkwardly in the driver’s seat of the Voidrunner. A thin sheen of condensation coated the windows, fogging the outside world into a smudged blur. Her hand instinctively reached for the steering wheel as her disoriented mind scrambled to recall where she was.

Then she saw it.

Movement outside the driver’s side window.

She squinted, eyes adjusting to the brightness as the blur sharpened into form.

Is that… a robot?

No. Not just any robot.

She recognized the spherical frame and the soft blue glow emanating from its central eye. An OTTO unit. Small, efficient, and commonly used throughout Linkon City for deliveries, city maintenance, and communication dispatch. She’d seen them from afar before, floating between traffic lanes and weaving through crowds. But this was the first time she’d had one up in her face.

The compact machine hovered at eye level, its single arm retracting smoothly into its chrome-plated body with a soft whirrrr. Then, it simply... waited.

Sercia blinked in slow confusion, her body still groggy and heavy from sleep. She reached for the window controls with sluggish fingers, rolling the glass down halfway. Cold air filtered into the car, brushing against her skin and waking her up just a little more. “…Uh, hello?” she croaked.

The OTTO unit’s lens pulsed softly, calibrating its focus on her before it spoke. “Good morning, citizen,” it greeted, its voice smooth, mechanical, but undeniably polite; like a customer service rep built into a floating metal sphere. “I am Unit OTTO-473. Per Linkon City guidelines, alleyway parking is strictly prohibited for non-commercial vehicles.” A short pause followed, as if giving her time to process. “Are you aware of this regulation?”

Sercia blinked at the little machine, still half-asleep and very much unprepared for any form of morning interrogation. A flush of embarrassment crept into her cheeks as she reached up and scratched the back of her head. “Ah… sorry,” she mumbled, forcing a sheepish smile. “I didn’t know. I kinda… fell asleep.”

The OTTO unit’s eye blinked, a soft flicker of blue light. Then, with a tone that somehow conveyed both authority and grace, it replied: “That is quite alright.” A brief pause. “I will issue a verbal warning only. Please exit the alleyway as soon as possible.”

Sercia let out a quiet breath of relief. “Got it. I’ll leave now.”

“Thank you for your cooperation. Safe travels, citizen.”

And with that, the OTTO unit gave a gentle upward lilt of its frame, its version of a nod before lifting smoothly into the air. It floated backward, pivoted mid-air with a precise mechanical rotation, and glided away down the alley, vanishing around the corner.

Sercia rolled the window back up with a low whir of glass returning to place, the faint chill of morning air still lingering in the car. She rubbed her eyes with the heel of her palms, trying to scrub the exhaustion from her face, and let out a long, spine-cracking stretch. Her arms reached over her head, fingers curling toward the ceiling as her back arched against the seat. A quiet sigh escaped her lips, and she turned her head to the right only to find the passenger seat empty.

Her brows furrowed. “Orion?” she called out softly, her voice still thick with fatigue, but just as the name left her mouth, a soft shimmer of light flickered beside her.

In an instant, Orion reappeared in the passenger seat, head tilted with mild curiosity. Their eyes blinking slowly as if to say finally awake, are we?

Sercia yawned, stretching again, her limbs sluggish and heavy. “Morning,” she mumbled, her voice warm with the lingering fog of adrenaline crash.

“Good morning,” Orion replied, their voice smooth and even as always, but there was a slight tilt of amusement hidden beneath it. They watched her silently for a moment, their tail flicking against the seat as she continued her morning ritual of half-awake stretches and groggy blinking.

Sercia then reached toward the center console, her fingers brushing against the smooth surface of her phone where it lay tucked away. She picked it up, her thumb instinctively hovering over the power button, ready to turn it on but she paused. Her expression wavered, the corners of her mouth tightening as she stared at the dark screen. She could already imagine the flood of notifications waiting for her. Questions, veiled threats, maybe even guilt-tripping. And after everything she had gone through last night she didn’t have the energy for any of it. Her chest tightened, the ghost of anxiety threatening to crawl back in, but she took a deep breath and lowered the phone. Carefully, she set it into the cup holder, as if putting it down could somehow keep what was waiting for her at bay.

“I’ll contact them later,” she murmured to herself, voice low and resolute. Right now, she just wanted to go back to the apartment, bury herself beneath the covers, and sleep for days; no interruptions, no complications, no expectations. Just silence and warmth. Sitting up a little straighter, she placed both hands on the wheel, her fingers flexing briefly before she pressed the ignition. The engine hummed to life, a smooth, low growl that vibrated beneath her feet. But just as her hand moved to shift the car into drive, Sercia paused as a thought struck her, and her gaze shifted toward the passenger seat.

“Orion…can we change the car back?” she asked, her voice soft and a little sheepish.

They blinked once, then gave a small nod. “Of course,” they replied simply. “Just check the area. Make sure no one’s watching.”

Sercia gave a quick nod in return and leaned forward, scanning the alleyway’s mouth and the open street beyond. Morning had barely stretched into full bloom, and the sidewalks were still relatively empty. A lone cyclist passed on the far side of the road, but otherwise, it was quiet.

She glanced back at the fox and gave the green light. “It’s clear.”

With a flick of their paw, a shimmer of light rippled outward from the dashboard. The interior trembled slightly as if exhaling, and the world around them blurred for the briefest second. Then, like water settling after a splash, the Voidrunner’s sleek frame shifted, softened, and folded itself down into the familiar, rounded edges of her Subaru. The leather seats returned to their soft comfort, the wide digital dashboard condensed back into its smaller one, and the car’s engine settled into its quieter hum.

“Thanks,” Sercia said, her lips curling into a tired but genuine smile. “Let’s go home.” With that, she gently eased the car into motion, carefully steering out of the alleyway and merging onto the city road.

 𓍯𓂃𓂃𓂃

The drive home was relatively smooth with the early morning traffic light as the city started to stir to life around her. To her mild surprise, she hadn’t needed the GPS at all. Her memory, despite the exhaustion and everything that had happened, had faithfully guided her back through the streets of Linkon City.

Still, the tired exterior didn’t reflect the storm brewing behind her sleepy eyes as she tried not to think about the night before. She tried to focus on the road, on the slight jolt of the car, on the blur of passing signs and buildings. But it was nearly impossible since the weight of her own recklessness clung to her like smoke, curling tighter the more she tried to ignore it.

That had been stupid.

So stupid.

Walking into that warehouse with no backup, no real plan, no thought beyond her own panic was reckless. She hadn’t stopped to analyze, hadn’t paused to ask herself the right questions. She had let fear get the best of her. The second that letter appeared, she had spiraled. And instead of trying to find more information, she’d rushed headfirst into a trap that had nearly gotten her killed.

All because she thought someone had figured her out.

All because she thought they could find out.

Her stomach twisted, the guilt and embarrassment coiling tight. God, she thought to herself, dragging a hand down her face. What was I even thinking?

The answer was simple; she hadn’t been.

She had freaked out and let the fear of discovery drive her decisions, and in the process, she’d put herself in danger over something that, in the end, had nothing to do with her. They weren’t after her. They didn’t care about who she really was. All they cared about was Aspen and her Aether Core. They didn’t even know Sercia existed.

And yet…

She swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry.

If Orion hadn’t been there…

If they hadn’t acted so quickly…

Her hands trembled faintly against the wheel.

Who knows what would’ve happened?

Her life, what little sense of control she still had over it, could’ve ended in that warehouse. Just another casualty in a world that didn’t even know she wasn’t supposed to be here.

That thought alone made her shiver.

Eventually, the familiar outline of the apartment complex came into view, and the moment she pulled into the building’s garage, a deep, aching relief settled in her chest. She steered the car toward a quiet corner of the lower level, far from the entryways and elevators, and parked in one of the emptier rows. She cut the engine off and for a long second, she didn’t move. Sercia slumped back in her seat with a heavy exhale, the tension in her limbs finally unraveling now that she was home. The silence in the car was almost too peaceful and after everything that happened, it felt jarring. Her head fell back against the headrest as she let her eyes slip closed, the faint echo of tires and distant doors somewhere in the garage fading into background noise.

Orion then spoke as they hopped on the edge of the dashboard, their luminous eyes narrowed slightly in concern. “You need a proper rest,” they said simply. “When you get to the apartment head to bed.”

Sercia opened one eye and gave a tired half-nod, her voice barely more than a mumble. “Yeah… I know.”

With that, Orion vanished again in a soft glimmer, leaving her alone in the car.

She reached toward the cup holder, fingers brushing against her phone before reaching for her key and pushing the door open with a quiet groan, swinging her legs out and planting her feet on the cool concrete. Every muscle protested the movement. Her body was heavy, weighed down by the exhaustion that had been nipping at her heels since last night. She moved on autopilot, dragging herself toward the elevator as if the distance between her and her apartment was somehow endless.

The elevator doors opened with a soft ding, and she stepped inside, pressing the button for her floor with more force than necessary before leaning back against the wall as her eyes drifting shut once more. She imagined the comfort of the bed; the weight of the comforter, the softness of the mattress, the silence of the room. She could already feel it pulling her in like gravity, a warm void waiting to swallow her whole. She wouldn’t even bother changing. Hell, she’d sleep in the same jeans and sweater because right now, the only thing that mattered was making it across that threshold and collapsing.

When the elevator dinged and the doors slid open, Sercia pushed herself upright and her legs began moving on muscle memory more than intention. She dragged her feet down the hallway, each step heavier than the last, and stopped in front of Aspen’s door. Her fingers reached for the keypad, but her vision started to swim slightly, the heavy fatigue blurring the numbers.

She blinked hard, squinting as she tried again.

One wrong code.

Then another.

“Come on…” she muttered, yawning, before trying a third time.

Finally, the familiar soft chime sounded—success. With a soft exhale, she pushed the door open and stepped inside, rubbing her eyes as the apartment’s dim interior welcomed her with silence. But when she lowered her hand and her vision cleared, she froze mid-step and all the air left her lungs. Because sitting in the living room, spread out across the space like they owned the place, were three very familiar figures.

Xavier. Zayne. Rafayel.

And not one of them looked even remotely pleased.

Xavier sat forward, elbows resting on his knees, blue eyes narrowed with a quiet intensity that spoke volumes louder than any words could.

Next to him, Zayne's gaze was razor sharp and his were arms crossed. With an expression unreadable but steeped in disappointment.

And Rafayel was perched on the armrest of the couch with one leg crossed over the other. His jaw clenched and expression twisted into a scowl that suggested he had been the most irritated.

For a while, no one spoke, the silence was deafening; dense and suffocating like a weighted blanket pressed to her chest. The tension in the room coiled tight, thick as smoke, and Sercia could feel it radiating off them in waves. The fury wasn’t subtle. It clung to the air, curling around her lungs with every breath. She stood frozen just inside the doorway, trying to process the sight in front of her.

How did they get in here?

Why were they here?

Did she forget to lock the door?

Did they break in?

A dozen questions raced through her mind in a matter of seconds until Rafayel’s voice cut through the storm like a knife. “Well,” he drawled, each syllable slow and deliberate, his tone dripping with sarcasm, “Isn’t it just so nice of you to finally join us.”

"…………."

Sercia didn’t respond. She didn’t have it in her. Not yet. Her mind still lagged behind, sluggish with sleep and adrenaline withdrawal. So instead, she moved wordlessly into the room, her footsteps slow and heavy. She made her way to the counter, placed her keys and phone down with a faint clack, and finally turned to face them. Her expression, while tired, held a flicker of disbelief. “How the hell did you even get in here?” she asked, voice still slightly hoarse but edged with irritation.

Xavier then scoffed, the sound sharp and cutting as he stood up from his seat. His movements were smooth, but there was something coiled in his posture, like a wire pulled too tight.

“No,” he said flatly, his voice calm, but there was no mistaking the edge beneath it. “We’re not doing that.”

His eyes locked onto hers, unwavering. “You don’t get to start asking us questions after disappearing all night, ignoring every single call and message we sent.”

The words were measured, precise, but they hit like gunfire. His tone didn’t rise, didn’t crack, but the quiet fury in it was far more chilling than if he had yelled.

Sercia, now trying to blink away her drowsiness, pushed off the counter slightly, her voice gaining some heat. “Okay, but I do have the right to ask. You guys broke in.”

That earned her a dry, humorless laugh from the hunter. “You think I broke in?” he asked, his lips pulling into a deeper frown. “You can’t break into a place you were invited to.”

Sercia’s brows furrowed. “What are you talking about?”

“This,” Xavier gestured around the apartment, “is Aspen’s place. Not yours. And I have access because she gave it to me.”

Sercia opened her mouth to argue, but the words caught in her throat. As much as she hated to admit it, he wasn’t wrong. This apartment wasn’t hers and she was just a guest here. Her jaw tensed, and she folded her arms across her chest with a muttered, “Whatever.”

The moment the word left her lips, Zayne stirred like a match being struck and his head snapped toward her with disbelief, and for the first time since she walked in, he spoke. “Whatever?” he repeated, his voice low, incredulous. His eyes narrowed as he slowly stood, his full height casting a deeper shadow across the room. “That’s what you’ve got to say right now?”

Sercia didn’t answer. She kept her head turned, arms folded tightly across her chest as she stared at the floor. She knew she was acting childish but in that moment, she didn’t have the energy, or the clarity, to argue, explain, or justify herself. Part of her wished they’d just vanish into thin air, like they had never barged into the apartment in the first place.

But she knew better. They weren’t going anywhere.

Zayne’s voice broke the silence again, colder now, his words slicing through the thick tension like a scalpel. “We all agreed,” he said, low and precise, “you insisted, actually, that we’d work together. That we’d share any information we found on Aspen.”

She still didn’t look at him.

Zayne didn’t stop. “And when I finally find something, when I find a possible breakthrough, something that might actually lead us to her, you vanish into the night with no warning.” He took a step forward, his tone now threaded with disbelief. “And then you walk in here, hours later, like nothing happened, and say whatever? That’s all you’ve got?”

Sercia’s voice finally came out, tired and sharp. “I had something important to handle.”

“So do we.” Xavier’s voice snapped through the room like the crack of a whip. “And guess what? We all have lives too. I have Wanderers to hunt. Rafayel has pieces to paint. Zayne’s has patients to attend to.” He stepped closer to her as well, his eyes like steel. “But none of us are treating this like it’s some side quest. None of us are putting finding Aspen second to anything.”

Sercia then exhaled through her nose, her heart pounding beneath her ribs. Her tongue sat like stone in her mouth, dozens of words sitting behind it, none of them quite right; too vague, too defensive, too raw. She lifted her eyes, face tense as she forced out, “I’m not putting Aspen second to anything. It’s just—”

She faltered.

Her voice broke on the edge of something too difficult to explain. How could she tell them the truth? That she was lured out by a threat that could’ve exposed her secret? That she had nearly died in a warehouse full of armed criminals who thought she was Aspen? That she’d led them away at high speed in a car that was summoned out of thin air?

She hadn’t even processed it herself.

Still deciding whether to tell them, or if they’d believe her at all, she opened her mouth again.

But Rafayel cut her off.

“You know what I think?” His voice was smooth, but it held none of its usual charm. No teasing lilt, no feigned amusement. Just ice. “I think this "important" thing you had to handle… had something to do with Aspen.”

That snapped her out of her internal struggle.

Her brows shot up, confusion spreading across her face. “What?”

Rafayel didn’t miss a beat. “It’s just convenient, isn’t it?” he said coolly. “Zayne says he’s found something major and you disappear. No message. No warning. Not even a half-assed excuse.”

He tilted his head, watching her closely, like he was studying a painting he suddenly didn’t recognize. “It’s like you already knew what he found. Like you were trying to get ahead of something. Trying to hide something.”

The words hit her like a train, and she stumbled a step back. “Wait—what? I’m not—what the hell are you talking about?” Her voice cracked slightly, the accusation catching her completely off guard.

She didn’t even have time to recover before Rafayel pressed again, sharper this time.

“If you’re not hiding anything, Sharkie—” he said, voice low, “then what, exactly, was so important that you went missing for twelve hours?”

Sercia went silent again, her pulse thrumming in her ears as she searched her own mind for something to say. She considered lying, reaching for something half-plausible, some excuse that might explain everything away.

But nothing came.

She had no lie strong enough to support her actions. They knew she had seen the messages. They knew she had ignored the calls. Any attempt to deny that would only dig her deeper into a hole she wouldn’t be able to climb out of. The silence that followed her hesitation only added to the weight of the moment, the atmosphere thick with growing distrust.

What could she possibly say to convince them?

Nothing.

Not unless she told them the truth.

Her chest rose and fell in one slow, deliberate breath as she steeled herself. If she wanted to hold on to even a shred of credibility, if she wanted to keep any of them from completely turning on her, she had to say it. She had to.

So, she looked up.

And with her voice low but unwavering, she said, “Last night…  I went to handle the group of people who are after Aspen’s Aether Core.” The words fell from her lips like stones into still water, sending ripples of shock through the room.

Xavier was the first to speak.

“…What?” His confusion was immediate, his brows furrowed like he wasn’t sure he’d heard her correctly. Zayne and Rafayel didn’t speak. They just stared; eyes sharp, disbelieving. As if waiting for her to backtrack.

To laugh. To tell them she was joking.

But she didn’t.

Instead, she inhaled again, slower this time, then finally opened her mouth and began to speak.

She explained everything.

The letter.

The warehouse.

The men.

Even the chase.

Her voice was steady as she recounted it all; the envelope that slid under the door, the eerie message etched inside with that bold, chilling warning. How she'd driven out to the address alone, unsure of what she was walking into, only to find herself surrounded by a group of dangerous men who believed she was Aspen. How they called her by the hunter’s name and demanded the Aether Core, and how she realized in that moment that they were the same criminal group Zayne had warned about. She told them how the situation had escalated, how fast it had spiraled into violence, and how she barely managed to escape with her life.

She didn’t tell them about Orion. She didn’t mention their light, or the way the car had transformed into a Voidrunner Z3 and that was the only reason she made it home alive. Those parts… she kept for herself. When she finally finished, her voice trailing off into the thick silence of the apartment and it felt like every sound in the world had muted.

The three men stared at her each one with unreadable expressions, shadows cast across their faces from the apartment's morning light. No one spoke. No one moved.

Until Rafayel did.

He sat forward slowly, his tone sharp and disbelieving as he asked, “Are you out of your mind?”

His eyes burned with something unfamiliar, fear, maybe. Or anger masked as concern. “You went there alone? What the hell made you think that was a good idea?”

Sercia straightened slightly, her arms still crossed but her voice defensive. “I thought I could handle it. And I did handle it.”

Xavier scoffed under his breath. “Oh yeah?” he said coolly. “How exactly did you ‘handle’ it? What, you have an Evol or something?”

There was a flicker of silence.

Sercia hesitated, her eyes shifting briefly before she answered with a careful, “Sort of.”

Xavier’s brow arched, unimpressed.

“It’s… complicated,” she added quickly. “But the point is, the situation was handled.”

It wasn’t Xavier who replied next.

It was Zayne. His voice carrying weight, measured and cold. “That’s not the point.”

Sercia’s gaze went to him, her mouth parting slightly, but no words came.

Zayne pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling a long, slow breath as if trying to calm himself. His next words came low, firm, and laced with quiet frustration. “It doesn’t matter if the situation was handled or not. You were the one who insisted we let each other know if something happened and you were the one who said it was because of safety, your words.”

He lifted his gaze and locked eyes with her. “Yet here you are, throwing yourself headfirst into danger and not telling anyone anything.”

Sercia’s jaw tensed, but she didn’t speak. She couldn’t, not when he was right. Not when every word he said hit harder than the last.

“And it’s especially bad if you have an Evol you can’t control.”

That made her flinch. Just slightly. But he noticed.

“‘Sorta’,” he repeated, voice flat. “That means you don’t have a proper grasp on it. That means there’s a chance it could’ve failed when you needed it most.” He shook his head, a quiet, bitter disbelief creeping into his voice. “You could’ve died, Sercia.”

Then came the final blow.

“The moment you got that letter, you should’ve been on your way to the meeting spot. You should’ve picked up the phone when I called and told us what was happening.”

He took a step back as he ran a hand through his hair before letting his arm drop heavily to his side. “What you did was reckless and stupid. And if you’re going to break your own rules, then…” His eyes narrowed, the edge in his voice sharpening. “What’s the point of being in this search together at all?”

The room went still again, the air dense with tension and unsaid thoughts. Sercia stilled as she tried to swallow the weight pressing down on her. Everything they said, every accusation, every piece of disappointment. It wasn’t wrong. She knew that. But they didn’t understand the full scope of it. They didn’t know how much bigger this was. Bigger than them. Bigger than her. They didn’t know that going to them with that letter had felt like a gamble she couldn’t afford to take. Especially if those people had been after her.

Sercia exhaled and stepped away from the kitchen counter. Her voice was quiet when she spoke, tired in a way that bled into the room. “I’m sorry.” She paused, her steps slow and deliberate as she moved across the space.

“But do you really think I don’t already know that?”

She stopped just short of the television, turning to face them fully. Her arms hung loosely at her sides, hands clenched and unclenched, as if unsure what to do with the flood of emotion running through her. “I panicked,” she said simply. “I wasn’t thinking straight. I didn’t know what to do, I just… reacted.”

Her eyes swept over each of them, all of whom were watching her with varying degrees of emotions.

“If there was anything I could do to help find Aspen, I’d do it,” she added, her voice firmer now. “You think I wouldn’t?” The words hung in the air for a moment, heavy and unresolved. And then, as if something in her cracked, she added, softer but sharper, “But what does it even matter to you?”

The room seemed to freeze.

She stared at them, her tone dipping into something bitter. “You don’t even like each other. You’re all out investigating on your own, doing your own thing. So what makes you any different from me?” She shook her head, the words spilling out now, raw and unfiltered. “Why do you even care?”

The silence stretched far too long. The weight of Sercia’s question hung heavy in the air, unanswered, suspended between them like a blade waiting to fall. None of the men spoke, none moved. They just stared, each lost in their own thoughts while Sercia’s gaze slowly dropped to the floor, her throat tightening. She didn’t know what she expected. Maybe a fight. Maybe for them to walk out. Maybe for the tension to snap.

But instead, Xavier’s voice broke the silence.

Not with an answer. Not with the words she half-dared herself to hope for. No, he changed the subject entirely, his tone shifting to something more focused, businesslike.

“This isn’t the first time someone’s gone after Aspen,” he said quietly, his eyes settling on her again. “Ever since she went to the Nest… since she went into the N109 Zone, she’s had a target on her back.”

Sercia blinked. Her body remained still, but internally, she let out a breath of relief. They weren't going to argue anymore and for now, that was good enough.

Xavier continued, his blue eyes never wavering. “Did you find anything while you were out on your… solo investigation?” There was still steel behind his voice, clipped and mildly accusatory. But Sercia ignored the tone and focused on the question instead.

“Not really,” she admitted. “Just the guy leading the group. He was tall, built like a brick wall. Black coat. Scar running down his jaw. Sharp face, dark eyes. Looked like he hadn’t smiled in years.” She shrugged slightly. “He was definitely in charge. Everyone else followed his lead.”

Xavier fell quiet again, processing. Sercia watched the way his brows furrowed slightly, the smallest flicker of thought passing behind his eyes.

Rafayel, who had been reclining with his arms crossed, finally leaned forward. “Do you recognize that description?”

Xavier’s gaze shifted to him, contemplative. “Maybe,” he murmured. “I think I’ve seen someone like that in the Hunter’s database.”

He straightened slightly, the weight of his words sinking in. “Illegal Protocore activity. Mostly black market dealing. But if that’s him, and he’s resurfaced now—”

“—then this isn’t just some random group.” Zayne finished grimly.

Xavier gave a firm nod. “Exactly, and due to his influence, he’s a difficult man to track down.” He folded his arms, his tone growing more serious with every word. “It’s already difficult for most people to even get into the N109 Zone. If that’s where he’s based, then we’re dealing with a jurisdiction that doesn’t follow the same rules. That area runs on its own laws… if you can even call them that.”

His gaze swept across the room, landing on each of them one by one before settling back on Sercia. “If he’s after Aspen… then we need to find him before he finds her. Because if they manage to get a hold of her—” he paused, jaw tightening, “—she might not be as lucky as you.”

A heavy silence fell across the space.

“Should we go back to the warehouse then?” Rafayel asked, his tone thoughtful. “Might be something left behind.”

Zayne shook his head almost immediately. “Unlikely,” he muttered. “They’re probably long gone by now. That place was likely a temporary hideout. They wouldn’t risk lingering after something like last night. If they’re smart, they’ve already vanished.”

Rafayel clicked his tongue in frustration. “Then how are we supposed to find this guy?”

Xavier didn’t respond right away. He seemed deep in thought, calculating something behind the sharp glint of his eyes. Then, finally, he spoke, each word measured. “…There’s one option.”

Everyone’s attention shifted to him.

“The Association might’ve failed,” Xavier continued, “but I know someone outside of it. Someone who… doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty. He’s deep in the underground networks. Odds are, he’s heard of this man. Probably even knows his name.”

Sercia could see it before he even said it; Rafayel’s eyes narrowed, and he leaned his head back with an audible groan. “Ugh. Not him,” Rafayel muttered in visible irritation, running a hand down his face. “Please tell me we’re not talking about him.”

Zayne sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Of course we are.” he mumbled, tone resigned.

A cold knot twisted in Sercia's stomach, confirmation settling into her bones before the name was even uttered. She already knew who they were talking about. How could she not? There weren’t many people in this world who could make three very different men visibly tense just at the mention of a possible lead.

Someone like him wasn’t just dangerous.

He was lethal.

The 4th love interest of Aspen. A man cloaked in shadows and stories, every whispered rumor brushing the line between fiction and nightmare. A man who would also bend to Aspen’s will without hesitation, who would carve the moon from the sky and place it at her feet if she simply asked. He was cunning and unpredictable. Terrifying in the kind of way that made your instincts scream even as your mind tried to rationalize him.

And fear? That wasn’t even in his vocabulary.

Sercia remained still as her gaze dropping toward the floor. Her mouth pressed into a thin line, not because she didn’t know who they meant, but because she did. And because, if she was lucky, she could keep pretending he was nothing more than a name. A memory. A distant, dangerous possibility.

But fate wasn’t going to be that kind.

She waited, quiet and still, for one of them to say it aloud. To speak it into existence and force it from possibility into certainty.

And it was Xavier who gave the final word.

“…Yes,” he said, voice dark. “Sylus.”

Xavier’s gaze then slid back to her. “Do you know that name?” he asked.

Of course she did, because this wasn’t just anyone. This was Sylus. His existence was an enigma wrapped in influence and blood. A phantom operating in the cracks of society where laws bent and morality dissolved. Most people didn’t even know what he looked like. He was more myth than man, whispers traded in dimly lit bars, rumors scratched into criminal files, eyes in dark corners darting when the name was spoken too loudly.

Her pretending to be Aspen’s friend wouldn’t excuse Sercia knowing about him. Not when Aspen had no trace of him anywhere. No pictures on her Moments. No posts. No messages. Nothing that would link them together openly. Because a man like Sylus was to dangerous to even try that.

So saying, “Aspen told me about him”?

That would be suicide.

It would unravel everything. Break the illusion. Turn suspicion into certainty.

So Sercia did the only thing she could.

She blinked once, letting her brow furrow just enough to mimic curiosity. Then tilted her head, as if searching her own thoughts, lips parting slightly in feigned confusion as the lie slipped from her tongue like silk. “…No,” she said, voice careful. “I don’t. Should I?”

Zayne’s eyes briefly swept over the artist and hunter before addressing her, tone smooth but clearly testing the waters. “Has Aspen ever mentioned a friend to you… named Skye?”

…Skye.

Now that was a name she could say she knew. It was the alias Sylus used when stepping into the public eye; when he needed to blend into high society events or conduct “business” with a more polished edge. The crime boss had mentioned it a few times before, during many of their conversations and interactions in-game.

She nodded slowly, careful not to look too eager. “Yeah. She’s mentioned him before,” she said casually, as if trying to recall something insignificant. “Didn’t say much though.”

That was enough to satisfy Zayne, who gave a slight nod in return. But before he could say more, Rafayel cut in with a roll of his eyes and another audible groan. “That’s because Skye is Sylus’s fake name,” he muttered bitterly. “He’s the guy who runs Onychinus and practically rules the N109 zone.”

Sercia kept her expression neutral as he continued to speak.

“Another bastard I can’t stand. He had the nerve to put a bounty on my head a while back.”

That made Sercia blink in realization, oh right, she did remember that detail from the game's main story.

“I mean, seriously,” Rafayel went on, his voice growing louder. “If Red Eyes wants me dead, he can come handle it himself instead of sending his pathetic little birds. I was unbothered of course and barely broke a sweat.”

Zayne then sighed, clearly reaching the end of his patience. “Rafayel, please, save the rivalry for another time,” he said sharply, his tone edged with irritation. “You and Sylus can fight each other later.”

Rafayel let out a huff but didn’t argue.

Zayne turned his attention to Xavier next. “How soon can you get in contact with him?”

 “I’ll reach out today. Set up a meeting with all of us.” His gaze flicked to Sercia, lingering a beat longer than necessary. “That way, we can find out who this guy is and find him before it’s too late.”

Even though Sercia knew deep down that Sylus would help, especially if Aspen was involved, she couldn’t stop herself from asking, “Are you sure he’ll agree to that?”

Xavier gave he a quiet nod. “When it comes to Aspen, the five of us would do anything at a moment’s notice,” he said. “Trust me. He won’t hesitate.”

Hearing a small ding, Xavier glanced down at his watch and his expression returned to its usual calm, tired neutrality. “Now that this is handled,” he said, adjusting the cuff of his sleeve, “I have to get to work.”

Rafayel stood up right after, brushing invisible dust from his pants. “Same. I had to postpone a meeting with a client interested in one of my pieces,” he sighed dramatically, “and I know Thomas is gonna chew me out for it.”

Then within a few steps, the artist made his way towards Sercia then, and without warning, leaned down just enough to be eye-level with her. The sudden closeness made her instinctively lean back, her breath catching slightly. His sharp blue-and-pink gaze pinned her in place. “I’m trusting,” he said quietly, “that you’re not going to pull a stunt like this again.”

There was no teasing lilt in his tone. No sarcasm. Just unnerving sincerity wrapped in steel. The kind of sincerity that made her skin prickle.

Sercia, a little terrified at the artist’s complete emotional switch-up, nodded quickly. “I won’t,” she muttered.

His gaze lingered before he straightened, the tension slipping off his shoulders like a discarded coat. That familiar sly smirk returned to his lips as he turned and waved lazily over his shoulder. “Catch you later, Sharkie.”

With that, he strolled toward the door and was the first out. Xavier was also already moving, but he paused for a brief second, just enough for his eyes to flick back toward Sercia. His gaze was distant, like always but flicker of something passed through it, too quick to place, before he turned without a word and followed Rafayel out the door without a goodbye.

Typical.

Sercia watched as the door clicked shut behind them, the lingering tension finally beginning to dissolve into the quiet. For the first time since stepping foot into the apartment, she felt like she could breathe again and her shoulders sagged with the relief.

But then she paused.

That was only two…

She then turned her head and sure enough, Zayne was still there, still standing silently in the living room. His eyes were fixed on her, and for a reason she couldn’t place, her chest tightened with unease.

“Oh,” she murmured, blinking. “You’re still here?” Her voice came out quieter than she intended, almost uncertain.

Zayne didn’t answer immediately. He just stood there, eyes holding hers for a moment too long before shifting away, his gaze dropping to the black gladstone bag resting beside the couch. Without a word, he stepped forward, reached down, and picked it up with one hand. Then placed it on the coffee table with a soft thud that somehow sounded too loud in the stillness between them.

“Come here,” he said as he motioned toward the couch before sitting down.

Sercia blinked, caught off guard by the simplicity of the command. There was nothing overtly aggressive in his voice, but the quiet authority it carried left little room for argument. Something about the way he said it made her legs move before her mind fully caught up. She hesitated only briefly before walking over and lowering herself onto the couch next to him, the plush cushions sinking beneath her weight. Her nerves were still tight from earlier, the aftermath of adrenaline making her limbs heavy, her head foggy. She kept her eyes on Zayne as he unzipped the bag with practiced ease, the soft zzzzzzip of the metal teeth echoing faintly in the room.

Inside, he shifted through the contents methodically; latex gloves, bandages, antiseptic sprays, a small digital scanner, a stethoscope. Her brows knit slightly as she tried to piece together what he was doing, her curiosity outweighing her fatigue for just a moment.

“What are you doing?” she asked, tilting her head slightly, her voice a notch above a whisper.

Zayne didn’t look at her right away. His eyes remained on the bag, his fingers selecting a few items and setting them beside him on the table in a neat, orderly row. “Making sure you’re not hurt,” he said plainly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “After what you went through,” he continued, finally glancing her way, “it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Sercia blinked again, stunned into silence. She opened her mouth to protest, to tell him she was fine, but the words didn’t come. So instead, she sank a little deeper into the couch, eyes trained on the edge of the coffee table as he leaned in closer.

His movements were quiet and efficient. No wasted effort, no unnecessary fuss. Just clean, practiced care.

A small penlight flicked on between his fingers, as he asked her to look up. The light passed from one eye to the next, and he watched closely before clicking it off and setting it aside. Then, he pressed two fingers against the inside of her wrist, his grip firm but not tight, checking her pulse in silence.

“How are you feeling?” he asked simply, his gaze flicking to hers for a moment.

“Exhausted,” she muttered, her voice dry. “Like I got hit by a truck, if the truck also came with a side of paranoia and existential dread.”

Zayne didn’t comment, but the faintest flicker of something passed through his eyes; acknowledgment, maybe even slight amusement, before he returned to his checkup without a word. Sercia noticed that despite the way his voice often cut like ice and how his gaze could make anyone squirm, there was something different about him in this moment. He wasn’t brusque or impatient. He was just... careful. Not hesitant, not soft. Just careful and there was a strange kind of gentleness in that.

As he continued her gaze drifted lower, past the hem of his rolled sleeves, and her breath slightly caught as she noticed something that she hadn’t seen before since she got here.

His scars.

Faint, pale lines littered the backs of his hands and crept up his forearms. They were old and barely visible but jagged like memories that refused to fade. Her chest tightened slightly at the sight, a small pang of something; sympathy? guilt? awe? Rising in her throat. Scars from a past life he barely even remembered. Wounds carried over time and space, proof of the struggles he didn’t know he’d suffered. She thought about saying something, but the words never made it past her lips. Instead, she kept her curiosity buried, tucked neatly behind her tongue, and said nothing at all.

When he finally finished the checkup, Zayne straightened and began to methodically return everything to his bag. The zippers hissed shut with finality as he stood up, slung the strap over his shoulder, and looked down at her. “You’re fine,” he said. “Just fatigued. Nothing a good night’s sleep won’t fix.”

Sercia let out a breath she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding, her shoulders slumping as a quiet, exhausted relief washed over her. “Thanks,” she murmured, her voice low and sincere.

Zayne didn’t nod or smile, but the way he lingered for a heartbeat longer than necessary before turning to go said enough. As he made his way to the door, he paused and glanced over his shoulder. “Get some rest,” he said simply, his voice softer now, less like a reprimand and more like a quiet order meant just for her. “Doctor’s orders.”

With that, he headed toward the front door, his footsteps measured and deliberate, the sound of them softened against the floor. Just as he reached for the handle, hand brushing over the metal, Sercia found her voice again.

“Zayne.”

The single word cut through the stillness, and it stopped him. He paused, his fingers resting lightly against the door before he slowly turned.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice low, laced with sincerity. “For… checking on me. And I really am sorry for everything.”

He didn’t answer immediately. He simply stared at her for a long, weighted moment, eyes searching her face like he was trying to figure out what was true and what was guarded. Then, finally, he gave her a small nod, barely more than a dip of his chin, but it was enough. “Take care of yourself,” he said before he turned back, opened the door, and stepped out into the hallway. The door closed behind him with a soft click, and in the stillness that followed, the weight of everything began to ease, just a little.

Sercia sat in the stillness, the silence of the apartment pressing in around her like a dense fog. Her mind kept replaying everything; the confrontation, the accusation, the tension so thick it could’ve been cut with a knife. Them being here… it had caught her completely off guard, like a sudden downpour on a day you thought would stay clear. And now that it was over, she still couldn’t fully believe it had happened.

She leaned forward slightly, elbows on her knees, hands clasped together as her thoughts spiraled. She had been so wrapped up in her fear, her anxiety, her need to protect herself, that she hadn’t stopped to consider the others.

Their perspective.

She’d only thought about her own.

It was selfish. And now, sitting here in the aftermath of it all, the truth of that dug into her like a splinter under skin. A heavy sigh slipped past her lips as she pushed herself up, her limbs sluggish, her body weighed down by exhaustion and guilt alike. Every step toward the bedroom felt heavier than the last, her boots dragging slightly across the floor. She was beyond drained; emotionally, physically, mentally.

The bedroom was dim and quiet, the muted light filtering in through the closed curtains. She didn’t even bother changing. Didn’t have the energy. She simply kicked off her boots with the last bit of strength she had left and collapsed onto the bed, face-down, the soft mattress immediately hugging her like it knew how badly she needed it.

She didn’t move. She couldn’t.

Her eyes had just begun to flutter shut, the weight of exhaustion finally winning over, when a faint rustle reached her ears, soft, almost imperceptible, but enough to draw her attention. She blinked sluggishly and turned her head.

There, padding silently across the bed, was Orion.

The fox didn’t say anything. They simply crossed the mattress and curled up beside her, their small form tucking in neatly like a ball of warmth and light. Their tail wrapped delicately around themselves, ears flicking once before settling. Sercia gave them a faint smile, barely lifting her arm as she reached out and gently ran her fingers through their soft fur. The motion was slow, absentminded, more comfort than thought. Orion responded with a low, almost inaudible sound, not quite a purr, but close. A soft vibration of contentment.

Then, in a voice hushed and steady, they murmured, “Sleep.”

Her heart eased at the sound, and she let out a soft exhale, the last bit of resistance leaving her bones. She nestled deeper into the bed, pulling the covers up over her tired frame as the weight of the day melted from her shoulders.

“Goodnight,” she mumbled, her voice muffled into the pillow.

The tension she had been carrying; fear, frustration, guilt. Began to dissolve into the warmth of the blankets and the quiet comfort of Orion’s presence. Her eyelids grew heavier with each breath, the world blurring at the edges as sleep slowly wrapped around her like a quiet tide. And finally, as her thoughts faded into stillness, Sercia surrendered to the dark, gentle pull of rest, letting the chaos of the day drift away into silence.

ꫂ ၴႅၴ Taglist: @llamabois @monticarlo

𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊'𝒎 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒖𝒕! 𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈! 𝑳𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆, 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔!

[crycxbey]

𝑰𝒏 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑽𝑰

𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕

𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒐𝒘: ↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺

January 22nd 2044

Sercia had finally found a moment of peace. A week ago, she wouldn’t have imagined how precious such a thing could be because Rafayel had been dead serious. She had assumed that once they went their separate ways, he’d become too distracted by his own responsibilities to seek her out and it would be the Zayne and Xavier situation all over again. But nope, when he said he was going to look for Aspen after his meeting, he meant it. And, unfortunately, he fully intended to drag her along with him.

She and Orion had been in the middle of unpacking the whirlwind of their earlier encounter, the fox curled up on the couch, tail flicking idly as they mulled over Rafayel’s reactions. Orion had heard everything, and just as they began debating how to handle him moving forward, a sudden, sharp knock echoed through the apartment and made them pause.

The duo exchanged a look of confusion, both silently questioning who could possibly be at the door.

Sercia furrowed her brows, turning to Orion. “Do you think it’s Xavier?” she asked, her voice hushed.

 “Hm, it could be.” At that statement, Orion’s form shimmered, and in the blink of an eye, they vanished into thin air, leaving her to handle the situation alone.

She shook her head, before moving to the door and stopping just before the peephole. She pressed an eye against the small glass to see whoever was on the other side and was taken aback because she wasn’t expecting… him.

Rafayel.

Standing there with the same effortless confidence he always carried, his striking blue and pink eyes half-lidded with impatience.

Sercia froze, momentarily caught in disbelief.

You have got to be kidding me.

She stood there for a second too long, debating whether she should pretend she wasn’t home, but then realized he had probably heard her footsteps approaching the door.

Great.

Realizing she had no choice but to face him, she sighed internally before unlocking and pulling the door open, her expression caught somewhere between confusion and mild exasperation. “Rafayel? Why are you here?” she asked, cutting straight to the point.

“I told you,” He said smoothly, arms casually crossed over his chest. “I was going to start looking for Aspen after my meeting.”

Sercia blinked, nodding slowly. “Yeah… I remember that.” She paused, tilting her head slightly. “…But that still doesn’t explain why you’re here.”

Rafayel arched a brow, looking at her like she had just asked the dumbest question in the world. “I read through the entire group chat,” he continued, his voice carrying that same matter-of-fact tone, as if this should have been obvious. “I’ve gone through every lead you all have provided.”

“Oh, really?” Sercia said, surprised that he analyzed the information that fast. “And?”

His lips twitched slightly, almost like he was holding back a smirk. Then, in a tone so casual it bordered on ridiculous, he said, “You’re coming with me.”

Sercia’s brain stalled.

“…Huh?”

Rafayel tilted his head slightly, as if he didn’t understand why she was surprised. “You’re coming with me,” he repeated, his voice as natural as if he had just told her it was raining outside.

And come with him, she did.

Sercia had thought about arguing and coming up with some excuse as to why she didn’t need to tag along. But she knew that if she put up too much resistance, she wouldn’t put it past him to cause a scene right here in the hallway. So, in the end, she begrudgingly conceded. But turns out that was a big mistake because she was dragged around like a damn ragdoll for the next seven days straight.

From the moment the sun cracked on the horizon to late evening, Rafayel had her everywhere, checking places, following cold leads, and interrogating people who might have had even the slightest clue about Aspen’s whereabouts. The man operated on pure determination, pushing forward without an ounce of hesitation, despite the fact that every single lead amounted to nothing.

Rafayel didn’t even bother to update the group chat whenever they hit another dead end. Nope. That lovely responsibility fell squarely on her. She was the one stuck typing out message after message to Xavier and Zayne, keeping them in the loop while Rafayel made it painfully clear that he had zero interest in interacting with the two men.

Despite Rafayel dragging her around the city practically against her will and the sheer exhaustion that came with it, there were some positives to spending so much time with him. Unlike Xavier and Zayne, Rafayel was different, and she found herself actually getting to know him, little by little, in a way she hadn’t been able to with the others. Sure, he was dramatic, and his impatience was always thin, but he was also genuinely fun to be around. He had a sharp wit and a way of keeping her entertained. His sarcastic quips, the way he’d complain about people wasting his precious time while simultaneously forcing her to go along with his plans—it was annoying, but it was also kind of amusing. And, somehow, despite their initial start, they had started to click. Though, Sercia wouldn’t go as far as to call him a friend just yet, but they were getting there, slowly.

Eventually, the week came to an end, and she was finally able to break away from the painters grasp when he had a gallery he had to plan for, which led her to this moment, curled up on the couch, enjoying her well-earned peace, watching a movie that was suspiciously similar to The Lion King. But she didn’t dwell on it for too long, deciding instead to just hit play and enjoy the rare moment of relaxation. Beside her, Orion lounged, their tail flicking lazily as they watched the screen with mild interest. A bowl of freshly made popcorn sat between them, her popcorn, to be exact. At least, it was hers.

Fifteen minutes in, Sercia had barely gotten more than a few bites before realizing half the bowl was already gone. She turned her head slowly, her expression flat and exasperated as she caught Orion, mid-motion, levitating yet another buttery piece toward their mouth.

“You do realize you’ve eaten most of this, right?” she asked, one brow arched as she gestured toward the rapidly diminishing supply.

Orion didn’t even blink. “This buttered popcorn is good,” they said simply, as if that excused their blatant snack theft.

Sercia rolled her eyes at Orion's antics, but a small smile tugged at her lips as she turned her attention back to the movie. It was nice to have a quiet night after the chaos of the past week, even if Orion was determined to consume every last piece of her popcorn. However, her phone buzzing repeatedly broke her moment of peace. With a sigh, she picked it up, glancing at the screen to see a flood of new messages from the group chat.

Predictably, Xavier and Zayne were exchanging updates, their conversation short and to the point as usual. What was surprising, though, was Rafayel actively engaging in the chat, more specifically, chastising the other two men in a way that quickly spiraled into a mini argument. Sercia scrolled through, already amused as she read Rafayel’s messages, most of which were filled with thinly veiled sarcasm and passive-aggressive remarks. Then, of course, it escalated, because of course it did, with Rafayel getting noticeably more heated before finally sending out a dramatic plea for assistance.

Rafayel: this is ridiculous! sharkie tell them im right >:(

Sercia blinked at the nickname before a laugh escaped her. Oh right, that was a thing now. During one of their many outings, Rafayel had randomly bestowed the name upon her, claiming that she had "sharp eyes and a bite when annoyed.” Shaking her head, she started to type out a response, debating to either defend Rafayel or throw him under the bus when suddenly, a faint rustling sound made her pause.

Her fingers hovered over the screen as her ears strained, catching the subtle but unmistakable sound of movement near the door.

The hairs on the back of her neck rose.

Orion must have heard it too because, in an instant, their eyes snapped toward the entryway, their entire body going unnaturally still.

They both stared at the door, bodies tense as the rustling continued. The faint shuffling of movement was accompanied by the distinct sound of a man muttering under his breath, low and irritated, like he was struggling with something.

"Damn it…"

The curse was soft but clear enough for Sercia to pick up on and her stomach twisted slightly. That voice didn’t belong to Xavier, Zayne, or even Rafayel. She and Orion exchanged a quick look. The fox’s ears twitched, their tail flicking in quiet apprehension, but they remained silent. Slowly, carefully, Sercia set the phone back on the table and pushed herself off the couch, her movements measured as Orion hopped down beside her, their small form barely making a sound against the floor. The movie’s soundtrack filled the air, masking any noise they might have made as they crept toward the door.

The closer they got, the clearer the man’s voice became, though the words were still too mumbled to fully decipher. Sercia’s heart pounded, the weight of unease pressing down on her shoulders.

Then-

Shhfft.

Something slid under the door.

This made the duo freeze as a small blue envelope appeared and the faint shuffle of movement quickly followed by the sound of retreating footsteps. Whoever had been there was already walking away.

Sercia’s pulse quickened as she and Orion exchanged another wary glance. The tension between them was palpable, the air thick with an unspoken question. “…Who was that?” she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

“I don’t know.”

She turned her attention back to the envelope, eyeing it with a mixture of confusion and apprehension. The blue color stood out against the floor and she inhaled deeply before giving Orion a pointed look. The fox then nodded in understanding and without hesitation, a faint shimmer of light pulsed from their paws, and in an instant, the envelope vanished from the floor only to reappear directly in front of them. Letting out a slow exhale, she hesitated only for a moment before reaching for the envelope, her fingers brushing over the smooth material.

It felt expensive.

As she turned it over in her hands, her eyes landed on an elegant wax seal pressed into the fold, deep crimson against the blue, the design intricate and unfamiliar.

Her brow furrowed.

A wax seal? Who the hell still used wax seals in this era?

She exchanged another look with Orion, the unease settling deeper in her stomach before inhaling sharply and breaking the wax seal. The red stamp cracked under her fingers as she carefully opened the envelope, revealing a neatly folded piece of paper inside. The parchment felt expensive, smooth and heavy beneath her fingertips, whoever sent this had money.

Her chest tightened as she unfolded the letter, her eyes scanning the elegant, almost too perfect handwriting.

The moment she registered the words, her breath caught in her throat and a chill ran down her spine as she reread the message, her hands gripping the paper tighter.

There was no name. No signature. No formal greeting.

Just a warning.

A threat, carved into ink with an unsettling sense of confidence.

I know your secret.

Come to the address below tonight.

If you don’t, everyone you care about will pay the price.

The letter slipped from her trembling hands, fluttering to the floor like a dead leaf as she sat frozen, shock and fear rooting her in place.

No. No one should know.

Her mind raced, a whirlwind of denial and terror. How? How could anyone possibly know? About her lies, about where she was really from, about what this place actually was? Her chest tightened, her breathing becoming rapid and shallow as she abruptly stood, her movements jerky with panic. She turned away from the letter like it had burned her and strode toward the living room, her pulse hammering against her ribs.

The air felt suffocating.

Her thoughts spiraled faster than she could control.

This can’t be happening. I was careful. I was so careful.

Orion followed her, their silent presence grounding yet unnerving at the same time. They hopped onto the couch, tail curling around their paws as they watched her pace. They didn’t say a word, didn’t interrupt, only observed as she muttered frantically to herself, unraveling in real time.

She had to figure this out.

Who could’ve sent this?

Her mind went to Xavier first, he was observant and analyzing. Had she slipped up? Had she said something that didn’t add up? But no, Xavier wouldn’t send a letter. If he knew, he would’ve confronted her directly, his usual unreadable expression fixed with quiet judgment.

Zayne? He had been suspicious of her since the start. He saw through her excuses, poked at the holes in her story with those sharp, piercing questions. But again, no. He wasn’t the type to play games. If he suspected something, he’d get the truth out of her himself.

Rafayel? He had gotten closer to her over the past week. He teased her, called her Sharkie, but… even with all of that, she knew he wasn’t the kind to send cryptic threats. He’d switch up immediately and would show up at her door and corner her with pointed remarks.

Her pacing quickened as her mind spun, her body filled with restless, panicked energy.

Sylus and Caleb?

Absolutely not.

If they knew, if they had even an ounce of suspicion, she wouldn’t be standing here right now. They wouldn’t waste time with letters or threats. They’d already be here, demanding answers, forcing the truth from her lips whether she wanted to give it or not.

That realization only made the panic worse.

Who the hell knew?

Who had been watching her?

How long had they been watching?

Her nails dug into her arms as she tried to steady herself, but the storm in her mind refused to settle.

Then Orion sighed, “Sercia.”

Her pacing didn’t stop.

“Sercia.”

Still nothing.

Then, sharper this time, “Stop.”

The firm command cut through her spiraling thoughts, forcing her feet to still against the carpet. Her head snapped toward Orion, her chest rising and falling in erratic breaths. The fox gazed at her, unblinking, his usual calmness unwavering. But there was a weight to his expression, something more deliberate.

She swallowed, her throat dry.

“…What do I do?” she whispered.

Orion remained silent for a moment as they watched Sercia with an unreadable expression. The pause stretched between them, heavy with tension, before they finally spoke. “You need to calm down and think.”

Sercia let out a sharp, exasperated breath, her frustration bubbling over. “How am I supposed to be calm when someone knows about me!?” she snapped, her voice laced with panic. She gestured toward the letter still lying on the floor, her hands shaking slightly. “This could ruin everything. It could blow our cover, destroy the plan, this could stop me from getting home!” Her voice wavered on the last word, the sheer weight of that realization crashing down on her. If someone truly knew…would she ever get back?

Orion didn’t flinch at her outburst. Instead, they spoke again, their tone steady. “I understand,” they said, their voice softer now, though still firm. “But panicking won’t solve anything.”

Sercia clenched her jaw, her fingers curling into fists. She wanted to argue. She wanted to do something. But she also knew they were right. Freaking out wouldn’t change the fact that this was happening. With a quiet groan, she closed her eyes and pressed her fingers to the bridge of her nose, forcing herself to inhale deeply.

One. Hold. Two. Exhale. Three.

After a few steadying breaths, she opened her eyes, the chaos in her mind still there but slightly more manageable.

“…You’re right,” she admitted begrudgingly. She lowered her hand, her shoulders slumping as the tension in her body eased just a little. “Sorry for snapping at you.”

Orion flicked their ears, their tone as even as ever. “No need to apologize.”

Sercia exhaled, rolling her shoulders back as she looked at them again.

“So,” Orion continued, their gaze unwavering. “What do you want to do?”

“Well,” Sercia started, exhaling slowly as she forced herself to think logically. “I obviously can’t go to anyone.”

She crossed her arms tightly, her mind racing through every possible option. “If I go to one of the guys, I might as well be putting myself on the chopping block.” She let out a humorless laugh, shaking her head. “They’d definitely interrogate me. If I even mentioned this letter to them, I’d have to explain why someone would be threatening me like this.”

Her stomach twisted at the thought.

“They’d start asking questions I can't answer.” Her fingers dug into her arms. “And let’s be real, two out of the three wouldn’t even consider helping me.”

She huffed, pacing again as she continued. “Xavier and Zayne? If I could bring myself to tell them, they’d take one look at this and think I deserved it. That I must’ve done something, that I must’ve done something to Aspen and someone found out.”

Her heart clenched at the idea. She already knew they didn’t fully trust her, and something like this would just solidify any lingering suspicions they had.

Her eyes flickered to Orion. “And the police are out too. If I go to them, I’d have to tell them who I really am.” Her voice lowered, the weight of those words pressing against her chest. “I can’t risk that.”

Her grip tightened around her arms. “Getting help from an outside resource is not an option. It can’t happen.”

Silence filled the space between them for a few beats before she finally exhaled, looking at Orion with newfound determination. “That means we need to figure this out,” she said firmly. “Can you help me?”

Orion tilted their head slightly as they studied her. Then, with an unwavering certainty, they nodded. “Of course.”

Sercia nodded firmly before turning on her heel and walking briskly toward the letter. She snatched it up from where it had fallen, her fingers tightening around the edges as she scanned over the address once more. The letters were crisp and elegantly printed, but the weight behind them felt suffocating. Whoever sent this had was certain that she would comply.

She turned back to Orion, holding the letter up between them. “We need to go here,” she said as anxiety gnawed at her insides. “We need to handle this.”

Orion’s eyes flickered before responding, “This could be dangerous.” Their voice was calm, measured, but there was a quiet warning beneath it. “We don’t know who, or what, we’re walking into.”

Sercia swallowed, forcing herself to push back the fear. “I know.”

Orion continued, “But I understand why you want to go. And if anything happens…” Their form flickered slightly, the ambient glow around them pulsing as if solidifying their presence. “I will protect you.”

Something in Sercia’s chest loosened, just a little. A small, relieved breath slipped out before she could stop it.

A faint smile tugged at her lips. “Alright,” she said, nodding. “We’re doing this then.”

She then gestured to her pajamas . “But first, I need an outfit that fits the occasion.”

Orion nodded and within seconds, a black sweater, form-fitting skinny jeans, and black combat boots materialized in front of her. The simple yet practical ensemble floated in place before softly settling into her hands. Sercia hummed in approval, running her fingers over the fabric before nodding. “Nice.”

She turned on her heel, walking toward the bedroom. As she stepped inside, she shut the door behind her and leaned against it for a brief moment, steadying herself.

This was it.

Someone knew and had figured her out, and now she had to face them.

A slow breath left her lips as she pushed herself off the door and began changing into her new outfit. The fabric of the sweater was soft against her skin, the jeans fit snugly, and the combat boots felt solid beneath her feet. Once she finished adjusting everything, she turned to the full-length mirror in the corner of the room, assessing herself. Dark, muted tones. Simple. Nothing flashy. Just the right balance between casual and prepared for whatever the hell was waiting for her at that address.

With one last exhale, she stepped out of the bedroom and headed back to the living room. Her boots made soft, deliberate taps against the floor as she moved, her mind sharpening with focus. She grabbed the remote from the couch and switched off the TV, plunging the room into silence. Orion remained quiet as she reached for her phone from the table. She was about to slip it into her back pocket when she hesitated. The screen was still lit and messages from Zayne in the chat caught her eye, timestamped from about twenty minutes ago.

Zayne: This is urgent, I found something and it could be a breakthrough.

She quickly scrolled down, eyes darting over the following lines.

Zayne: Dangerous people are out for Aspen. It's a criminal group and they’ve been searching for her.

Sercia’s breath hitched.

Zayne: I have some info and need to show you something. So we all need to meet, now.

There was an address sent after to likely a restaurant or café.

Her eyes flickered to the other responses.

Xavier: On my way

Rafayel: be there in 10

Sercia swallowed as her thumb hovered over the keyboard, but before she could type a response, another notification slid across the top of her screen.

Missed call – Zayne (2x, 10 mins ago).

Her pulse quickened. He had called her. Not once, but twice and she hadn’t even noticed. The fact that he called and not just texted meant he was taking this very seriously.

And she had missed it.

Orion, who had been watching her, finally broke the silence. “Something wrong?”

Sercia exhaled sharply, shaking herself out of her thoughts. She lifted her gaze to meet theirs. “…Zayne found something.”

Orion’s ears twitched slightly. “Hm, really?”

Sercia nodded. “Yeah. Apparently, a criminal group is after her. He says he has info, and they’re all meeting up right now.”

She looked back at the screen, her mind caught in the web of consequences that came with either decision. If she went to meet the guys, she would be playing it safe. Keeping their trust, avoiding suspicion, and ensuring she stayed in their good graces. But at the same time, she’d be losing an opportunity to confront the person, or people who somehow knew her secret and if she didn’t handle this now, there was no telling what they’d do next.

As she debated her next move, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was Rafayel.

Rafayel: uh where are you?

Rafayel: were all here already

Sercia chewed the inside of her cheek, exhaling slowly through her nose. She barely had time to think before another notification popped up.

An incoming call from Zayne. The phone vibrated in her hand and the screen lit up with his name. He was calling her again.

She hesitated, thumb hovering over the screen.

Answering meant she would have to go. Zayne wasn’t the type to let things slide and she’d have to explain why she wasn’t there yet, and she doubted he’d accept a half-hearted excuse.

But ignoring him? That came with its own risks.

The phone continued to buzz and she clenched her jaw then, with a quiet sigh, she let it ring.

The vibrations eventually stopped, and the screen dimmed, leaving nothing but silence. Sercia then locked the screen and slipped it into her pocket.

They’ll probably just think I fell asleep, she reasoned. I’ll respond later, say I missed the messages, make up an excuse if I have to.

Right now, she had something far more important to deal with than chasing ghosts and dead-end leads. Sercia turned away from the phone, pushing away the lingering unease that gnawed at the edges of her thoughts. With a newfound determination, she crossed the room and grabbed her car keys from the counter. She then turned towards Orion with a firm tone. “Let’s go.”

Orion gave a slow nod before floating off the couch and with one last deep breath, Sercia pushed down whatever doubts remained, squared her shoulders, and headed for the door with the fox in tow.

𓍯𓂃𓂃𓂃

Sercia had no idea how long she had been driving. The city lights had long since faded into the distance, swallowed by the creeping darkness of the outskirts. The roads here were quieter, the towering skyscrapers replaced by stretches of industrial zones and empty lots. The GPS continued to guide her forward, its glowing blue navigation line cutting through the digital map like a cold beacon.

Her grip tightened around the steering wheel as her phone would not stop buzzing. Every few minutes, a new call would pop up on the car’s display. The first couple of times, she ignored it with ease. But then it became a pattern. Every few minutes, a new call from one of the guys, back to back, one after another.

Zayne.

Ignore.

Rafayel.

Ignore.

Xavier.

Ignore.

Rafayel.

Ignore.

Zayne—

She groaned, resisting the overwhelming urge to slam her head against the dashboard. Even Orion, who sat in the passenger, eventually tilted their head in mild curiosity. “Why are they calling so much?” they mused.

Sercia scoffed. “I don’t know,” she muttered, eyes focused on the road. “You’d think they were trying to stage an intervention or something.”

Orion flicked their tail, their glowing eyes locked onto the screen as another call lit up the car display.

Xavier.

Again.

Sercia clenched her teeth, finger clenching the wheel as she let it ring again.

It was getting excessive.

It wasn’t just the calls, either. Every few seconds, her phone would vibrate against the console, a never-ending flood of messages popping up at the top of the screen.

Rafayel: pick up your damn phone sharkie

Xavier: Where are you?

Zayne: Sercia, answer me.

Zayne: Now.

Rafayel: If I have to get in my car and hunt you down, I swear—

The texts blurred together as they continued to flood in and her eye twitched.

Xavier and Zayne being this persistent surprised her. They were the last people she expected to care about her whereabouts. They barely spoke to her unless it was about Aspen, and now suddenly they were acting like she had known each other for years.

“Persistent, aren’t they?” Orion commented, ears twitching as yet another call lit up the display.

Sercia exhaled sharply through her nose. “They need to chill,” she grumbled. “I get it, I missed a meeting, but it's not like they're going to actually find anything.”

At this point, she wanted nothing more than to turn off her phone completely but she couldn’t. The device was linked to the GPS, and she wasn’t about to risk getting lost in the outskirts of the city with no idea where she was going. So, instead, she endured it and focused on the road ahead.

Eventually, she reached her destination.

An abandoned warehouse loomed ahead, its rusted frame stretching toward the night sky, jagged edges of broken windows casting eerie shadows against the dim glow of the city beyond. The structure looked like it had been forgotten by time, left to rot in the outskirts of Linkon City where no one would bother to look.

It was perfect for something shady.

Sercia pulled her car to a stop several yards away, far enough to avoid detection but close enough to make a quick getaway if necessary. With a slow, deliberate motion, she shut off the engine, letting the quiet hum fade into an unsettling silence.

Her phone buzzed.

Another incoming call.

She glanced at the display. Zayne. Again.

She powered the device off completely before shoving it into the center console. The moment it disappeared from view, she let out a shaky breath, feeling like she had just severed the last tether connecting her to the others.

Now, it was just her and Orion.

She turned to the fox, her voice steady despite the way her pulse thrummed against her ribs. “Alright,” she murmured. “I’m ready.”

Orion’s eyes glowed faintly in the darkness. “Are you?” they asked, tilting their head.

Sercia hesitated.

Then, she exhaled. “No,” she admitted. “But we need to do this anyway.”

Orion made a quiet hum, before giving a small nod. Then, in a shimmer of light, they disappeared. Now, it was just her. With one last inhale, she braced herself before stepping out of the car, the crisp night air wrapping around her as she locked the doors and pocketed her keys. She turned toward the warehouse, her gaze sweeping over its rotting exterior one more time before forcing herself to move forward. Each step felt heavier than the last, but she pressed on, her boots crunching softly against the gravel-strewn ground as she approached the weathered metal door. For a moment, she hesitated, her fingers hovering just inches from the rusted handle.

Breathe.

She gave herself a quick, silent pep talk. You’ve made it this far. You can’t back out now.

With a firm nod, she gripped the handle and yanked it open.

SCREEEEEECH!!

The hinges screamed in protest, the sound grating against her ears as the heavy door groaned under its own weight. The noise echoed into the vast emptiness beyond, bouncing off unseen walls like a warning and as soon as she stepped inside—

BANG!!

The door slammed shut behind her.

Sercia jumped, heart lurching as the deafening clang rang through the warehouse. The sudden, jarring sound sent her pulse racing, hands instinctively going up to her chest.

Darkness.

The warehouse was pitch black, save for faint slivers of moonlight slipping through the shattered windows. The air was thick with the lingering scent of oil and rust, the kind of smell that clung to the walls of forgotten places.

Then, she felt it.

A slow, creeping chill ran down her spine, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

She wasn’t alone.

Something—someone—was watching her.

She swallowed, her grip tightening as her eyes darted through the shadows, trying to pinpoint the presence that loomed just out of reach. Stay calm, she told herself. You knew this wasn’t going to be easy.

Then, with a shaky breath, despite trying to sound brave, Sercia called out, “Hello?”

Silence.

A long, suffocating silence that stretched too far, pressing down on her like an unseen weight.

Then-

BZZZZZT.

The warehouse lights flickered on with a loud, electric buzz, flooding the space in a harsh, artificial glow. Sercia winced, her eyes squeezing shut against the sudden brightness. But when she reopened them, her heart dropped.

She was surrounded.

A ring of dangerous-looking men stood encircling her, their smirks and glares sending her pulse into overdrive.

Most of them were clad in dark, rough clothing; leather jackets, heavy boots, tactical gear. Some had their arms crossed, watching her with barely contained amusement, while others gripped weapons.

Knives. Bats. Even modified firearms.

Sercia felt her throat go dry as she took a small, cautious step back. Their presence radiated danger, an undeniable, suffocating aura of hostility. Her hands instinctively curled into fists at her sides, her body screaming at her to run, but she fought against the impulse.

No. That would be stupid. She needed to stay calm.

Before she could even begin to think of what to do a voice cut through the tense silence.

“Well, well…” It was low and rough, dripping with amusement. “You actually came. I was wondering if you’d take my advice.”

Sercia’s stomach twisted as her eyes snapped toward the source of the voice. A man emerged from the crowd, stepping forward with a lazy, deliberate gait. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a long, dark coat that swayed slightly with each step. The dim warehouse lighting cast sharp shadows across his angular face, accentuating the cold amusement in his sharp, dark eyes. A scar ran down the side of his jaw, cutting through the slight stubble there, and his expression was dark, a mix of intrigue and quiet menace.

He stopped a few feet in front of her, his lips curling into a slow smirk as his eyes ran over her and Sercia’s fists clenched even tighter.

Who the hell is this guy?

He continued to study her, his dark eyes flickering with something cruel before letting out a low hum. “The infamous Aspen,” he said, his voice laced with mockery. “I’ve been looking forward to this.”

Sercia blinked, her brain screeching to a halt. Wait… what?

She stared at him, stunned, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water as she struggled to process what he’d just said.

“I’m sorry, what?” she managed to squeak out, her voice betraying her complete and utter confusion.

The man ignored her reaction, continuing to speak as if she hadn’t said anything at all. “You’ve become pretty famous in the N109 Zone, haven’t you?” He tilted his head slightly, his smirk widening, his gaze sharp and calculating. “Everyone’s talking about you and that Aether Core in your heart.”

The words hit her like a freight train, the weight of them slamming into her chest with crushing force.

The words crashed into Sercia with the force of a freight train, the weight of their implications nearly knocking the air from her lungs. Oh my god, he thinks I’m Aspen. Her pulse skyrocketed, a sharp, dizzying rush of adrenaline surging through her veins as she struggled to process the situation. Every piece of the puzzle slammed into place at once, fitting together in a way that sent cold dread creeping up her spine.

They were after Aspen.

They were after the Aether Core.

They thought she had it.

Her body tensed, but she forced herself to remain still, to keep the panic locked deep inside as her mind raced through the consequences of this revelation. The Aether Core, Aspen’s greatest strength and most dangerous burden, was something people would kill for. If they thought she had it, then they wouldn’t let her walk out of here. A shiver crawled up her back, but she maintained eye contact with the man who had spoken, forcing herself to breathe evenly. Her fingers twitched at her sides, itching to do something, to act, to run, but she knew bolting would be the worst thing she could do right now.

Then, another realization struck her, sending a fresh wave of tension curling in her gut.

Zayne’s warning.

The criminal organization looking for Aspen.

This was them.

Her thoughts reeled, connecting pieces at lightning speed. The meeting. The urgency in Zayne’s voice. The sudden pressure from Xavier and Rafayel. They were right. But they were also wrong. Because the people standing before her; dangerous, armed, and clearly expecting something, didn’t actually know the full truth. Her pulse pounded in her ears, but beneath the fear, relief stirred inside her.

They don’t know.

They had no idea who she really was.

The letter wasn’t about her being from another world.

It wasn’t about her secret.

It was about Aspen’s.

They think I’m Aspen. That means… they don’t know anything about me at all.

Sercia then raised her hands slowly, a carefully measured movement meant to convey caution, not submission. She knew better than to show outright fear in front of men like this. They thrived on it, fed off it like leeches. Instead, she kept her expression firm, her voice steady, despite the pounding in her chest.

“You’ve got the wrong person,” she stated, keeping her tone level. “I’m not Aspen. I’m just a friend of hers.”

The man’s smirk didn’t falter. If anything, it widened, like he was enjoying this far more than he should have been. “Oh?” His voice was smooth, mocking, as he took a slow step forward. “So you’re not Aspen… but you just happened to show up here in her place? Interesting.”

Sercia held her ground, forcing herself not to instinctively retreat. She continued to hold his eyes, refusing to let him intimidate her. “I’m telling the truth,” she insisted. “I don’t have the Aether Core. I’m just house-sitting, that’s it.”

The man continued to stare at her in unsettling silence, his smirk never wavering, as if he were savoring the moment. His eyes held something dangerous;  amusement, curiosity, cruelty, maybe all three. Then, with the same casual ease as someone discussing the weather, he finally spoke. “Well, if you’re telling the truth…” His smirk deepened. “Then we have a way to find out.”

Sercia’s face twisted in confusion. What does that mean?

Before she could ask, the man took a step back, turning away from her like she was no longer a priority. He sauntered over to an old, half-broken wooden crate sitting a few feet away and settled onto it like it was a throne. The arrogance in his posture made her skin crawl. He then lazily gestured toward one of his men. Without hesitation, the lackey pulled a small cigarette box from his pocket, flipping it open with practiced ease before withdrawing a single cigarette. He handed it to the man before flicking a lighter, the small flame illuminating the gleam of his eyes. The leader took a slow drag, the orange glow burning at the tip, before exhaling a thin stream of smoke into the stale air.

Then, in the same bored tone, he uttered a sentence that sent Sercia’s blood into a complete, freezing halt.

“Boys, bring me her heart.”

Her stomach dropped.

What kind of Snow White, Huntsman nonsense was this!?

Sercia’s heart slammed against her ribs as pure survival instinct kicked in. She backpedaled, her boots scuffing against the cracked concrete floor, but it didn’t matter, she was trapped. The ring of men surrounding her closed in, their expressions shifting from casual amusement to something far darker, more menacing. Her pulse roared in her ears as her eyes flickered desperately around the warehouse, searching for an opening, any escape route. But there was nowhere to run. No windows, no conveniently placed exit, just hulking figures and sharp weapons. Her breath hitched in short, shallow gasps as panic clawing at her throat. This wasn’t a joke. This wasn’t some stupid power play. They were actually about to kill her.

Then, a hand latched onto her arm. She barely had time to react before instinct took over. She spun and swung, putting everything she had into her fist as it collided with flesh. A sharp grunt of pain followed as her attacker stumbled back, clutching his now bleeding nose.

"You little—!" the man growled, voice muffled as blood seeped between his fingers.

One of his colleagues scoffed, clearly unimpressed by his friend’s failure, and stepped forward. His eyes were cold, his grip tightening around the hilt of a gleaming machete. “You’re gonna pay for that,” he sneered.

Before she could move, he lunged.

The blade swung down, a wicked arc of silver aimed directly at her head.

Her arms flew up in a desperate attempt to shield herself, her mind already bracing for the white-hot agony of a blade tearing into her flesh.

This is it! I'm going to die!

But before she could feel the blade digging into her skull, a brilliant burst of light erupted out of nowhere. The warehouse exploded in blinding radiance, white-hot and crackling with energy. The force of it wasn’t just visual, it hit like a shockwave, rippling through the space with a pulse so strong that it sent dust and loose debris scattering across the floor.

Sercia squeezed her eyes shut, throwing her arms up to shield herself from the sheer intensity of the light. Around her, she heard a chorus of pained groans and curses as the men reeled, their yells laced with confusion and agony. Some stumbled back, others collapsed to the ground, clutching at their faces as if trying to block out the searing brightness.

Her ears rang, her breath caught in her throat as she blinked rapidly against the lingering glow, her vision swimming with spots. What just happened?!

Then, amidst the chaos, she heard Orion’s voice, sharp and urgent.

“SERCIA, RUN!”

That snapped her out of it.

Her heart lurched, and without hesitation, she spun on her heels and bolted for the exit. The warehouse was still reverberating from the explosion of light, the air thick with the staggered breaths and pained grunts of the men left writhing on the floor. But Sercia didn’t waste time to think. Her heart slammed against her ribs as her boots pounded against the concrete and the echoes of her footsteps mixed with the dazed shouts of the men behind her. She barely registered the shimmer of Orion’s form materializing beside her, their presence flickering in and out like a shadow cast by the chaos inside. The only thing that mattered was getting out.

The moment her body collided with the warehouse door, she shoved it open with all her strength, the rusted metal groaning as she stumbled out into the cold night air. The contrast was jarring; inside had been suffocating, heavy with tension and danger. Out here, the air was biting and sharp, filling her lungs with clarity. Her hands fumbled with her keys as she sprinted toward her car, her fingers shaking so violently that she almost dropped them. Orion flickered beside her, their form tense and alert, scanning their surroundings. She reached the car, slammed her palm against the unlock button, and yanked the door open, throwing herself into the driver’s seat with no hesitation. Her breathing was ragged, her body trembling as she forced her shaking hands to press the start button.

Orion materialized in the passenger seat, their usual composed demeanor fractured by urgency. “Drive, now!” they barked, their voice laced with an edge of uncharacteristic alarm.

Sercia didn’t hesitate. She slammed the gear into drive, her foot stomping on the gas as the tires screeched violently against the pavement. The car lurched forward, tearing out of the lot with such force that she could feel the back wheels momentarily struggle for traction before gripping the asphalt.

For a brief, blissful second, she thought they were in the clear. The warehouse shrank behind her, its rusted frame swallowed by the darkness. The open road stretched ahead, endless and empty, promising escape.

But then she heard it.

A deep, guttural roar cut through the silence, followed by another. Engines.

Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel, a cold dread curdling in her stomach as she glanced into the rearview mirror.

Her breath caught.

Several cars had pulled out of the lot, their headlights glaring like hungry eyes as they barreled toward her at high speed.

“You have got to be kidding me!” Sercia shouted, her hands tightening on the wheel as she slammed her foot on the gas.

The Subaru roared forward, but it wasn’t enough. The headlights behind her grew brighter, the shadows of their pursuers looming in the rearview mirror. Their dark, menacing silhouettes closed in, moving with unrelenting precision. She could almost feel their presence, like the sharp edge of a knife pressing against the back of her neck.

Her pulse thundered, every muscle in her body coiled as she fought the urge to panic. “What do we do?!” she shouted, her voice pitched with urgency. “Orion, do something!”

“Hold on, I’m thinking!” Orion shot back.

Sercia let out a frustrated huff as the cars crept even closer, her mind racing alongside the engine.

“Well, think faster!” she snapped, gripping the wheel tightly as her knuckles turned white.

After a few seconds, which felt like an eternity, Orion finally spoke, their voice low but urgent. “Hold on tight,” they instructed. “Whatever driving skills you were used to back home? You’re going to need them now.”

Sercia’s brows furrowed in confusion. “What?”

Before she could demand an explanation, Orion’s entire body started to glow. A pulsing light radiated from them, flickering with an energy she’d never seen before. The glow intensified, filling the entire car with an eerie, electric hum.

“Do not let go of the wheel,” Orion barked.

“What the hell is happeni—” She didn’t get to finish her sentence.

A strange sensation rippled through her hands as the entire vehicle shifted beneath her.

The Subaru, her Subaru, was changing.

Sercia felt the car shift beneath her, the sensation strange and unsettling as the vehicle morphed around her. The once-familiar Subaru was no longer the same, it was evolving, reshaping itself in ways she couldn’t begin to understand. The hatchback lowered, its frame streamlining, the structure adapting to a sleeker, more aerodynamic build. The once steady hum of the engine deepened into a powerful, guttural growl, vibrating through her seat like a beast coming to life.

The dashboard flickered wildly, the simple interface expanding into a complex array of holographic data, intricate patterns cascading across the screen in rapid succession. Numbers, symbols, and unknown performance stats flashed before her eyes, but she couldn’t even begin to process what any of it meant.

Outside, the metallic frame of the car shimmered, the glossy blue paint bleeding into an inky black, shifting like liquid metal as it reflected the star lit sky above her. The once-standard tires expanded slightly, their design modifying to grip the road with enhanced precision.

“What the—Orion, what kind of car is this!?” she shouted, her voice high with panic as the vehicle finished its transformation.

 “It’s a Voidrunner Z3.”

Sercia’s head snapped toward them in pure disbelief. “A what!?”

“A high-performance sports car from this world,” Orion elaborated. “And it’s fast.”

Sercia screamed in frustration, gripping the wheel as she turned her attention back to the road. “There is no way I can drive something like this!”

“You’re going to have to figure it out,” Orion shot back, their eyes flicking to the rapidly approaching pursuers behind them. “Unless you want those guys to catch up.”

Sercia let out a huff of pure exasperation, her heart slamming against her ribs as she stared down the stretch of road ahead. “This is insane,” she muttered. “This is absolutely insane.”

With one last breath and the thought that she was about to pull some GTA-level moves, Sercia tightened her grip on the steering wheel and slammed her foot down on the gas pedal.

The Voidrunner Z3 roared to life.

The tires screeched against the asphalt, and in an instant, the car launched forward like a bullet, a powerful force slamming her back against the seat. The tree line blurred past, the sheer velocity whipping the wind against the windows as she sped down the empty roads, pushing the car as fast as it would go. But even with its newfound speed, the criminals behind her weren’t giving up. The deep rumble of their pursuing engines was a reminder that she wasn’t out of danger yet. They were still there, hot on her tail, their headlights bouncing in her rearview mirror like a pack of wolves closing in on their prey.

Her pulse thundered, her fingers gripping the wheel tighter as she racked her brain for a way to shake them off. The speed alone not being enough. No, she needed something more.

Then, an idea struck her.

“Orion!” she shouted over the rush of wind and the blaring engines behind them. “There’s this thing I’ve seen back home online. It's called Ghost Mode!”

Orion glanced at her, their luminous eyes flashing with curiosity. “Ghost Mode?” they repeated.

Sercia nodded, swerving sharply as one of the pursuers tried to cut her off. “It’s when all the lights on the car go out so no one can see you at night! It’s not exactly legal, but in this situation—”

She had to jerk the wheel to the right, narrowly avoiding another car trying to box her in.

“—it should help,” she finished breathlessly.

Orion’s gaze flicked forward, calculating. “So you want to disappear into the night,” they mused.

“Exactly!”

A moment of silence, then, Orion nodded. “Done.”

Suddenly, the Voidrunner’s interior dimmed, the glowing dashboard switching into a faint, low-light mode. Outside, the headlights, taillights, and every visible light source blinked out in an instant, plunging them into near-complete darkness.

Sercia’s heart pounded as she steeled herself, gripping the wheel tighter. “Alright, let’s do this.” She slammed her foot down on the gas pedal, and the car surged forward, an unstoppable force tearing through the night. The world outside blurred as she rocketed toward the city, the darkened outskirts melting away into the towering skyline of Linkon City. The transition was instantaneous; one second, she was racing through the desolate roads of the outskirts, the next, she was plunging into the brightly lit jungle of the metropolis. The skyscrapers loomed high, their reflective glass surfaces glowing with holographic billboards and flashing advertisements, casting fragmented light across the darkened streets.

She wove through the network of urban roads, only the faint glow of the city guiding her. The black body of the Voidrunner blended seamlessly into the night, a phantom weaving through the veins of the city, practically invisible under the cover of darkness. Behind her, the pursuing vehicles struggled, their drivers frantically trying to keep up. But one by one, they began to drop off.

The first car miscalculated a sharp turn, its tires screeching against the pavement as it spun out of control, slamming into a metal divider.

The second lost sight of her completely, its driver scanning the road as if expecting her to reappear.

The third and fourth continued to chase, their headlights flickering as they tried to track her movements. But Sercia was too fast. Too unpredictable. She darted down a narrow alley, her tires just barely missing the curb, her breath catching as the walls of the buildings pressed in around her. It was tight, but she had just enough space to make it through.

The pursuers weren’t as lucky.

She heard the sharp crunch of metal, a car behind her colliding into the alley’s entrance, the driver unable to correct in time.

One more down.

Now only one remained.

Her hands were slick with sweat, her pulse roaring in her ears, but she didn’t let up. The last car was persistent, its driver far more skilled than the others, managing to mirror her sharp turns and keep pace, refusing to give up.

Sercia’s jaw tightened, her mind racing for another escape route. She continued to race through the city, her eyes scanning desperately for a way to lose the last car still on her tail. Her breath was shallow, her heart pounding so hard she could feel it in her fingertips as she gripped the wheel.

She weaved through the near-empty streets of downtown Linkon City, the neon lights flickering across the black reflective surface of the Vehicle as she made sharp, erratic turns, trying to throw them off. But no matter how many times she swerved, no matter how many sharp corners she took, her pursuer stayed right behind her, matching her movements with terrifying precision.

“This guy is not letting up!” she shouted, frustration seeping into her voice.

“You need to do something else!” Orion urged, his form flickering beside her, his eyes locked on the rearview mirror.

Sercia gritted her teeth. “Yeah?! Like what?!”

“We need to hide.”

Hide? That was… actually not a bad idea.

Sercia kept turning, her tires kissing the pavement as she maneuvered through the web of alleyways and side streets. Then, as she took another sharp turn, her eyes caught something. Another narrow alleyway that was dark and tucked between two towering buildings, just wide enough for her car to slip into.

A plan formed instantly.

“Orion, hold on!” she shouted.

She pressed the gas even harder, barreling toward the corner at full speed before jerking the wheel sharply.

The Voidrunner’s tires screeched against the pavement, the car spinning in a perfect, controlled 360 as she whipped around the final turn. For a split second, the world tilted and the alley rushing toward her in a blur.

With one last twist of the wheel, she slammed the car into the narrow space, the car sliding into the shadows, its frame barely clearing the walls on either side.

Sercia killed the engine and held her breath, her fingers digging into the wheel, her pulse a deafening drum in her ears. The sound of a roaring engine echoed through the street, the last pursuing car hurtling past the alleyway at full speed, its headlights sweeping across the entrance without stopping.

And then—

It was gone.

The distant sound of the engine faded, swallowed by the hum of the city, leaving only the eerie quiet of the alleyway behind. Sercia waited a few more seconds, her ears straining for any sound of pursuit but there was nothing.

No roaring engines.

No screeching tires.

Just silence.

She let out a long, shaky breath, sinking back into her seat as the tension bled from her body in waves. “Oh my god,” she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief. “We made it.”

Orion, still shimmering faintly beside her, let out a long exhale .“Barely.”

Sercia let out a weak, breathless laugh, pressing her head against the cool headrest, her eyes fluttering shut for just a moment. “At least we handled the situation…” she muttered, forcing her brain to string together a coherent thought. “And we found out that no one knew my real secret…”

They sat there in heavy silence, the weight of everything that had just happened settling over them like a thick fog. The adrenaline in her veins had finally started to fade, but her hands still trembled slightly as they rested in her lap. Even after a while, when the streets outside had long returned to normal, Sercia remained in the stillness of the alleyway.

She knew she needed to get home.

She knew the criminals were likely long gone by now, probably cursing her existence and wondering where the hell she had vanished to.

But she didn’t dare move.

Not yet.

The thought of stepping out of the safety of the car, of getting back onto the open road where anything could happen, made her stomach twist uncomfortably. I’ll drive home in just a little while longer, she thought, barely convincing even herself of her own words.

But exhaustion crept in faster than she expected. Her body was heavy, weighed down by the aftermath of adrenaline, stress, and fear and the warmth of the Voidrunner’s interior, combined with Orion’s steady, almost comforting presence beside her, created an atmosphere that lulled her deeper and deeper into drowsiness. Orion, too, looked like they were about to pass out, their glow dimming as they curled up, tail wrapped neatly around themselves.

Sercia fought against it, tried to tell herself to stay alert and stay awake, but it was useless.

Her eyes fluttered shut before she even realized it, and before she could resist any longer she drifted into a restless, uneasy sleep.

ꫂ ၴႅၴ Taglist: @llamabois @monticarlo

𝑺𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒚 𝒈𝒖𝒚𝒔, 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌 𝒈𝒐𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅𝒍𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒄! 𝑻𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒖𝒑 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑰'𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒖𝒔𝒖𝒂𝒍. 𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈! 𝑳𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆, 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔!

[crycxbey]

𝑰𝒏 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑽

𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕

𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒐𝒘: ↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺

January 14th, 2044

Three days.

It had been three days since Sercia woke up in Love and Deepspace, and every moment felt like both an eternity and the blink of an eye. She felt that the time that passed moved too fast when she needed it to slow down or too slow when she wanted it to pass. Each morning, she would wake up in Aspen’s apartment, staring at the ceiling, still half-expecting to find herself back in her own bed, only to be met with the stark reality that she was still here.

She had spent most of these days holed up inside, watching the group chat unfold from the sidelines. Xavier and Zayne had kept their word, their updates coming in steadily, each message filled with details of their relentless search. Every new text sent a fresh wave of guilt crashing over her since she had nothing to contribute. Nothing real, anyway.

Zayne: I checked Aspen’s hospital records again. Nothing unusual. No recent admissions. No activity on her medical file.

Xavier: No sightings at the Hunters Association. I also checked the nearby districts. No trace.

Zayne: I asked others as well, but still no leads.

Sercia stared at the messages, her stomach twisting uncomfortably. They were going above and beyond, exhausting every possible avenue, and she was doing nothing. Or rather, she was actively misleading them.

On Orion’s suggestion, she had occasionally dropped false leads into the chat. A vague mention of someone who might have seen Aspen, a rumor of a suspicious figure lurking in the city; just enough to keep them searching, to keep them distracted.

It was like sending them on a wild goose chase. And the worst part? They believed her. They followed every fabricated trail she laid down, every little breadcrumb meant to lead them nowhere. The thought made her stomach churn. Xavier and Zayne, two people who would tear apart the city brick by brick to find Aspen, were unknowingly chasing shadows.

Despite their repeated failures in finding anything and their mounting frustration evident in the chat, Sercia made a conscious effort to mediate the tension with words of encouragement, trying to get on friendlier terms with them. Every time one of them expressed irritation over another dead end, she would jump in with something supportive.

Sercia: You guys are doing everything you can. Aspen’s lucky to have you both looking out for her.

Sercia: I know it’s frustrating, but maybe this just means she’s somewhere we haven’t thought to check yet.

We’ll figure it out.

Sercia: You two need to remember to eat and rest too, alright? Running on fumes won’t help Aspen.

She had hoped it would help, that it would make her seem like less of an outsider. But despite her efforts, her messages were met with nothing but cold indifference.

Zayne: Noted.

Xavier: I’ll update if I find anything.

That was it. No acknowledgment of her attempts to be friendly, no reciprocation. It was clear: they had no interest in conversation unless it had something to do with Aspen.

She had even tried to go as far as inviting them out to brunch one morning, thinking maybe meeting in a casual setting could help them warm up to her. She had sent the message with careful wording, making sure it sounded natural, like something a concerned friend would suggest.

Sercia: I know we’re all stressed about Aspen, but I was thinking maybe we could get brunch or coffee? Even if just for an hour, taking a breather might help clear our heads.

She had stared at the screen, waiting, watching as the minutes passed.

Nothing.

Hours later, when she checked again, her message had been seen.

Left on read.

She clicked the screen off, pressing her lips into a thin line.

She wasn’t surprised by their reactions, and she had expected this level of indifference from the start. But no matter how much she tried to tell herself it didn’t bother her; she couldn’t ignore the small sting of rejection. It wasn’t just about being ignored; it was the reminder that, to them, she was nobody. A stranger who barely held relevance in their world beyond the shared goal of finding Aspen.

Eventually, she stopped trying. At least for now.

She told herself she’d try again later, when the time was right. There was no point in forcing connections with people who had no interest in her yet. If she kept pushing, she might just make things worse.

So, for now, she shifted her focus back to her original plan.

Finding the others.

If she wasn’t making progress with Xavier and Zayne, then it was best to continue looking for the others. Rafayel was the easiest to locate out of the remaining three and her next target but before starting her search, she had to make sure she wouldn’t crash on the road first. So currently, Sercia was sitting in the driver’s seat of her car, gripping the wheel tightly as Orion sat on passenger side of the dashboard, their usual calm demeanor noticeably strained.

Orion’s voice carried an edge of warning, with glowing eyes fixated on the road ahead. “Slow down,” they said sharply. “You’re going too fast for this zone.”

Sercia gritted her teeth, resisting the urge to argue as she eased her foot off the pedal. “I’m not even going that fast,” she muttered, flicking a glance at the holographic dashboard.

Orion didn’t hesitate. “You’re going almost eighty miles per hour!”

She huffed, gripping the wheel a little tighter. “Okay, but back home, the fastest highway speed is seventy-five, so I’m used to going these speeds.”

“But this isn’t your world,” Orion shot back, voice clipped. “There are rules here, rules that you will follow unless you want to end up with a ticket or worse.”

Sercia sighed but gave a small nod, forcing herself to focus. They had a point. The last thing she needed was to draw attention to herself with reckless driving. She was already an anomaly in this world and getting pulled over by an officer with Evol abilities was not on her to-do list, so she adjusted her speed to match the flow of traffic. She was a decent driver back in her world; never gotten a ticket and has never been in an accident. But Linkon City’s multilayered roads, glowing holographic signs, and AI-assisted traffic systems made her feel like she was learning all over again.

Orion continued to do their best to guide her. But from the sharpness in their voice and the occasional twitch of their ears, Sercia was sure they were close to popping a blood vessel, if foxes could even do that.

After a few more grueling hours of practicing turns, lane changes, and parking, none of which Orion hesitated to critique. Sercia felt the first real pang of exhaustion settle in. It wasn’t just mentally draining trying to keep up with the city’s high-tech landscape; it was physically exhausting, too.

Just as she was about to suggest a break, her stomach loudly made the decision for her. A loud, monstrous growl echoed through the car, and Sercia grimaced as Orion gave her a slow, unimpressed side-eye.

"...Shut up," she muttered, turning into the nearest parking lot of a plaza.

Orion sighed; their relief almost palpable as the car finally came to a stop. "Thank the stars," they exhaled, flicking their tail as if to shake off the stress off their near-death experience. "If I had to sit through one more of your questionable lane changes, I might've ascended to another plane of existence."

Sercia let out a fake laugh at Orion’s comment, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Ha-ha, very funny,” she muttered before stepping out of the car. As soon as her feet touched the ground, Orion vanished, disappearing with his signature shimmer of light.

She stretched her arms over her head, rolling her shoulders to shake off the tension from gripping the wheel like her life depended on it. The city hummed around her; trams could be heard in the distance, signs flickering between soft advertisements, and the faint buzz of holo-screens displaying the latest news updates.

As she started walking, she glanced around, scanning the bustling plaza for somewhere to eat. The scent of grilled meat and fresh bread wafted through the air, making her mouth water. Her stomach loudly voiced its approval, and she winced slightly, patting her midsection.

“Yeah, yeah, I get it.”

She weaved through the crowds, taking in the variety of food stalls and restaurants that lined the plaza. Everything looked good, but one place in particular caught her attention.

A quaint café sat nestled between two larger buildings, its exterior sleek but inviting. A soft golden glow spilled from its arched windows, and the scent of rich coffee and warm pastries drifted from the open doors. Unlike some of the trendier spots with more people, this one had a more relaxed atmosphere.

Perfect.

Without hesitation, she made her way toward it, already looking forward to sitting down and eating. But the closer she got, her steps began to slow, a strange feeling creeping into her chest. Eventually, she came to a complete stop right in front of the café, her eyes locking onto the familiar name on the sign hanging above the entrance.

Destiny’s Café.

Sercia stared, her breath catching slightly as recognition hit her like a freight train. She knew this place. It wasn’t just any café, it was the café, the one that had been on the home screen of Love and Deepspace, the very place where players could interact with the love interests in casual, slice-of-life events.

Seeing it in person and standing before it , was… weird and her fingers curled slightly at her sides as something unfamiliar stirred inside her. It wasn’t fear, nor was it excitement. It was something deeper, an urge. A pull, almost like an unseen force was nudging her forward, whispering for her to step inside.

She swallowed, blinking rapidly as she forced herself out of the daze.

Get a grip, Sercia

She then stepped inside and took it all in, her eyes sweeping over every detail. The walls were adorned with soft shades of blue and ivory, a tranquil contrast to the earthy warmth of the polished wooden floors and the sleek, dark countertops. Shelves behind the bar displayed an array of coffee blends, delicate teacups, and glass jars filled with sugar-dusted pastries waiting to be served. A lone barista, clad in a crisp apron, carefully arranged a spread of croissants, macarons, and fruit-topped tarts beside a towering glass of iced coffee. The rich liquid swirled with cream, creating mesmerizing patterns as it settled. To the side, plush blue armchairs sat atop a large geometric-patterned rug, positioned near a floor-to-ceiling window that let in a cascade of sunlight. And the open patio doors allowed a faint breeze to slip through, rustling the delicate vines that trailed from hanging planters above.

Sercia allowed herself to sink into the warm, inviting atmosphere as she approached the counter, and the barista immediately took notice of her presence. He set down the tongs he had been using before offering her a polite smile while moving behind the register.

"Good afternoon! What can I get for you?"

Sercia quickly scanned the illuminated menu overhead and her eyes flicked past the seasonal drinks and specialty items before settling on something simple yet satisfying.

"I'll have a hot chai latte," she said, shifting slightly as she tapped her fingers against the counter. "And… a breakfast croissant. The one with eggs, cheese, and turkey sausage."

"Great choice," the barista replied as he keyed in her order. "That'll be out in just a few minutes. You can grab a seat, and I’ll bring it over."

Sercia nodded, tapping the purple card to pay before stepping away and making her way toward one of the blue seats and lowered herself into it and stretching her legs out slightly, letting her body relax against the soft cushions.

She let her fingers trace absentmindedly along the armrest, her mind drifting as she thought about Aspen and wondered how the woman was faring in her world. The thought had been nagging at her ever since she arrived, but it wasn’t until yesterday that she finally caved and asked Orion if there was any way to check on her. Could they see what she was doing? Was she struggling? Did she even realize what had happened? Does she even who she is?

Orion, however, had shut down the idea almost immediately.

“There is no way to check on her,” they had said plainly. “I am only here for you.”

That answer had been frustrating, but before she could let her disappointment settle in, Orion had added something that gave her some comfort.

“But she is not alone.”

Sercia had blinked at that, tilting her head in confusion. “What do you mean?”

Orion’s tail flicked; their tone steady. “I am not the only one who can do what I do.”

That had made her pause. So, Aspen had her own version of Orion? Someone guiding her, just as Orion was guiding Sercia? That revelation had been enough to settle some of her nerves. If Aspen had help, then she was likely okay. Maybe she wasn’t completely lost but still, it was strange to think about. The hunter wasn’t just in another city, or another country; she had been thrown nineteen years into the past, to a world significantly less advanced than her own. No space travel, no Evol abilities, no Wanderers waiting to strike.

Sercia could only imagine her reaction to all of it. On one hand, she was probably grateful not to have to deal with constant life-or-death fights. No need to patrol for Wanderers or work missions for the Hunters Association. She could actually… relax. But on the other hand? She’d have to adapt to a world completely different from what she knew. A world where there was no Evol system, no monsters, no high-tech cities like Linkon. Hell, she probably wouldn’t even be able to get a job with her skillset. What would she even put on a résumé? Professional hunter, expert in Protocore fields and Wanderer extermination?

That mental image almost made her laugh, and she became lost in the imaginary conversation, picturing Aspen sitting stiffly in a job interview, being asked about her past work experience.

"I’ve successfully taken down an S-class Wanderer with nothing but a gun and pure spite."

"I’m sorry, a what?"

"A Wanderer. You know, creatures made from Metaflux that came from the Deepspace tunnel?"

"… Ma’am… are you okay?"

The thought had her biting back a chuckle, but just as she was about to continue through other imaginary scenarios, movement at the entrance caught her eye.

Two figures had just walked into the café, and she wouldn’t have thought twice about it; just two more customers, nothing unusual, until a voice cut through the low café chatter.

A voice she knew.

Her breath hitched as her eyes shot up, heart lurching in her chest as her gaze locked onto a familiar shade of dusky purple hair.

No way.

No freaking way.

She sat up straighter, her pulse picking up speed as she scanned the man’s face. There was no mistaking it. Even without the lighting and cinematic close-ups from the game, she knew that face.

It was him.

Rafayel.

He was wearing a loose white blouse tucked into fitted black slacks, the soft fabric shifting effortlessly with each movement. He walked with an air of nonchalance, the kind of presence that drew attention without him even trying and judging by the way heads subtly turned as he passed, he was fully aware of it.

Next to him was another man, slightly taller, with styled brown hair and brown eyes. Sercia recognized him instantly as Thomas, Rafayel’s agent. A supporting character in game that was notorious for getting onto the artist.

The two men were engaged in a quiet conversation before Thomas gave a short nod and broke away, heading toward the counter, likely to place their order.

That left Rafayel standing alone.

His posture was relaxed, yet there was something distinctly untouchable about him, like an art piece behind glass. His eyes scanned the café, a bored expression settled on his features, as if nothing around him was particularly worth his interest.

And then, he moved.

Sercia’s breath caught as he strolled toward the seating area toward her and she could only watch, frozen in place, as he settled into one of the seats next to the window, mere steps away.

He’s sitting right there.

Sercia’s thoughts were spiraling. What are the odds of running into him like this? She wasn’t even actively looking for him yet, and now here he was, within arm’s reach. She forced herself to look down, fingers fidgeting absently with the hem of her sweater. Don’t stare. Don’t stare.

But it was nearly impossible.

Rafayel’s face card was otherworldly.

His sharp jawline, his striking blue and pink eyes that looked as if they faintly sparkled under the café lights. His soft, wavy hair that framed his face like something out of a Renaissance painting. The man looked like he had been plucked straight out of a fashion runway and dropped into reality.

Her heart pounded as she quickly debated her next move.

Should I approach him?

No, that might come off as creepy fan behavior. But if she didn’t take this chance, when would she ever run into him this easily again?

Her inner debate was then interrupted, and she jumped slightly when her food and drink were placed on the table. The sudden break in her thoughts made her heart stutter, and she muttered a quick, “Thank you,” to the server before reaching for her chai latte.

She took a sip, letting the warm spices soothe her nerves, but despite her best efforts to stay composed, her gaze flickered back toward him and as if sensing her stare, Rafayel looked up.

Their eyes met.

Sercia froze.

Her breath caught in her throat, and for a horrifying second, she almost dropped her drink.

The café around her seemed to fade, the chatter and clinking of cups dulling into a distant hum. Everything in her world narrowed to just him to the quiet, piercing intensity in his bi-colored gaze.

He didn’t look away.

Instead, he tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable, but there was something there, something that made her feel like she had just stepped into a spotlight with no way to escape.

What the…?

Her fingers clenched around her cup, but it didn’t help. She felt something, something unfamiliar, like an invisible thread pulling at her, keeping her locked in place. She couldn’t look away, no matter how hard she tried. It was as if something unseen held her in place, a tether binding her to the intensity of his gaze. Her heart pounded against her ribs, and she swore the air between them shifted, charged with something she couldn’t quite name.

Then, just as suddenly as it started, the feeling vanished.

Rafayel’s lips twitched slightly, as though he were amused, before he leaned back in his seat and breaking the eye contact. The spell was broken and Sercia exhaled shakily, realizing she’d been holding her breath.

She sat there, stunned, trying to process what had just happened. It felt like she had been hypnotized, like her mind wasn’t her own for those few fleeting seconds. Even now, she could still feel the lingering pull of his gaze, an invisible weight pressing against her chest.

She stole another glance at him, taking in his demeanor.

Rafayel, for his part, seemed entirely unfazed. He lounged in his seat with an effortless grace, one arm draped casually over the back of the chair, his long fingers tapping idly against the fabric. His eyes flickering with disinterest as he surveyed the café, as if nothing, not even their intense moment of eye contact, had been of any real consequence to him.

Then, just as smoothly, he sat up when Thomas returned to the table. The agent glancing briefly in her direction, one brow raising slightly. Sercia forced herself to look away, focusing instead on taking a steady sip of her drink. Thomas then took his seat, seamlessly engaging Rafayel in a casual conversation.

Sercia then started to absentmindedly pick at her food, her focus not on eating but on the conversation happening just a few feet away. She tried to eavesdrop without making it obvious, straining to catch whatever she could over other customers chatter.

She couldn’t make out everything, but from the bits and pieces she managed to pick up, their discussion revolved around art, prices, scheduling, and upcoming meetings. It was all business, at least, mostly. She also caught the occasional jab from Thomas, his words carrying irritation that made Rafayel’s expression shift ever so slightly in response.

Thomas was expressive, his animated gestures filling the space between them. He spoke with his hands and was a stark contrast to Rafayel’s uncaring demeanor. Rafayel returned to being reclined in his seat, one hand idly swirling the coffee in his cup while the other rested against his thigh.

Every now and then, he would say something in response, his voice too low for her to catch, but the way Thomas reacted, either with an eye roll or an exasperated sigh, made it clear he wasn’t the easiest person to deal with.

Then, Sercia made the mistake of looking up at him again and just as she did, Rafayel’s lips curled into a faint smirk, his fingers tapping idly against his mug.

Sercia’s cheeks flushed. Why is he so pretty? she thought helplessly, biting her lip as she quickly averted her gaze back to her plate. She willed herself to focus on her food, but it was impossible to ignore the awareness prickling at her skin.

Her mind raced. Should I say something? Introduce myself? Or should I just leave before I make a fool of myself?

She let out a quiet sigh, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup as she tried to weigh her options. What do I do? She needed to choose; say something or leave? But before she could come up with anything solid, her body moved on its own, her hand reaching for her drink as she subconsciously glanced in Rafayel’s direction again.

And then she stilled.

Rafayel was staring dead at her.

Her breath hitched mid-motion, her fingers barely brushing against her cup before going rigid.

Thomas continued speaking, completely oblivious, but Rafayel barely seemed to be listening. He responded to his agent with brief comments, but his focus? It remained entirely on her.

His smirk hadn’t faded either.

A slow, knowing curve of his lips that sent a wave of heat rushing up Sercia’s neck.

Oh no.

She quickly tore her gaze away, swiping her drink from the table as if the action alone could shield her from his scrutiny. She took a sip, a big one. The warmth of the chai doing little to cool the sudden flush on her face. Don’t lose yourself, Sercia, she scolded herself, He’s just looking at you. That’s it. That’s not a big deal. Right?

But despite her best efforts to compose herself, curiosity gnawed at her.

Is he still staring?

After a few moments, she mustered the courage to glance back, hoping—praying—that he had moved on.

He hadn’t.

Rafayel was still looking right at her.

This time, there was a spark of amusement in his eyes, a glint of something teasing, as though he knew exactly what he was doing to her. His smirk widened ever so slightly, and then, he lifted a single brow as if daring her to approach him.

He’s definitely getting a kick out of this, Sercia thought, her fingers tightening around her cup as she glanced away again and took a deep breath. Okay, okay, I can do this. Even though this wasn’t how she expected her first meeting with Rafayel to go, she couldn’t afford to lose this chance. He was a famous artist, and getting close to him under normal circumstances wouldn’t be easy.

She then thought for a moment that maybe this could be fate. Maybe this was the perfect opportunity and one she had no choice but to take. After some internal backflips and mentally hyping herself up while ignoring the way her stomach twisted with nerves, she pushed herself to move.

She stood up, smoothing her hands over her sweater, trying to steady her breathing.

Alright. Just be casual. Just be normal.

Then, before she could second-guess herself, she turned and walked the few steps toward Rafayel, who still hadn’t looked away. The moment he noticed her approaching, his tilted head straightened, watching her with a teasing expression.

Thomas, on the other hand, took note of her presence at the last second. His conversation faltered and his eyes narrowed slightly as he gave her a polite but wary look, like a manager assessing a potential annoyance.

Sercia barely acknowledged Thomas, though.

Her focus was on Rafayel.

And Rafayel’s focus? It never left her.

She took one more deep breath, forcing herself to maintain eye contact. Then, in the most even voice she could manage, she spoke. “Sorry to intrude, but… are you Rafayel?”

For a split second, there was silence.

Then, Rafayel’s smirk widened more as he responded with a light, almost playful tone, confirming, “I am. And who might you be?” His voice carried an air of amusement, as though entertained by the fact that she had worked up the nerve to approach him.

Sercia  introduced herself, watching as his eyes flickered with mild intrigue. Then, she added, “I’ve heard about you.”

At that, Rafayel’s smirk deepened, and with a shrug, he replied, “Who hasn’t?”

Sercia held back an eye roll at the egoist comment, choosing to ignore it instead. She pushed forward, keeping her tone even. “I’ve seen your work. You’re an amazing artist.”

Before she could gauge his reaction, Thomas cut in, his professional persona slipping into full force. “We appreciate the compliment,” he said, his tone polite but firm. “However, Rafayel is not doing autographs or photos today.”

Sercia blinked, slightly thrown off, but before she could respond, Rafayel spoke up again.

“It’s not that big of a deal, Thomas,” he said smoothly. His gaze slid back to Sercia. “I’ll take a photo with you,” he said, his voice carrying a teasing lilt. “Consider it a rare opportunity. I don’t give this treatment to just anyone.”

Sercia stared at him, deadpan.

Wow, she thought flatly. He’s being really vain right now.

He wasn’t exactly rude, but there was a certain arrogance to the way he spoke, like he was indulging her, like she should feel lucky to be in his presence and it was weird because this wasn’t how she remembered him. Then again, the Rafayel she knew was already in love with the MC so of course he was softer. The version she was meeting now had no attachment to her whatsoever and despite feeling a little annoyed, but she persisted. "I’m not here for an autograph or a photo.”

Rafayel raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “Oh?” He leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on his hand. “Then what do you want?” His voice held an unmistakable amusement, but there was an undercurrent of curiosity beneath it.

Sercia hesitated for only a second before continuing. “I have something important to tell you.”

Rafayel’s expression didn’t change, but she could tell she had at least piqued his interest. He didn’t interrupt, waiting for her to continue.

Taking a steadying breath, she pressed on. “Do you know Aspen? I’ve seen some photos of you two together on her Moments.”

At that, Rafayel briefly narrowed his eyes and a beat of silence passed before he finally spoke.

“So what if I do?” he asked, his tone still as casual as ever. “What’s so important that it involves us?”

Sercia paused as she inhaled deeply and squared her shoulders. She then met his eyes, and delivered the news. “Aspen went missing.”

Rafayel’s reaction was immediate. His entire body went rigid, and for the first time since she had seen him, his eyes widened in genuine disbelief. The playful air he had carried before vanished in an instant, replaced by something sharper, something raw.

“What?” His voice came out harsher than she expected, and in his abrupt movement, his hand nearly knocked over his drink.

Thomas let out his own noise of disbelief, his brows furrowing. “Aspen? Aspen the hunter?” His tone was skeptical, as if he had misheard her.

Sercia gave a single, firm nod. “Yes.”

The two men exchanged a look, their expressions shifting from confusion to something more serious. Even Thomas, who had seemed like the more composed one of the two, looked shaken.

Rafayel’s eyes flicked back to her, sharp and demanding. “What do you mean missing?”

Sercia swallowed, keeping her tone steady. “She disappeared a few days ago and no one’s seen or heard from her since.”

Rafayel’s jaw clenched. “That doesn’t make sense. She wouldn’t just disappear.”

Sercia continued, the lie slipping from her lips as if it were second nature now. “She sent me a message, a distress message in the middle of the night.” She laid a hand on her hip. “There is an audio file too. When I saw them, I panicked and drove here overnight from Chansia to check on her.”

Sercia looked up at them. “I got into her apartment to see if I could find anything, but I came up empty handed.” She exhaled, letting just the right amount of frustration and worry seep into her voice. “And she still hasn’t come back.”

Another silence stretched between them, thick with tension.

Rafayel leaned back, one hand gripping the edge of the table. His eyes dark as Thomas looked at him. “You haven’t heard anything from her?”

Rafayel shook his head slowly, almost as if he didn’t believe it himself. “No.” His lips pressed into a thin line, his fingers tapping against the tabletop in thought.

Sercia watched as realization settled in Rafayel’s eyes, the slow, dawning awareness that Aspen was truly missing. His posture tensed, fingers still drumming against the table, his expression grim.

She continued on. “We’ve been trying to find her, but no one has found anything.” She let out a soft sigh, as if the weight of the search had exhausted her. “When I saw you today, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to see if you knew anything, if she mentioned something to you, or if you had any idea where she could have gone.” She hesitated for a beat before shaking her head. “But it’s clear now that you don’t.”

Rafayel’s gaze then sharpened as he spoke. “We?” His tone carried mild confusion, his brow arching slightly.

Sercia gave a small nod. “Other people who care about her.”

At that, Rafayel scoffed. He leaned back against his chair, his arms crossing over his chest as he let out a low hum, though there was no humor in it. “I have a very good idea who you’re talking about.” The way he said it carried something laced with unspoken history.

Sercia stayed quiet, choosing not to push him further on that since she already knew the answer. Instead, Rafayel tilted his head slightly, studying her now with a different kind of interest. “How long have you known Aspen?”

Sercia stuck to the script she had crafted so carefully. “About a year,” she answered smoothly. “We met in Chansia City after she saved me from a Wanderer attack.”

His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than she liked. Then, with an exhale, he looked away, staring at the table as though he were processing everything. Thomas, who had been watching the exchange, questioned Sercia once more.

“Have you contacted the authorities yet?”

Sercia shook her head. “Xavier advised against it,” she explained. “He said they wouldn’t be much help.”

At the mention of Xavier’s name, she caught the unmistakable roll of Rafayel’s eyes, his annoyance evident. His arms crossed over his chest as he let out a sharp exhale. “Of course he did,” he muttered, voice dripping with disdain. Then, fixing his striking eyes back on her, he leaned forward slightly. “You should have come to me first.”

Sercia blinked, caught slightly off guard.

Rafayel continued, his tone edged with something that sounded dangerously close to jealousy. “Just because of who I am, doesn’t mean I would’ve ignored you. Especially if it’s about my beloved bodyguard.” His voice was smoother now, but it was clear he was upset .

Sercia held back a smile at the familiar nickname before she answered. “Honestly? Xavier was easier to find first since he lives in the same complex.”

Rafayel’s brows furrowed, his lips parting slightly in disbelief before he huffed, shifting in his seat like an offended cat. “Unbelievable,” he muttered under his breath. His fingers tapped against the table in irritation, his gaze flickering away briefly as if trying to process the audacity of her statement.

Sercia had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. She was familiar with Rafayel’s infamous pouting but seeing it in person was a different level of entertaining. His lower lip jutted out ever so slightly, his posture stiff with indignation, and despite herself, she found it oddly…endearing.

Thomas, meanwhile, pinched the bridge of his nose, looking like he had seen this kind of behavior from Rafayel one too many times. “Rafayel, focus.”

Rafayel made a small ‘tsk’ sound and waved a dismissive hand. “I am focused,” he said, locking his gaze on Sercia once more, this time filled with unmistakable determination.

“Since you’re here now,” he declared, “we’re going out to look for her. Right now.”

Sercia blinked, momentarily thrown off. “Wait, what?”

“If you have any leads—never mind that,” he abruptly stopped, standing up with an air of finality. “We’ll find something.”

Sercia was not prepared for his immediate sense of urgency. She had expected more reluctance, maybe some hesitation but Rafayel was already set on moving. Her mind raced to catch up. “We—We’ve already tried following some leads,” she tried to explain, “but they all led to dead ends.”

Rafayel scoffed. “Like I said, we’ll find something.” His tone was absolute, as if failure wasn’t an option in his world.

Before Sercia could protest, he was already standing and stepping away from the table. She just stood there, stunned, struggling to process how things had escalated so quickly but also... she found herself distracted. Now that they were both standing, she had a full view of just how tall he actually was. She knew he was supposed to be six feet, but in-game, it was easy to forget. But now that she was standing next to him in person, she noted the perfect balance of his lean and toned figure, and confident posture. She barely managed to shake herself out of it before Thomas cleared his throat.

They both turned toward him, finding the agent watching them with a look of pure exasperation.

“Rafayel,” Thomas sighed, rubbing his temples. “You do remember you have a meeting in less than an hour, right?”

“Then cancel it,” Rafayel responded flatly, as if the matter was already settled.

Thomas let out a frustrated sigh. “This is about one of your most important pieces. It took forever to arrange this meeting, and you finally agreed to it. We can’t just cancel now, not after they’ve waited so long. This could ruin your reputation and affect future business prospects.”

Rafayel’s lips parted, ready to argue, but before he could, Sercia cut in.

“Hey,” she said firmly, raising a hand. “I don’t want to ruin any plans you already have.”

Rafayel’s gaze flicked toward her, and she held his stare, making sure he understood that she meant it.

“I get that you want to help,” she continued, “but we’ve already turned this city upside down trying to find Aspen. We’re doing everything we can.”

For a moment, the air between them was thick with tension. Rafayel’s jaw tightened slightly, and he looked away, his fingers clenching into a fist. His expression was tight, but Sercia could tell he was weighing her words carefully.

So, she decided to offer a solution. “We can swap numbers,” she suggested. “We have a group chat going, so I can add you if you want updates, or if you find anything, you can update us too.”

Rafayel arched a brow, clearly unimpressed by the idea. “Who’s in it?”

Sercia hesitated for only a second before answering, “Right now, it���s just me, Xavier, and Zayne.”

At the mention of Zayne’s name, Rafayel let out a dramatic groan and threw his head back slightly. “Not the doctor too.” he muttered, sounding thoroughly put out by the idea of sharing a chat with him. He crossed his arms, huffing as he mulled it over. His behavior made it clear that he was not thrilled about this arrangement, but after a few seconds of exaggerated suffering, he sighed and conceded.

“Fine,” he grumbled. “But only because I want updates. Not because I care what those two are up to.”

Sercia bit back a smirk, nodding. “Of course.”

Rafayel extended his hand. “Let me see your phone.”

Without hesitation, Sercia pulled her phone out and handed it to him, watching as he took it with long, slender fingers. His ring glinted under the café’s warm lights as he navigated the screen, typing in his number. Rafayel handed the phone back, and Sercia quickly shot him a message, so he’d have her number as well. “Thanks,” she said, offering him a small nod of appreciation.

“There’s nothing to thank me for,” Rafayel replied smoothly, brushing off her gratitude as if it was unnecessary. “We have to find Aspen. And after this stupid meeting is over, I’m going to search Linkon from top to bottom myself.”

Thomas then stood, cutting in with a pointed look toward Rafayel. “Speaking of this stupid meeting, we need to leave. Now.” His tone was clipped, but there was clear irritation in it, the artist clearly starting to push his buttons.

Thomas then turned to Sercia, his expression softening slightly. “Regardless, thank you for telling us about Aspen.” His voice held a touch of sincerity before he shifted back into business mode. “But we really need to go before we’re late for this very important meeting.” His pointed emphasis made it clear that his patience was running thin.

Sercia barely had time to reply before Thomas shot another look at Rafayel, who let out an obnoxiously dramatic sigh and rolled his eyes. “Alright, alright, I’m coming,” Rafayel muttered.

 Rafayel’s gaze then lingered on Sercia, eyes sweeping over her one last time. The weight of his stare made her feel oddly exposed, her body instinctively tensing under it. Just as she was about to look away, he let out a short, amused chuckle.

“I guess I’ll be seeing more of you from now on,” he mused, the corner of his lips lifting briefly before he turned on his heel and strode toward the exit.

Sercia remained still, watching as he followed Thomas out the door, his presence lingering in the air even after he was gone. She then exhaled slowly before shaking her head and walking back to her seat. That had gone differently than expected.

Glancing down at her plate, she frowned at the sight of her barely eaten croissant, now cold. With a sigh, she looked toward the barista, who was wiping down a nearby table.

“Excuse me?” she called, catching his attention.

He turned to her with a polite smile. “Yes, ma’am?”

“Could I get this to go?” she asked, gesturing to her plate.

“Of course,” he responded, walking over to collect her food and drink. As he picked up her mug, he glanced at her with an easygoing expression. “Would you like a fresh drink as well? On the house.”

Sercia blinked in surprise before giving him a grateful nod. “That would be great, actually. Thanks.”

The barista smiled before heading back to the counter, leaving her with a moment to collect her thoughts. She sighed, resting a fist on her cheek as she let everything that just happened sink in.

She never would have thought that coming across Rafayel would be a piece of cake. She knew that he shouldn’t have been difficult to find when it came to her original plan. But it still surprised her that she met him at the perfect moment. A chance encounter so perfectly timed that it felt almost scripted.

But what surprised her even more wasn’t the meeting itself, it was him. She didn’t expect him to be so determined. The moment he learned Aspen was missing, all the playfulness had disappeared from his face, and he’d immediately been ready to drop everything to look for her. It makes sense, Sercia thought as she tightened her grip on her phone. This is the same man who betrayed his people all for the MC, not caring about the consequences of his actions. Rafayel, for all his nonchalance and arrogance, had always been passionate in the things that mattered to him. And Aspen clearly mattered.

Thinking about him, she unlocked her phone again, her fingers quickly navigating to their group chat. She quickly added Rafayel’s number before typing out a message.

Sercia: Hey, so you guys probably already know him, but I ran into Rafayel today. Totally unexpected, but he’s going to help us look for Aspen.

She hesitated briefly before pressing send, knowing this was probably going to cause a small stir with the other two and she could already see their reactions. Shaking the thought away, she shut off her phone and slipped it back into her pocket just as she heard footsteps approaching. The barista returned, carefully handing her the to-go bag and a freshly made drink.

“Here you go,” he said with a friendly smile. “Thanks for stopping by.”

“Thanks again,” Sercia said, taking the items.

He gave her a small nod before stepping back toward the counter. “Have a good day.”

“You too.”

With that, she turned and made her way toward the exit, stepping back into the crisp city air as she headed toward her car. Her steps were steady, but her mind was anything but.

She replayed the entire conversation in her head, from the moment their eyes met to the amused way he had looked at her, to the instant shift in his demeanor when he realized Aspen was gone. It still didn’t feel real. Even as she walked, even as the car came into view, even as she clicked the unlock button on her key fob, it still felt like a dream but it wasn’t. This was real and now Rafayel was a part of this to.

And that meant things were only going to get more complicated from here.

ꫂ ၴႅၴ Taglist: @llamabois @monticarlo

𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈! 𝑳𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆, 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔!

[crycxbey]

𝑰𝒏 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑰𝑽

𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕

𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒐𝒘: ↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺

January 11th 2044

The next morning, Sercia felt a light swat against her face.

She groaned and buried herself deeper into the blankets, refusing to wake up. She was too comfortable and despite her trying to hide from the assault, the swatting continued. A voice then cut through the haze of sleep, steadily growing clearer.

“Wake up.”

She mumbled something incoherent and refused to budge.

Another swat.

“Sercia. Wake up.”

She finally cracked one eye open only to be met with Orion’s completely deadpan expression as they sat on her, clearly unimpressed and she let out a tired groan. “What do you want?”

“It’s 9:30.”

Sercia blinked. “…What?”

Orion’s eyes narrowed. “You have to be ready by 10, remember?”

The words took a second to fully register in her sleepy brain before panic shot through her.

“SHOOT!”

She bolted upright, which caused Orion to tumble off her with an undignified ‘oof’ as he landed on the bed. However, Sercia barely noticed, scrambling to throw the blankets off of her. She sprinted into the bathroom, frantically splashing water on her face and brushing her teeth at record speed. “Orion, outfit!” she shouted through the door, still half-asleep but running purely on adrenaline.

Outside, the fox, now annoyed, sighed but complied, summoning an outfit for her.

After rushing to get dressed, Sercia finally sat on the edge of the couch, catching her breath as she laced up her boots. She then glanced at her phone, and it read 9:58 AM.

Made it. Barely.

Her outfit was simple but put together; a cream sweater, neatly tucked into dark blue high-waisted flared jeans. Paired with it were matching cream thick-heeled combat boots, and for accessories, she opted for small silver hoop earrings. Finally, she had tied her hair into two space buns, leaving a couple loose curls to frame the sides of her face. Just as she finished tying the final knot on her boot a sharp knock sounded at the door. She made sure her laces were tight enough before she got up from the couch. “Coming!” she called as she headed to the door. Before she opened it, she caught a faint shimmer of light from the corner of her eye and turned to see Orion disappearing into thin air. Sercia let out a small huff at them before swinging the door open to see Xavier standing there in his signature white hoodie with black jeans looking composed as ever. His eyes flickered over her before meeting her gaze.

“Morning,” she greeted, forcing some energy into her voice.

Xavier barely reacted, giving only a short “Hm.”

Sercia resisted the urge to roll her eyes at his lack of expression. Well good morning to you to sunshine. She turned back toward the living room, walking inside while Xavier followed in tow. “You ready?” he asked, his tone flat.

Sercia grabbed her phone from the table, slipping it into her pocket as she nodded. “Yeah, I’m good to go.”

She glanced at him. “You know where the hospital is, right?”

“Of course, Akso Hospital is on the west side of the city. It’ll take some time to get there.”

“Great, then let’s head out,” she said, reaching over to grab her car keys from the table. She then looking at Xavier with a sheepish smile. “So, uh…” She shifted slightly. “How do you feel about driving?”

Xavier’s gaze flickered to the keys in her hand, his brows pulling together slightly. "You want to drive there?"

He asked, his voice carrying a hint of confusion.

Sercia shook her head quickly. “No, not me, you.”

That got a reaction. He raised an eyebrow, clearly unamused. "Why do I need to drive?"

Sercia shifted on her feet. "Because I'm new to the city, and I’m not comfortable driving around yet."

“You drove here yesterday.”

Sercia groaned internally. Why does he have to be so damn observant?

"Yeah, but there was barely anyone on the streets, so it was easier to navigate." she argued, folding her arms. “Daytime is different. And the last thing I need is to cause an accident because I don’t know what I’m doing.”

Xavier eyed her again, assessing her like he was trying to figure out if she was lying. Then, with a quiet sigh, he held out his hand. Sercia smiled and immediately dropped the keys into his palm before he could change his mind.

"Let's go," he said simply before turning on his heel and walking out of the apartment without waiting for her.

Sercia blinked before she hurried after him, quickly closing the door behind her. “Hey, wait up!” she called, jogging after him as he strode toward the elevator.

They eventually made their way down to the apartment’s underground garage, the sound of their footsteps echoing faintly in the open space as Sercia led Xavier toward the hatchback parked neatly in one of the reserved spots. Though, in reality, she had no idea where it was and had wandered for a solid minute pretending, she did. But thankfully, Xavier didn’t seem to notice her confusion. When they finally found it, she couldn’t help the small burst of pride that welled up inside her. There it was, her Subaru Crosstrek, gleaming under the artificial lights of the garage. A car she had always liked but never thought she’d own anytime soon. But thanks to Orion’s powers, it was now hers.

Xavier stopped beside it as he looked at the vehicle with a slightly perplexed expression. He tilted his head as his gaze flickering over its details. “I’ve never seen this car before,” he said, his tone mildly curious.

Sercia then froze for a split second before forcing herself to remain casual. Dang it, I forgot this car doesn’t exist here. Thinking quickly, she shrugged, keeping her expression neutral. “Oh, it’s a foreign car.”

Xavier’s eyebrows raised slightly, clearly still curious, but, to her relief, he didn’t question it further. Instead, he let out a small hum, then unlocked the doors and slid into the driver’s seat. She exhaled silently before moving to the passenger side and climbing in.

Once inside, Sercia marveled at the vehicle’s interior. Holographic displays flickered to life and their soft glow illuminating the dashboard. The controls were sleek, touch-sensitive, and far beyond anything Sercia had ever seen in her own world. It was the kind of technology that felt just out of reach, like something she’d only see in concept designs back home.

Xavier then pressed the start button and the car hummed to life, its dashboard pulsing faintly as the systems activated. She buckled her seatbelt, leaning back into the plush seat as she let out a quiet sigh of relief. At least I don’t have to stress about driving, she thought. Though, admittedly, watching Xavier behind the wheel of her dream car was a little… surreal. He navigated the car out of the garage, before merging into the flow of morning traffic.

Once on the highway, Sercia glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and noticed how he looked completely at ease. His posture was relaxed as one hand rested against the wheel while the other laid on the center console. She then focused her gaze outside the window and took in her surroundings. The city streets blurred past them and the towering skyscrapers reflected off the windshield while the soft hum of traffic filled the air as they wove through the metropolis. Seeing Linkon City outside of the apartment was breathtaking. It felt alive in a way that cities back home never did and there was an underlying beauty to everything, but even as she took it all in, a familiar pang of anxiety settled in her chest.

Today would bring another layer to the tangled web of lies she had spun, and Sercia couldn’t help but wonder if she would be able to fool Zayne the same way she fooled Xavier. Dr. Zayne was known for his cold, no-nonsense personality and despite his handsome face, his infamous glare was enough to make even the most hardened men second-guess their life choices.

And unlike Xavier, Zayne wasn’t just some work partner that “recently” meet Aspen. He was one of her childhood friends which meant if there was anything or anyone that Aspen knew, he would probably hear about it. That fact alone made Sercia’s fingers unconsciously curl against her jeans. There was a high chance that he would see through her façade. Especially considering that, in her story, she and Aspen had supposedly met during the Chansia when he was in the same city as well. If she messed up, even once, he’d see right through her.

Sercia then closed her eyes as she forced herself to push down her doubts.

No.

She couldn’t crack. Not here, not now. If she wanted her old life back, she had to keep this up and see it through.

𓍯𓂃𓂃𓂃

Eventually, the duo arrived at their destination, the entire ride passing in silence. Xavier pulled into the hospital’s parking lot, maneuvering smoothly into a spot before cutting the engine and, without a word, got out immediately. Sercia hurried to follow his lead, and they made their way toward the hospital’s main entrance.

The closer they got, Sercia realized that this building was massive, its glass walls gleaming in the morning light. There was a lot of people moving in and out of the building; doctors in pristine white coats, nurses checking tablets, visitors talking in hushed voices, and the occasional patient being wheeled through the automatic doors.

As they walked, Sercia glanced at Xavier while trying to suppress her growing anxiety. “Hey, uh, so…” She hesitated before continuing, keeping her voice casual. “Isn’t Zayne, like, super busy? I mean, he’s one of the best cardiologists in Linkon City.”

Xavier remained silent; his gaze locked ahead.

“We can’t exactly just… request his presence on the spot,” she continued. “What if he’s in surgery or something?”

Still, Xavier didn’t break stride as his soft voice cutting through her worries. “Don’t worry,” he said. “We’ll meet him.”

Sercia blinked. “…How?”

Finally, Xavier gave her a side glance. “We’ll ask at the reception desk.”

That made her stop in her tracks. “Wait… that’s your plan?” She furrowed her brows. “We’re just gonna ask?”

Xavier finally paused, turning to face her with an expression that was equal parts patience and mild exasperation. “Yes,” he said simply. “We’ll tell them it’s about Aspen and Zayne will see us.”

…That was it? That was the plan?

Sercia continued to stare at him before sighing and following Xavier who had already continued walking.

The duo eventually stepped inside, and Sercia thought to herself, might as well see how this plays out. The hospital lobby was a flurry of activity, filled with the constant movement of people. The air carried a faint sterile scent of antiseptic, mixing with the low hum of voices and distant beeping from machines. Sercia kept quiet as she trailed behind Xavier, following him to the reception desk where a woman in a crisp uniform greeted them with a professional smile.

“Good morning,” he greeted. “My name is Xavier, and I need to speak with Dr. Zayne. It’s urgent.” Then, after a pause, he added, “Tell him it’s about Aspen.”

Sercia remained behind him, arms crossed, having zero hope that this was going to work. She’s going to laugh us off, she thought, already bracing herself for rejection. But to her complete shock, the receptionist didn’t question him. Instead, she gave a small nod and began typing something into her computer.

Sercia’s expression twitched. Wait. What?

“Please have a seat in the waiting area,” the women said. “I’ll send someone to retrieve you shortly.”

“Thank you.”

Then, as if he had expected this all along, he turned on his heel and headed toward the waiting area without another word and Sercia, still slightly stunned, followed after him. As they walked, she leaned slightly toward him, lowering her voice.

“…Okay, what? That actually worked?”

Xavier didn’t even look at her as he sat down, his posture relaxed. “Of course,” he said simply. “It’s about Aspen.”

Sercia murmured, “I guess that makes sense,” under her breath before moving a couple seats down from Xavier and settling into her own chair.

For a while, they sat in silence and as the sounds of the hospital buzzed around them, Sercia thought about starting a conversation, anything to break the quiet between them. But every time she opened her mouth, she second-guessed herself. What would she even say? Talking about the weather seemed stupid and asking personal questions felt… well, too personal. So, instead, she kept quiet though that didn’t stop her from sneaking glances at him every now and then.

Xavier sat completely still, his body language laxed. His arms were crossed, and his eyes were closed as his breathing seemed even and steady. For a moment, Sercia wondered if he had actually fallen asleep until she remembered that this was the same man who could literally fall asleep anywhere.

She bit back a small smile, shaking her head slightly. Of course he fell asleep.

Sercia’s mind then drifted to random thoughts and her fingers began tapping idly against her thigh as she hummed to herself. The lyrics of Like Him coming to her subconsciously, which was ironic considering her current situation. The soft melody blended into the background noise of the waiting area until, about half an hour later, a voice called out to them.

“Xavier?”

Sercia looked up, her hum trailing off as a familiar face approached them. The man was young, likely in his late twenties or early thirties, with short, neatly styled brown hair that had a slightly tousled texture, as if he had ruffled it absentmindedly throughout the day. His fair skin and delicate facial features gave him an almost scholarly appearance, and his light hazel eyes, framed by round, wire-rimmed glasses, held a quiet intelligence. He wore a pristine white lab coat, crisp and professional, with "Dr. Grayson" embroidered neatly on the chest.

His gaze landed on Xavier, and he offered a small smile; one that was polite, but didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“You’re Xavier, correct?”

Xavier stirred and rubbed his eyes before standing fluidly from his seat with a nod. “I am.”

Sercia hurriedly got up, stepping to Xavier’s side just as Dr. Grayson reached them. Seriously, she thought, why is everyone in this world much more attractive in person?

“Dr. Zayne sent me to retrieve you,” Grayson said, his voice calm and professional. Then, his eyes flickered toward Sercia, his expression softening slightly. “And you must be…?”

Sercia quickly extended a hand. “Sercia,” she said smoothly. “I’m… with Xavier.”

Dr. Grayson nodded, shaking her hand with a gentle grip. “Pleasure to meet you.”

Then, stepping back, he gestured toward the hallway. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to Dr. Zayne’s office.”

Sercia and Xavier exchanged a brief glance before following Dr. Grayson toward the elevators. The walk to the elevator made the anxiety that Sercia was trying to push down slowly bubble up again. With each step, she was getting closer to meeting the infamous doctor and she didn’t know how she was going to keep her cool.

When they reached the elevator, Dr. Grayson pressed the button, and the doors slid open with a soft chime. They stepped inside, and as the elevator began its ascent, Grayson attempted to make polite small talk. "So, how was your drive here?" he asked casually, eyes flicking toward them.

He waited.

Sercia side-eyed Xavier, half-expecting him to answer but he didn’t.

Of course.

With an internal sigh, she offered a polite response. “It was an okay drive. Nothing too crazy.”

Dr. Grayson gave a small nod before glancing at Xavier again, clearly hoping for any sort of input. When it became painfully obvious that wasn’t happening, he turned back to Sercia.

“Well, I hope you didn’t have to wait long,” he continued, his tone friendly.

Sercia, playing the role of designated conversationalist, smiled slightly. “It wasn’t too long of a wait.”

The doctor nodded; his hands clasped behind his back as he thought for a moment. Then, his tone shifted slightly. It was still polite, but more curious now.

“So… why exactly do you need to see Dr. Zayne?” His eyes flickered between them. “Zayne told me to retrieve you immediately because it concerns Aspen. She’s also his patient, so naturally, I have to ask… is she alright?”

For the first time in the entire elevator ride, Xavier finally responded. “I was hoping Zayne could answer that question,” he said before he went completely quiet again.

Dr. Grayson blinked at him, thrown off by the bluntness of the response.

“Oh… I see,” he said awkwardly.

And with that, the elevator fell into complete silence and Sercia resisted the urge to sigh at Xavier response.

After an uncomfortable moment, the elevator finally stopped on their designated floor and the trio stepped out. They headed to Zayne’s office and the walk was just as quiet as the ride up. When they reached the door, Dr. Grayson stepped forward, pushing it open before gesturing for them to enter.

“Make yourselves comfortable,” he said. “Dr. Zayne is finishing up with a patient, but he’ll be with you shortly.”

“Thank you,” Sercia replied.

Grayson nodded before stepping out, closing the door behind him and with him gone, Sercia took a moment to look around as they stepped inside. The office was modern, and sleek with combinations of black and gray tones that gave it a sharp, professional feel. A large desk dominated the back of the room, meticulously organized with a few monitors, medical documents, and a neatly stacked pile of books. To the side, a few chairs were arranged for visitors, along with a small leather couch, which added just a slight touch of comfort to the otherwise clinical space.

Xavier sat down in one of the chairs near the desk and like clockwork he seemed to fall asleep immediately.

Sercia gave him a deadpan look before shaking her head. Typical.

She, on the other hand, chose the small couch on the opposite side of the room, settling into the seat as she mentally prepared herself for what was coming next. She fidgeted, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap as she got lost in her thoughts once again.

She was about to meet Zayne.

The stoic, brilliant, ridiculously attractive doctor.

How the hell was she supposed to keep it together?

Her mind was racing, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure Xavier, if he was actually awake, could probably hear it. What if I say something stupid? What if he sees right through me? What if he just flat-out kicks us out? Sercia stole a quick glance at the hunter, who seemed like he had no care in the world. Arms crossed, eyes closed, body completely relaxed, as if they were waiting for a coffee order instead of meeting with one of the most important doctors in the city.

Unlike Xavier, she was practically vibrating with nervousness. Every minute that passed felt longer, the dread building with each second. And then after what felt like eternity, the door finally opened. Sercia’s entire body went rigid as she heard the soft click of the handle turning. Her breath hitched, as the door swung open, revealing the man they had been waiting for.

When Zayne walked into the office, Sercia felt that same sense of awe she had when she first met Xavier. He carried himself with a quiet confidence and his every movement was deliberate and precise. His styled black hair was perfectly in place, effortlessly falling just enough to frame his sharp, angular features. The silver-rimmed glasses resting on the bridge of his nose only enhanced his appearance, subtly drawing attention to his hazel-green eyes that held an unwavering focus. The stack of files tucked under his arm and the way his lab coat shifted slightly behind him as he moved only added to the air of competence and authority he exuded and Sercia hardly believed she was seeing him in real life.

For a split second, as he stepped further inside, Zayne’s gaze flickered toward her, his expression unreadable. However, there was the barest flicker of curiosity in his eyes. It was brief and almost imperceptible, before he shifted his focus entirely away from her and heading toward his desk. Nothing was said as he placed the files down in a neat stack before taking his lab coat off and draping it on his chair, revealing his white dress shirt and gray slacks underneath. Xavier eyes slowly opened, and he eyed the doctor and waited for him to make the first move.

Then, finally, Zayne spoke; his voice was smooth and detached as he addressed the only person in the room who truly had his attention.

“So, you’re Xavier,” Zayne said coolly, his voice even as he leaned slightly against his desk. “Aspen’s partner.”

Xavier met his gaze without hesitation. “Yes, and you’re her doctor.”

For a moment, the room was thick with tension as the two men locked eyes, neither breaking contact while Sercia remained unmoving, watching the silent stare-down unfolding in front of her. Oh great, here we go, she thought, her gaze flicking between them. The weight of their mutual dislike was almost palpable, Zayne’s sharp, clinical analysis against Xavier’s unreadable, unbothered presence.

Then, after a long moment, Zayne finally looked away as he removed his glasses and set them down on the desk in front of him. “I heard you were here because of her,” he said. “What is this about?”

“I was hoping you would know.”

Zayne’s narrowed his slightly, and his voice was clipped as he responded, “If I knew, I wouldn’t be asking you.”

The tension in the room only thickened, the energy shifting as a beat of silence passed between them.

Then, finally, Xavier dropped the bombshell.

“Aspen is missing.”

The temperature in the room plummeted at Xavier’s words and Zayne’s expression hardened instantly, his eyes darkening as the weight of what had just been said settled over him like a storm cloud. Sercia, still trying to process the tension, suddenly stiffened when she saw something strange.

Her breath. She could see her own breath in the air.

What the hell?

Then, a soft but distinct cracking sound reached her ears, and her gaze snapped downward.

The floor was starting to be covered in a thin sheet of ice.

WHAT!?

Her heart lurched as she abruptly stood, her boots scraping against the freezing surface. It wasn’t just the floor; parts of the room were slowly being covered in frost and thin layers of delicate ice crystals creeped along the walls and furniture. Sercia then snapped her gaze toward the two men again and that’s when she saw it.

Zayne’s entire body was tense, and his fingers were curled slightly, as his palms emitted a light blue glow. His glare was razor-sharp, directed solely at Xavier, and his face a mask of contained fury.

“What do you mean she’s missing?” Zayne’s voice was low and had an icy sharpness that sent a chill down Sercia’s spine. The frost in the room lingered, creeping like it was waiting for permission to proceed but despite this, Xavier didn’t flinch and he continued to hold Zayne’s glare.

“She went missing two nights ago,” Xavier stated. “She hasn’t answered any of my calls or texts and I stayed out that night searching for her, but I didn’t find anything. No signs. No leads. It was like she vanished into thin air.”

Xavier paused, letting that fact settle in the air before finishing, “That’s why we came here.” He tilted his head slightly, still watching Zayne closely. “If Aspen told anyone something, or if she was with someone, we figured you would be one of the first people to know.”

Another beat of silence followed.

Zayne’s jaw tightened as his eyes flickering with unreadable emotion. Then, after what felt like an eternity, he finally took a deep breath and the temperature in the room shifted. Sercia watched as the frost on the furniture began to melt, the ice on the floor slowly disappeared. The room, which had felt like the inside of a fridge just moments ago, gradually returned to normal.

The doctor then closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose as he let out a sigh. “She usually contacts me at least once a day,” he muttered. “But I haven’t received anything from her for two days either.” He gazed at Xavier again. “I thought she was busy, so I didn’t push when my texts and calls went unanswered. But now… it makes sense.”

Frustration crossed Xavier's face, and his gaze lowered, brows furrowing in confusion. “If you don’t know where she is…” he murmured, his question more for himself than anyone else. “Then where could she have gone?”

Zayne didn’t answer as he also seemed to sink into thought and Sercia hesitated, debating whether she should say something, maybe throw in a false suggestion. But before she could open her mouth Zayne’s eyes suddenly flicked toward her. Though he didn’t fully turn to face her, the weight of his eyes was suffocating and Sercia felt herself straighten instinctively.

“…And who is this?” His voice was as cold as ever as he finally addressed her. “Why is she here?”

The game hadn’t exaggerated, his eyes really could freeze you in place with a single look. She stood still as she struggled to come up with a coherent sentence, her brain scrambling for something to say. But thankfully, Xavier saved her from the embarrassment.

“She’s allegedly Aspen’s friend,” Xavier stated plainly. “She’s here to find her.”

Zayne’s gaze didn’t waver as he looked at Xavier again, but he remained silent to listen.

Xavier continued, “Aspen sent her a text and audio message from that night, and I listened to it myself. There is no mistaking it, that was definitely Aspen’s voice.”

Zayne stayed silent for a few more seconds before he turned his attention to Sercia once more and she clenched her hands into fist as she struggled to hold his gaze.

“Aspen has never mentioned you,” Zayne stated flatly. “Not once and I’ve known her since we were children.”

Sercia forced herself to keep her expression neutral, plastering on a nervous smile. “R-Really?” she said, feigning mild surprise. “We met in Chansia City and we’ve known each other for about a year now.”

“Really? How did you meet?”

Sercia stuck to her script. “Aspen saved me from a Wanderer attack,” she said with a small nod, as if recalling a real memory.

Zayne’s eyes seemed to narrow even further as his posture remained rigid. He slowly crossed his arms over his chest as he continued to question her. “I was also in Chansia City at the same time, and she never mentioned saving anyone.”

Sercia then gulped before she let out a forced, awkward laugh, waving a hand as if brushing it off. “Well, I mean… that makes sense, right?” she said, leaning into her excuse. “We aren’t that close, and we just contact each other occasionally.”

“…” Zayne’s didn’t blink as his unrelenting stare bore into her. Seconds seemed to pass and Sercia looked away as she felt her breath get heavy. It was as if he was taking apart every word she had said and analyzing it under a microscope.

Then, finally, he looked away. “…Maybe she forgot to mention you,” he muttered. “We did have other important matters going on while we were there.”

Sercia let out a silent sigh of relief but stilled when she heard his voice cut through the air one more.

“Play it.”

“…What?”

“The audio message.” His tone was absolute. “Play it.”

Sercia stuttered out an okay before fishing her phone out of her pocket as she took a few cautious steps forward. As she got closer, she could feel their eyes on her, piercing and scrutinizing. She forced herself to stay calm, even as the weight of their gaze pressed against her like a physical force. Once she reached Zayne’s desk, she tapped on the audio file and turned the volume up. Then she placed the phone down on the desk and let the distress message fill the room.

As they listened, she watched Zayne carefully, noting a similar reaction she had seen from Xavier. He remained still and his face showed no emotion as his gaze locked onto the phone. But his eyes told another story; they flickered with fury and rage and the room began to drop in temperature again. However, Sercia noticed there was a lack of ice this time and realized Zayne was holding himself back.

When the message ended, silence blanketed the room. Sercia then cleared her throat and forced herself to break it. “I… I don’t know why she sent it to me specifically, but clearly, she’s in danger.” Sercia looked between the two men, waiting for one of them to respond and after a moment, Zayne finally spoke.

“I don’t understand why she sent it to you first either,” he stated. “But that doesn’t matter right now, what matters now is finding her.”

Then, addressing them both, he asked, “Did you reach out to the police? It’s been two days.”

Sercia’s mind blanked. Oh no…

They couldn’t go to the police. If the Evol authorities did a real investigation, they’d start asking questions. They’d dig into Aspen’s past, look for records and would try to verify Sercia’s story. If they found inconsistencies discovered that Sercia didn’t exist in this world, she was done for.

Before she could figure out an excuse, Xavier saved the day again. “The Evol police probably wouldn’t be much help.”

Zayne’s gaze snapped to him. “And why is that?”

“Because I haven’t found anything,” Xavier rested his hand on his cheek. “If I haven’t picked up a single trace, it’s likely they won’t either.”

“Then what’s your next move?” Zayne questioned.

“I’ll go to the Hunters Association, and figure out a plan with my colleagues.” He glanced at Zayne. “UNICORNS will be more useful in this search since we have more resources and access. We can do better than the police.”

Zayne stayed silent as he considered Xavier’s words before letting out another sigh. “Fine, then I’ll reach out to my own resources and make time to search for her myself.”

Sercia, who had been watching their interaction, tilted her head slightly. His resources? She wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but before she could dwell on it too much, she shook the thought away and let out a small cough to get their attention.

Both men turned to her and waited for her to speak. "I’ll also keep looking,” she said. “And I’ll stay at Aspen’s apartment too, just in case she comes back.”

Neither of them objected, so she continued. “Since we’re all going to be looking for her now,” she gestured between them, “it’d be smart to swap numbers so we can keep in contact.”

She paused before adding, “Maybe even make a group chat? That way, we can message each other if one of us finds anything.

“…No.”

“Absolutely not.”

Xavier and Zayne rejected her idea at the same time, their voices firm and final and Sercia’s shoulders slumped slightly, her quiet excitement deflating in real-time. For a second, she considered just accepting their rejection and letting them handle things on their own. But then she remembered Orion’s words.

“Build a connection with them.”

If she had their contacts, that would be a start, so she forced herself to stand her ground.

She straightened her posture and put on a serious expression. “I want to find Aspen just as much as you two do,” she said firmly. “If one of us finds something and we can’t reach the other, that could stall the search and we don’t have time for that.”

She crossed her arms, making sure her tone carried weight. “Plus, we have no idea who or what we’re dealing with if she was taken. Keeping in touch isn’t just about updates, it’s about safety.”

She let that sink in for a moment before finishing, “If any of us runs into danger, having a direct line to each other could help us in the long run.”

Based on their faces, she could tell neither man liked the idea. But she also knew they were both logical thinkers and what she said made sense, so she waited.

The two men exchanged glances as if silently reading each other’s thoughts before finally conceding.

Xavier let out a small huff. “You’re right,” he admitted begrudgingly.

Zayne nodded once in agreement before grabbing her phone off the desk and handed it back to her. Sercia quickly unlocked it, opening the phone app before passing it to Xavier and watching as he typed in his number. Once done, he gave it to Zayne, who repeated the process before giving it back to her.

Sercia wasted no time, quickly creating a group chat with the three of them and with a few taps, she sent out a simple message:

[Sercia]: Alright, now we’re all set. If anything happens, we keep each other updated.

She then slipped her phone back into her pocket before letting out a genuine, "Thank you."

Neither man acknowledged it, and Zayne reach for his glasses, sliding them back onto his face. Then, he grabbed his lab coat, slipping it on with a swift motion before turning toward the door. “I need to meet with a patient,” he said briskly, already moving to leave. His tone was all business, as if the entire conversation they just had was already being compartmentalized into the back of his mind.

“I’ll let you know if I find anything,” he stated. “And I expect you to do the same.”

Sercia nodded quickly. “Of course.”

She followed his lead, and Xavier finally stood from the chair and wordlessly fell into step behind her. Zayne escorted them out, and when they stepped into the hallway, Sercia turned slightly, giving him a small, polite smile.

“It was nice to meet you,” she said genuinely.

Zayne didn’t respond. Instead, he simply watched as she and Xavier walked down the hall.

As soon as they rounded the corner, Sercia let out a long breath she hadn’t even realized she was holding. The tension that had been weighing on her chest finally eased, at least a little. They walked in silence until they eventually, they reached the elevator. Though inside, the silence continued.

Sercia found herself glancing at Xavier again, trying to read his expression, but his eyes were closed, and she had no idea what he was thinking. She sighed softly, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. Despite the intensity of the situation, she couldn’t ignore a small sense of progress. She had met two out of five of the love interests now and that was good, but the question remained. How was she supposed to meet the others this easily?

The elevator dinged, signaling their arrival back on the ground floor and as the doors opened, the duo stepped out, continuing their silent walk out of the hospital while Sercia considered her next steps. Maybe she could go to Whitesand Bay to find Rafayel since that seemed like the easiest next move but Sylus and Caleb…? Well, that would be difficult.

Sylus was in the N109 Zone which was one of the hardest places to get into. She had no idea how she’d even begin to approach that situation. And Caleb was in Skyhaven, the floating city, and she wasn’t sure how to get in contact with him, either. However, she wasn’t in a rush to meet those two. Who knows what those two would do once they realized Aspen was missing? Hell, she wouldn’t even be surprised if they already knew and that thought alone made her shudder.

Just as her thoughts began circling deeper, she felt a shift beside her.

“Sercia.” Xavier’s voice pulled her out of her head.

She blinked, glancing up to see that they had reached the car.

“Let’s head back,” Xavier said, already unlocking the doors.

Sercia nodded, slipping into the passenger seat as Xavier started the engine. He then pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road. As they drove back to the complex, Sercia began to settle on a plan. Out of the remaining three, Rafayel seemed like the best choice to seek out next. Unlike Sylus or Caleb, he was at least somewhat accessible and if she could just get to Whitesand Bay, she’d have a better chance of finding him. The coastline being where he spent most of his time whether at his residence or managing his art gallery. But before any of that she needed to learn how to drive here first and once she had that handled, she could look into finding him with Orion’s help.

With a somewhat solid plan in her head, she gazed out the window, watching the city pass them by. There was still so much uncertainty ahead and so many unknowns she’d have to face. But for now, she let the hum of the car, and the streets of Linkon City lull her into a rare moment of calm.

ꫂ ၴႅၴ Taglist: @llamabois @monticarlo

𝑺𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒖𝒑𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒆! 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒍𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔. 𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏, 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆, 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔!

[crycxbey]

𝑰𝒏 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑰𝑰𝑰

𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕

𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒐𝒘: ↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺

January 10th 2044

Sercia’s mind blanked for a second, but she knew she had to act fast. If Xavier walked into his apartment, there was a likely chance she wouldn’t see him again for hours, maybe even days. Her mind scrambled for something to say, anything that would make him stop, and then hit her. Right, the distress message.

Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself, mentally apologizing to Xavier for what she was about to do. She hated the idea of manipulating someone like this, especially knowing how deeply he cared for Aspen, but she didn’t have a choice, it needed to be done. With a rushed tone she called out, “Excuse me!”

No reaction.

The hunter kept walking and his slow, deliberate strides making it seem like he was completely detached from the world around him. His head was down, and his hands were limp at his sides. If he had heard her, he didn’t show it.

Sercia clenched her jaw. Oh, come on.

She picked up her pace and quickly closed the distance between them. “Hey, wait!” She called again, this time louder. “Are you… Xavier?”

That made him pause.

He slowed and lifted his head up, and then he turned his head in her direction and the second their eyes met, Sercia swore her heart stopped. He was much more enticing in person; His blue eyes had a subtle hint of gray and his features were sharp yet gentle. His silver hair was messier then normal and his expression lacked warmth as he regarded her with quiet curiosity.

Wow, he is so much more attractive in person.

She shoved that thought out of her head immediately and focused on the task at hand. She put on the most convincing expression of concern she could muster. “I’ve been looking for you,” she said quickly. “I need your help. It's about my friend Aspen and I think she’s in trouble.”

At that, Xavier’s gaze sharpened.

His demeanor shifted and his brows furrowing as his posture tensed. He turned around as his entire focus fell on her, eyes narrowing as he took a step forward. “…Who are you?” he asked, voice quiet but firm.

Sercia’s stomach twisted slightly under the weight of his stare.

Alright, time to sell this.

She kept her expression steady as she met Xavier’s eyes. “My name is Sercia,” she said, her voice had just the right amount of urgency. “I met Aspen in Chansia City. I befriended her after she saved me from a Wanderer.”

Xavier didn’t move as his eyes scanned her. It was as if he was trying to pick apart everything she said.

She took a small step closer and pulled out her phone to open the Moments app, scrolling to the distress messages that had been crafted moments before. She then turned the screen, just enough for Xavier to see. “She messaged me last night, around 9 PM. She sounded like she was in trouble.”

His gaze flickered down to the phone as he read the message, but he remained silent.

Sercia pressed on. “I tried calling her through the app, but I didn’t get anything; no response, no read receipts, nothing. So, I panicked.” She exhaled, letting her shoulders slump just enough to sell the act. “I hopped in my car and drove straight to Linkon City in the middle of the night to check on her. I got here around 2 AM and went to her apartment, but when I got inside…” Her voice lowered. “She wasn’t there.”

Xavier’s jaw tensed and his hands clenched into fists. He was listening, fully engaged, but his expression remained still.

Sercia glanced at him, shifting her weight anxiously. “I didn’t know what else to do, so I waited. I thought maybe she would be back by morning, but… it’s been hours, and she still isn’t home.”

Silence hung between them for a moment until Xavier finally lifted his gaze from the phone and looked directly at her, his gaze calculating. Then, he asked the one question she had not been prepared for.

“How did you get into Aspen’s apartment?”

Shit.

Her mind scrambled for an answer. She couldn’t exactly tell him, Oh, you know, a floating fox gave me the entry code because I’m not actually from this world and I know things I shouldn’t.

Think. Think.

She forced herself to calm as she came up with an excuse. “I went to the front desk,” she lied smoothly. “Told them that I was worried about my friend and I haven't heard from her. Once they realized I was being serious, they understood and gave me the passcode to let me in.”

Xavier didn’t react immediately. He just stared at her, as if he was checking  for the slightest hint of deception. His eyes seemed to cut straight through her, and for a split second, she worried he knew. She resisted the urge to shift under his gaze, keeping her posture steady. Then, after a beat of silence, he asked, “How did you know who I was?”

Sercia paused before answering. “Aspen talked about you, A lot.” That part wasn’t a lie, Aspen did talk about him, just not to her. But Xavier didn’t need to know that. She continued, carefully weaving her story. “She told me you were her partner at the Hunters Association. She always spoke highly of you.” She gave a small, almost sheepish shrug. “Aspen talks about her friends all the time. And I remembered her mentioning that you lived a floor above her.” Xavier kept quiet, so Sercia kept going. “So, based on that, and the photos Aspen posted of you two together, I figured seeking you out was my best shot at finding her.”

Still, he just stared.

His stare was suffocating. The longer he remained silent, the more Sercia felt like she was being judged, her every word being weighed carefully in real-time. Was he buying it? Was he waiting for her to trip up? She needed to do something to fully convince him.

Right. The audio message.

“I have something else to show you,” she murmured before tapping play on the message. The moment Aspen’s voice filled the air, she saw the shift in Xavier immediately. His stiff expression vanished in an instant, as his entire posture stiffened. As the recording played on, his breathing grew heavier, his shoulders rising and falling with each breath. By the time the message cut off, leaving only an eerie silence behind, his eyes were wide, wider than she had ever seen them.

Sercia didn’t say anything. She didn’t need to.

The message spoke for itself.

She could practically see him breaking as he processed it, his mind undoubtedly replaying every word Aspen had said. “I should’ve told someone where I was going but I didn’t, and now I'm-” The unfinished sentence echoed between them like a ghost.

A long, tense moment passed.

Then, finally, Xavier eyes locked onto hers. “Follow me.” he said, his voice was low.

Without another word, he turned sharply on his heel and started walking toward his apartment and Sercia quickly followed, her heart pounding as she hurried after him. When they reached 636 again, Xavier wasted no time unlocking the door. He pushed it open and stepped aside, holding it open for her without saying a word.

Sercia hesitated for a fraction of a second before stepping inside. Xavier followed closely behind, shutting the door with a soft click before nodding toward the living room. “Have a seat.”

Sercia complied, perching nervously on the edge of the gray sofa, her fingers lightly gripping the soft fabric beneath her. Her gaze drifted across the space, taking in every detail.

A wooden coffee table on top of a geometric rug sat in front of her, with items like a book, record player and a mug, that still had coffee in it, laid on its surface. To her left, a white piano stood against a large window. Its polished surface gleaming faintly in the light. She knew that he could play from his Silvery Polyphony memory, a card that she has watched more times than she liked to admit. Her eyes then landed on the bookshelves the sofa faced that surrounded the large flat-screen TV. They were tall, wooden, and full of books, decorative plants, and small figurines. Tiny, playful plant pots shaped like animals also sat on various surfaces, and minimalist art hung on the wall. She noticed an arched entry way that likely led to other rooms, and when she turned around, she took note of kitchen; A dining table covered with a checkered tablecloth and on the other side cream cabinets lined the walls with a wooden island stood at the center. She also took note of the balcony doors that were still open, a fresh and airy sent being carried through the space by the wind. There was something serene about his home and seeing it in person felt like a dream.

As she looked in awe at the apartment, Xavier eyed her for a moment before raising his hand. When a strange tingling sound reached Sercia’s ears, she looked in the man’s direction and her eyes widened. Xavier faintly started to glow and one by one, then lights in the living room flickered on, casting a soft glow that illuminated the room with gentle warmth. Sercia’s jaw slightly dropped as she watched. She remembered he did something similar before. It was during a nighttime walk with Aspen and he lit their way with the streetlights. Seeing it unfold in front of her, with no screen separating her from the moment, was… breathtaking.

That’s… so cool.

Her thoughts nearly slipped from her mouth, but before she could say anything, Xavier walked over and stood on the other side table. His arms crossed over his chest as he eyed her with an intensity that made her feel like she was being dissected under a microscope. After a brief staring contest, he then asked her to play the recording again and she nodded slightly before pressed play, letting Aspen’s frantic voice fill the space once more. After the message cut off, his gaze became distant, as if he were lost in thought. Then, finally, he spoke.

“I couldn’t sleep last night, so I stayed up.” Xavier eyes was fixed somewhere past her, like he was piecing everything together as he spoke. “I thought about visiting her, but I checked my hunter watch first.” He then tapped lightly at the device on his wrist. “It can track the heartbeat of your partner in the Association.”

That was something Sercia remembered; Aspen and Xavier were connected for safety reasons, so they could monitor each other in case anything happened.

He exhaled, his fingers tightening into a fist again “Her heartbeat was steady so I knew she was asleep.”

Sercia bit the inside of her cheek. He was recalling everything in real time, retracing every step.

He continued, his tone growing heavier with every word. “But then, around midnight… something felt off.” His eyes then darkened as his brows knitting together. “I checked her heartbeat again… and it was gone.”

Sercia felt her heart clench as she tried to keep up her act.

Xavier’s expression grew even darker and he looked like he was trying to contain himself from losing it.

“I went straight to her apartment,” he said, his silver hair falling slightly over his eyes. “We gave each other access a long time ago, so when she didn’t answer, I let myself in.” His gaze flickered slightly. “Her bedroom door was open, so I went inside to check if she was asleep, but she wasn’t there. The watch didn’t show any sign of her waking up. No movement. Nothing. I looked through the entire apartment but she was gone.” His voice was quieter now, but his words felt heavier. “I tried calling her, but she didn’t pick up.”

For the first time since she had met him, Xavier started to look distressed.

“I went out looking for her,” he muttered, his hands tightening into fists at his sides. “ But despite being out all night, I couldn’t find her anywhere.”

Sercia stared at him, feeling guilt twist in her chest like a knife. But she forced herself to keep her cool. She couldn’t falter now, not after getting this far. She furrowed her brows, carefully maintaining her worried expression. “Did Aspen mention anything out of the ordinary to you yesterday?” she asked.

Xavier shook his head. “No. We were assigned a small mission together, just to clear out some Wanderers.” He looked to the side as he took a small breath. “She seemed fine all day and everything was normal.”

Sercia hummed as if contemplating.

Xavier’s eyes flicked back to her. “What about you?” he asked suddenly. “Did she say anything to you?”

Sercia kept her breath steady. “No, nothing, just those messages. That was the only thing that was raised any flags.”

Xavier’s regarded her for a moment before he narrowed his eyes. “Why would she contact you first though?” His voice wasn’t accusatory, but there was a pointed sharpness in it. “If she was in trouble, why wouldn’t she reach out to me? Or anyone else she’s closer to?”

Sercia swallowed, feigning uncertainty. “I don’t know,” she admitted, shaking her head. “I was just as confused when I saw it. I mean, I talk to Aspen, but we’re not that close. Honestly, It doesn’t make sense to me either.”

Xavier didn’t immediately respond as his mind was undoubtedly racing, trying to figure out why Aspen would reach out to someone like her instead of the people she trusted most. Sercia decided to shift the focus before he could press the issue further. “Do you know anyone who might know where she is?” she asked, watching him carefully.

“…There’s one person I can think of…. Zayne.” His gaze flickered toward her. “Have you heard of him before?”

Sercia's heart skipped a beat at the mention of the doctor but she kept her expression neutral. “Yeah, Aspen mentioned him a few times. She said he was one of her childhood friends… and her doctor.” She put her hand on her chin as she spoke. “Plus, he’s well known, he’s one of the best cardiothoracic surgeons of our time.”

Xavier gave a small nod, confirming what she already knew. “If Aspen’s with anyone or if she told anyone anything, he’s one option.” His voice was still tense, but there was a slight shift, just enough hope to keep his focus sharp. “It’s worth checking to see if he knows anything.”

Sercia hesitated for a beat before asking, “Are you going to speak to him today?”

Xavier’s eyes met hers. “We are,” he corrected. “You’re coming with me.”

…What?

“If Aspen’s not with him,” Xavier continued, “you’re going to show Zayne everything you just showed me.”

Sercia stiffened slightly, not expecting to be meeting another love interest so soon. She had barely managed to convince Xavier, and now she had to do the same with Zayne? Her mouth opened to protest, but before she could respond, he added, “We’re going tomorrow.”

That made her pause. “Wait… why tomorrow?” She glanced at the time on her phone. “It’s not even noon yet.”

Xavier's gaze dropped slightly, as if admitting something he didn’t want to. “I’ve been out all night,” he said, his voice quieter now. “As much as I want to keep looking for her, falling asleep out of nowhere from fatigue won't help either of us.”

Sercia blinked, right, this is the same man who can fall asleep standing up. She let out a small breath, nodding in understanding. It made sense; Xavier had spent hours searching, and if he pushed himself any further, he might end up being more of a liability than an asset. “Alright,” she agreed.

Xavier then raised his head and looked at her seriously. “I’ll be at Aspen’s apartment at 10 AM tomorrow.” His tone left no room for argument. “Be ready.”

“…I will.”

At her response Xavier nodded before silently walking behind her and heading to the kitchen. Sercia took that as her cue to leave but she lingered for just a second, stealing one last glance at him before making her way to the front door. The weight of everything that had just happened still clung to her, but she pushed it aside as she stepped out and closed the door and gently closed it behind her. The walk back to Aspen’s apartment felt longer than it should have as her nerves became frazzled from the entire interaction. Her mind replayed it as she analyzed every word, every look, and every reaction.

She actually did it, she convinced him... for now.

The moment she stepped through Aspen’s apartment door, Orion materialized in front of her again. “Gah!” Sercia yelped, stumbling back, her hand flying to her chest. “Can you stop doing that?!” 

Orion’s eyes sparkled, clearly amused. “Stop doing what?” 

She groaned, shaking her head as she kicked off her slippers and trudged further into the apartment. Orion watched her closely before tilting their head slightly. 

“I heard everything,” they said simply. “How are you feeling?” 

Sercia let out a heavy sigh, dropping onto the couch and burying her face in her hands. “I feel terrible,” she muttered. 

Orion floated closer. “Because you lied to him?”

She exhaled shakily, rubbing her temples. “Yes, you should have seen his face.” She lifted her head slightly, her expression tight with guilt. “He looked like he was about to lose it, Orion, and I was the cause of that.” 

Orion didn’t respond as they continued to watch her. 

Sercia swallowed hard. “I know it had to be done, but…” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “That doesn’t make it feel any better.” 

Orion stayed quiet while Sercia processed everything. She sat there, fingers loosely laced together as her mind spiraled. Then, finally, Orion spoke. “If you want to get home,” they said, their voice even, “you have to do this.” 

Sercia didn’t look up. 

“It’ll all be worth it,” Orion continued. “Once you’re back in your world, this will just be like a dream, and it will be as if it never happened.” 

Sercia then let out a sigh, but she didn’t answer him. 

All she could think about was how she saw going to play this off. Getting Xavier to believe her was hard enough and she could see that he was still suspicious of her. So she couldn’t imagine how she was going to convince the others, let alone make a connection with all them. Heck, she didn’t even know what that really meant right now. How was building a bond going to get her home?

Orion, ever perceptive, seemed to notice Sercia’s downward spiral and chose to shift the topic entirely. “You should relax today,” they advised, their voice smooth and deliberate. “Get acquainted with the space. Settle in.” Then, tilting their head, they asked, “Do you need anything else from me?”

Sercia sat up, trying to shake off the guilt that still clung to her and she thought about anything she was missing. “…Yeah. Yeah, I do.”

She realized she still needed a way to get from point A to B and that one way was a car. She knew that Linkon City had buses and trains but since she grew up in the suburbs, personal transportation made her more comfortable. The public transportation where she lived was horrible it was more of an inconvenience than an actual solution. The idea of relying on it now, even in a city like Linkon, made her internally cringe.

She turned to Orion. “I want a car.”

Orion let out a soft hum. “Got anything in mind?”

Sercia thought about her current car, a 2014 Chevrolet Impala. It wasn’t bad by any means, but it wasn’t exactly exciting either. It got her where she needed to go, and that was enough. But with Orion’s help she could have any car she wanted. A luxury vehicle, a sports car, hell, even something futuristic that didn’t exist in her world. She entertained the idea of a fast, high-performance sports car that was fast and powerful. But then she shot that thought down since she had never been behind the wheel of something like that in her life, and frankly, the idea of trying to drive one terrified her. The power, the handling, nah, she’d probably crash within the first five minutes.

She ran through other options in her head before finally landing on one that made her nod to herself.  “A 2024 Subaru Crosstrek,” she said decisively.

Orion raised a brow. “Really? That’s it?”

Sercia shrugged. “I know you can make something better, but it’s a car I know I can handle for now.”

It was practical, but still nice with enough power to be fun but not intimidating to drive. It was also perfect for city life but also adaptable for rougher terrain. Orion hummed in thought. “Alright,” they said, lifting a paw. “I’ll get you your car.”

 “And make it baby blue please.”

With a flick, the air around her shimmered faintly, and a key fob floated in front of her before drifting gently into her palm. Sercia turned it over, running her thumb across the smooth surface.

“Nice,” she murmured before glancing at Orion. “Thanks.”

Orion gave a small nod but wasn’t done yet. With another flick, another object materialized and this time, a small card hovered in front of her. Sercia grabbed it and flipped it over and she realized it was a driver’s license. She examined the details; It had her name, her face, and all the necessary credentials that made it look real. If she didn’t know it was fake, she would’ve thought she had always had it.

“Your car’s parked in the garage of this building.”

Sercia gave an approving nod. “Thank you,” she said, slipping the license into her pocket. “I’ll check it out tomorrow. Looks like Xavier and I will be driving then.”

Orion remained quiet for a moment, before speaking again. “You should probably practice driving in this city first.”

Sercia paused.

…Oh. Right.

She had gotten so caught up in the idea of having a car that she hadn’t considered that the driving culture was probably different.

Orion tilted their head. “Unless you want to get into an accident before you make it home?”

Sercia sighed in defeat. “Your right. I’ll practice later.”

“Good. Until then, you should probably ask Xavier to drive tomorrow.”

She crossed her arms and muttered, “Okay, I will. Hopefully he won’t have any reservations about it.”

Sercia then pulled out her phone and checked the time and it read 9:45 AM. Despite it still being early, she started to feel exhaustion creeping up on her. She had only been in this world a few hours, but after everything she had learned today, she was mentally drained.

Orion took note of the yawn she let out. “You need to rest.”

Sercia nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I know.”

Before she headed towards the bedroom, her eyes flickered to the coffee table, where her old phone and the pile of gold coins still sat. She set down the drivers license and key on it's surface and reached out to grab the "older" device, already having a plan in mind for it because she wasn’t going to just leave it lying around. Then her gaze shifted to the gold, and she frowned.

She turned to Orion, brows raising in question. “So… am I supposed to carry this around like it’s the 1500s or something?” She gestured at the stack of coins. “I don’t exactly like the idea of having a coin pouch strapped to my belt all the time.”

Orion let out a small laugh and shook their head. “No,” they said. “I only summoned the coins earlier to show you what I could do. But most people use cards, just like in your world.”

As if to prove their point, another card materialized before her eyes. Sercia grabbed it and flipped it over, her pupils widening slightly. It was purple, thin and slightly translucent, and to her surprise, it looked exactly like an Empyrean Wish; the in-game item used to pull for cards in the wishing pool.

Her lips parted in awe. “Cards here look like wishes? That’s so cool.”

“It has an unlimited balance,” Orion added casually. “But if you ever need physical gold coins for any reason, just let me know.” And after that statement, the pile of gold on the table disappeared without a trace.

Sercia nodded in response before walking into the bedroom and making her way to the black chair next to the bed. She took her original phone and powered it off before shoving it under the pillow. It wasn’t the best hiding spot, but for now, it would do since the phone was close while being out of sight. With that taken care of, she casually tossed the current one onto the bed before making her way to the bathroom.

As she disappeared inside, Orion, who had been following behind her all morning, decided to make themselves comfortable. With a flick of their ears, they settled onto the bed near the pillows, their white eyes drifting shut.

But before they could drift off to sleep, Sercia popped her head back out.

“Oh, Orion,” she called.

The fox cracked open one eye, clearly already getting comfortable.

“Can you summon some hygiene products?” she asked. “And a towel. And, you know… undergarments and PJ’s?”

Orion did a small nod, before creating everything she asked for.

Sercia thanked them before she returned to the bathroom and started her normal nighttime routine despite it being morning. She washed her face, brushed her teeth, and took a much-needed shower to wash off the stress that has accumulated. By the time she walked out, she noticed Orion was already asleep. They were curled up near the pillows with their tails wrapped neatly around them and their breathing slow and even.

Sercia raised a brow. I didn’t know something like them needed to sleep.

She then decided that she wasn’t quite ready to rest yet, so she headed back to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, she scanned the contents before settling on a container of soup. Something simple and wouldn’t require much effort. After grabbing it and placing it in the microwave she quickly realized that she had no idea how to work this thing. The interface was different from what she was used to; the buttons weren’t the same, and instead of a numbered keypad, it had a touch screen with weird symbols rather than words.

She squinted. What the hell does this one mean?

After thirty seconds of confusion and some random button pressing, she finally figured it out and set the soup to heat up. As the low hum of the microwave filled the quiet kitchen and her thoughts began to drift again.

She was actually going to be meeting these men one by one. The same men that millions of people adored. Men who, before yesterday, were just characters on a screen to her. Digital figures made up of 1s and 0s, carefully crafted to make players fall for them. But now? Now, she was breathing the same air as them.

This is insane.

The microwave beeped, quickly snapping her out of her daze and she pulled out the soup, grabbed a spoon, and made her way to the barstool, settling in as she slowly ate. But even while she ate her thoughts didn’t stop there. She started to think about her family; her parents, her old life, the world she had left behind. She wondered if Aspen woke up in her room like she did and if her parents saw her. If they did, what did they do? Did they freak out or take her in? Did they think Aspen did something to her?

Her grip on her spoon tightened before she shook her head to get rid of her worries, forcing herself to focus on finishing her meal in peace. She ate slowly, letting the warmth of the soup calm her and when she was done, she tossed the empty container into the trash and made her way back to the bedroom.

The room was quiet, save for the soft snores of Orion and she crawled into bed, letting her body sink into the mattress and letting exhaustion finally take over. She then grabbed the phone and placed it on the wireless charging pad sitting on the nightstand. The soft glow of the screen dimmed as it registered the charge before turning off.

Sercia pulled the blankets up around her and she tried to let sleep take over, but it didn’t come easily. Her mind was still racing, replaying the events of the day and anticipating what was to come tomorrow.

She was actually going to be meeting Zayne.

Would she be able to convince him? Would she crack under his cold eyes? What if Xavier and him started asking more questions? This kept her wide awake as she stared at the ceiling but eventually, as the faint hustle and bustle of the city murmured in the background, the noise lulled her into a restless sleep and for a moment, the weight of her new reality was momentarily forgotten.

ꫂ ၴႅၴ Taglist: @llamabois

𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈! 𝑳𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆, 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔!

[crycxbey]

𝑰𝒏 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑰𝑰

𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕

𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒐𝒘: ↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺

January 10th 2044

Sercia sat curled up on the couch again, clutching a throw pillow tightly against her chest like a lifeline. Her fingers dug into the fabric as she stared at the fox, Orion, as they had introduced themselves. She took a deep, breath, trying to push past the whirlwind of emotions that threatened to consume her.

The fox watched her patiently, waiting for her questions.

“Alright,” she exhaled, forcing herself to stay calm. “Can you tell me what’s is going on?”

Orion didn’t hesitate while their voice remained steady, as if they had rehearsed this conversation a thousand times. “Your suspicions are correct; you are no longer in your world. You are in Love and Deepspace.”

Sercia’s grip on the pillow tightened at his response as his words hit her like a slap to the face.

Orion continued; “Last night, you and Aspen swapped worlds.”

"….."

For a few seconds, all she could hear was the faint hum of the apartment’s air conditioning and the sound of her own shallow breathing. She blinked. Once. Then twice.

“Okay,” she said finally, her voice tensing as her thoughts became a tangled mess. “Let me get this straight.” She lifted her head, meeting Orion’s gaze. “You’re telling me that I’m in the world of Love and Deepspace, which, last time I checked, was the game I was playing last night.” She then gestured vaguely around her, “And now I’m actually here, in Aspen’s apartment?”

Orion nodded once.

“And Aspen, my character, the MC, is somehow in my world?”

Another nod. 

Sercia blinked again as her mind tried to process the information. “How? Why?” she questioned, voice tinged with frustration. “None of this makes any sense! Aspen isn’t even real! She’s just- she’s a game persona that I created!”

Orion didn’t flinch at her outburst and instead tilted their head slightly, unmoving as they stared at the women. “And yet,” they said smoothly, “she exists. Just as you do. This world is real to its inhabitants, just as your world is real to you.”

Sercia opened her mouth to argue, but nothing came out. Her brain was scrambling to reconcile the words with the logic she had known her entire life.

She’s real? Actually real?

No. No, that wasn’t how it worked.

“This still doesn’t make sense,” she insisted, shaking her head. “Millions of other people play this game. Millions. If Aspen is the main character, then why am I the only one here? There are tons of MCs that other players have created. If this world exists, then where are they?”

Orion regarded her for a moment, gaze unreadable. Then, with a slow, deliberate blink, they answered. “They exist.”

Sercia frowned. “What?”

“The other MCs,” Orion continued, voice steady and sure. “They exist, just as Aspen does.”

Her stomach twisted. “Then where are they?”

“They belong to their own separate worlds. Just as Aspen was created by you, the other main characters were created by other players. And with each creation, a separate version of this world came into existence. One unique to them.”

Sercia’s breath caught in her throat. “…You’re saying that this is Aspen’s version of Love and Deepspace?”

Orion nodded once. “This world belongs to her. It was brought into being the moment you created an account, designed her, and started to play the story.”

The air around her started to feel heavier, pressing down on her shoulders with the weight of realization. This wasn’t just any version of the game, it was Aspen’s version… because Sercia had created her. Her fingers picked at the pillow in her lap as her pulse roared in her ears. This wasn’t just some weird glitch, or some random mistake in the system. No…she had made Aspen and with it, this reality came into existence. But even with Orion’s explanation, she was still confused. The idea that her world, her life being tangled up in the fiction of some romance game felt impossible. And yet, here she was, living proof that the impossible had already happened.

“Okay, but how did we swap places?” she pressed. “My life isn’t a game. There are no Wanderers, no Evols, no Protocores in my world. It’s just… normal. My world isn’t some Sci-Fi fantasy where stuff like this happens.”

Orion watched her patiently, as if waiting for her to finish before they spoke. “There is a connection,” they replied. “A bridge of sorts, between the two of you.”

Sercia’s brows furrowed. “A bridge?”

Orion gave a small nod. “This is due to your dynamic as creator and created.”

Sercia eyes drifted in a brief thought. Creator and created…

“So what, because I made Aspen, we have some weird link?” she asked, skepticism creeping into her tone.

“In a sense,” Orion replied. “But your worlds were never meant to mix beyond a screen. However, something… disrupted the bridge.”

Sercia’s heart skipped a beat at Orion’s response; the careful wording, the slight pause, it sent the feeling of anxiety through her. Something disrupted the bridge. She then swallowed hard, suddenly aware of the way Orion had gone silent. Too silent. She narrowed her eyes at them. “And what, exactly, caused that disruption?”

Orion didn’t answer immediately. Eyes flickering for just for a moment, before they let out a slow, measured breath. “Have you heard the name Astra?” They asked.

Sercia blinked, caught off guard by the question. “Of course I have,” she said swiftly. “That name is everywhere in the game.”

Orion nodded slightly, as if they expected her answer. “Then, are you aware of who Astra truly is?”

 “The god of disaster,” she replied, shifting uncomfortably. “I learned about him in Zayne’s Myth.” She recalled the storyline; how Zayne, cold and devoted, was the most loyal follower and Foreseer of Astra in Philos. However, he had turned his back on Astra for the sake of love and the enraged God vowed that in every lifetime, his relationship with the MC would be doomed to fail until Zayne realized his true purpose by Astra’s side. But what did that have to do with this?

Orion watched her closely. “Then I will tell you the truth,” they said. “The reason you and Aspen swapped places is simple: Astra wants her gone.”

Sercia stared at Orion, her brain stuttering over the words. “What?”

“Astra wants Aspen out of this world permanently,” Orion repeated. “And this is how he chose to do it.”

A chill slowly seeped into Sercia’s bones as she tried to understand what she was hearing.  

 “When Zayne betrayed Astra out of love for Aspen, Astra told him that until he comes to his senses, his relationship with her will be doomed in every lifetime.” Orion’s voice was steady, but there was an underlying weight to their words. “And this time… Astra wanted to make sure that she would be gone from this universe for good.”

Sercia got why Astra wanted to ruin the relationship but she was still lost. “Astra is from the future though; he isn’t even mentioned in this current timeline and the people in this time don’t even know who he is. So how could he have swapped Aspen and I if this version of her is from the past?”

Orion inclined their head slightly. “Astra couldn’t just kill Aspen for good but since this current version had the strongest connection you, he found a way to bend the very rules of this world, even those he was meant to follow.”

A wave of realization hit Sercia. Of course, Aspen was cursed to reincarnate. She couldn’t just be erased. Even if Astra wanted to kill her, she’d come back in another lifetime. “…Because Aspen is cursed to reincarnate, right?” Sercia guessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

But Orion’s head shook. “No.”

Sercia’s face scrunched “No?”

Orion’s eyes then bore into hers, their next words sending a chill through her veins. “It’s because the MC is the center of this world,” they explained, tone even but lined with something deeper, something ominous. “They are the one piece holding everything together. And if that piece were to be removed…this whole world would collapse. And with it… Astra himself would be destroyed.”

The air in the room felt heavier as Sercia sat there, stunned, her heart racing in her chest. “But… if Aspen was removed, how is the world still standing?” she asked shakily.

Orion’s eyes narrowed. “Because you exist.”

 “…What?”

“You created Aspen,” Orion said. “And by doing so, she became a part of you in sense. That made you the perfect replacement, the only one that could keep this world from falling apart in her absence.”

She inhaled sharply when she realized Astra hadn’t just swapped them only out of spite. He had swapped them because he had to. He couldn’t destroy Aspen without destroying himself, so he found a loophole. And now, she was stuck in her place. Sercia took another deep breath, forcing her thoughts into order. Her entire world had just been upended, and panic was starting to curl at the edges of her mind, waiting to sink its claws into her. But she didn’t have time to break down. She steeled her gaze and looked directly at Orion, determination hardening her voice.

“What do I do now?” she asked. “I can’t stay here; I have a life, a family, a world without monsters in it. Living in a place where creatures like Wanderers exist was not on my 2025 bingo card.” She paused. “…Or is it 2044 now since that’s when the game starts?” She didn’t even know what year it technically was anymore but that wasn’t the point. The point was that she had to get back home.

Orion regarded her for a moment before speaking. “If you want to go home, you need to seek out the others, and soon.” Sercia’s brows furrowed. “Why?”

“The longer you remain here, the more this world will tether to you,” Orion explained. “It is sinking into you like an anchor, slowly attaching itself and the stronger that grip becomes, the harder it will be to leave. Eventually… it will be impossible.”

Sercia’s stomach twisted. “Impossible? But why?”

Orion let out a sigh “Even though you took Aspen’s place in this world, you are not exactly her ad the differences between you two are stark,” Orion gestured a paw in her direction. “For example, you do not have an Evol, let alone a resonance one; and that power is important to this story. The world might correct this by giving you an Evol that could be similar to hers.” Orion then put his paw down as he continued. “The longer you stay, the more similar you will become to her as this world will attempt to replace you with Aspen, that is why you need to return to your world as soon as possible.”

 Sercia’s expression was still as she took in the information. “So, you’re saying if I don’t act fast, I’ll be stuck here forever?” Orion nodded once; their expression impassive.

A sense of dread then settled over her. Keeping to herself until things magically sorted themselves out was not going to work. If she didn’t do something now, she was going to be permanently locked in a world that wasn’t hers. She swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice steady. “And finding the others, what does that actually do?”

“For now,” Orion said, “you just need to seek them out. Build a connection with them.”

Sercia narrowed her eyes. “…That’s really vague.”

Orion’s gaze didn’t waver.

“There’s more to it, isn’t there?”

Orion stayed silent before saying, “Focus on this for now. When the time comes, I’ll tell you what to do next.”

Sercia clenched her jaw, irritation flaring in her chest. She hated being strung along by people, or foxes, apparently. But she also had a feeling that no amount of prying was going to get Orion to spill anything else right now.

She let out a annoyed sigh. “Fine,” she muttered. “Let’s say I do this. How exactly am I supposed to find five incredibly important and busy men in this place? I don’t even know my way around, let alone how to reach them.”

Orion’s eyes gleamed as they tilted their head slightly. “That is one of the reasons why I’m here.”

Sercia’s head then titled like Orion. "Okay... and how exactly are you supposed to help me? And now that I think about it, what are you anyway?"

Orion didn’t answer right away. Instead, they calmly raised a paw, and with a soft shimmer of light, something appeared out of thin air. Sercia’s breath stopped as a small heap of glimmering gold materialized on the table before her. The coins sparkled, catching the morning light in a way that looked almost unreal.

 "Is that… money?" she asked, leaning forward in disbelief.

"Yes," Orion said simply. "Gold. The currency they use here."

Sercia stared at the pile, her mind struggling to keep up. "You can just… summon money?"

Orion regarded her evenly. "I am being that is not bound to this world," they explained. "Nor to its rules. I am simply here to guide people like you back to where you originated from and there are things I can do that may seem like miracles to you."

Before she could even react to that, Orion lifted their paw again, summoning something else. A slim smartphone appeared in midair before landing softly on the couch beside her. Sercia blinked, then hesitantly picked it up, turning it over in her hands. The device was not too different from the one she had and it brought her comfort to know that she had something familiar to work with.

"This phone is linked to this world," Orion explained. "You can use it to access information, navigate the city, and communicate with whoever you meet."

Sercia glanced up, already sensing a caveat. "But let me guess, it won’t connect to anything from my world?"

"Correct."

Sercia exhaled, shaking her head. "Of course not."

As Sercia continued to examine the phone, running her fingers along its smooth edges, Orion spoke again. "Living in this world will not be easy," they said, their voice calm yet firm. "But you are not alone. You have me to rely on. And now, you have the resources to begin."

Sercia hummed in response, half-distracted as she swiped across the display, watching the screen shift seamlessly under her touch. Her mind spun with the sheer absurdity of her current situation. A day ago, she had been a working college student, living a life that was nothing worth writing home about. Now, she was inside her favorite game, stuck in her characters place, talking to a glowing-eyed fox who could summon gold out of thin air. It was one of the most ridiculous and bizarre situations that she could go through, and yet, here she was.

She set the phone down beside her as reality settled heavily on her shoulders. If she wanted to go home, she had to figure out her next course of action and get started. The sooner, the better.  She straightened, rolling her shoulders back as she steadied herself.

"Alright," She glanced at Orion once more. "Where do we start?"

Orion’s eyes seemed to light up at her confidence. “We’ll start with Xavier. He’s the easiest to locate since he lives on the floor above us. From there, we’ll work to finding the others as the days go by.” 

Sercia leaned back as she pondered over the suggestion. Going to him first made sense, but she couldn’t say she was thrilled about it. In fact, her feeling were the opposite. Xavier was her favorite love interest in the game; his quiet demeanor, half-lidded eyes, and soft-spoken words had always drawn her in. But that was when he was behind a screen, confined to scripted dialogue and programmed actions. Meeting him in person would be a whole different story, and she wasn’t naïve enough to expect it to be all sunshine and rainbows.

There was one thing she knew for sure; it was that Xavier wasn’t just the sleepy-eyed, mysterious man most people assumed him to be. Beneath that calm exterior lurked something far more intense. When it came to strangers, especially those who so much as breathed in Aspen’s direction, Xavier had a tendency to grow jealous, possessive even. His jealousy wasn’t just subtle brooding; it was a force that could shift the entire atmosphere of a room, turning his icy gaze into something that could send chills down anyone’s spine.

And don’t even get her started on how he handled dangerous situations. This was the same man who had nearly obliterated an arcade over a unicorn plushie. Only for it to be the one with a sparkler on its head. That ridiculous, over-the-top reaction had been funny to watch but experiencing that kind of unhinged determination in real life? Yeah… Sercia wasn’t exactly looking forward to seeing that firsthand.

She then let out a sigh. “Easier said than done. How am I even supposed to approach Xavier? Wouldn’t it be weird if some random stranger just showed up out of nowhere, asking about his partner despite never being mentioned before? That would make me look suspicious.”

She could already see it; Xavier’s gaze turning sharp the second she so much as uttered Aspen’s name and the way his entire body would start radiating a quiet menace. No doubt he’d see right through any weak excuse she came up with. And if he didn’t like her answers? Well, she didn’t want to think about what might happen.

Orion, however, remained unbothered. “That’s exactly why you need to create an identity that connects you to Aspen,” he said smoothly, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

She blinked. “An identity?”

“Yes. Something that gives you credibility, something that makes sense within this world,” Orion explained. “If you walk in as a stranger, Xavier will shut you down before you can even finish a sentence. But if you have a reason, a history that ties you to Aspen, he’ll be more likely to speak to you.”

She let the idea sink in, chewing on her bottom lip. “And how exactly am I supposed to do that?”

“That’s up to you,” Orion said, tilting their head slightly. “Do you have any ideas?”

Sercia sat in deep thought, tapping her fingers against her thigh as she tried to come up with something that could justify her sudden appearance in Aspen’s life. After a few moments, a spark of inspiration hit her, and she perked up.

“I could be her long-lost sister!” she blurted out, looking at Orion with hopeful enthusiasm.

Silence.

Orion just stared at her like she had completely lost her mind. Their expression was a perfect mix of disappointment and disbelief, their tail flicking behind them as their ears flattened. “… the only family Aspen ever had was her adopted grandmother and Caleb,” they said, voice flat with exasperation. “Plus, you two look nothing alike.”

Sercia deflated instantly. “Oh. Right,” she mumbled, scratching the back of her head.

Still determined, she dove back into her thoughts, wracking her brain for something more believable. After a few more moments, she snapped her fingers. “Okay, what about this; I could be her cousin!”

Another beat of silence.

Orion’s eyes narrowed into an unimpressed squint, ears now twitching in clear irritation. “No” they said simply, their deadpan tone making it clear they weren’t even going to entertain that idea.

Sercia groaned, running her hands down her face. Come on, think! If she couldn’t pass as direct family, then she needed another angle. Something realistic. Something that made sense in the world Aspen lived in. Her mind flickered through Aspen’s story; her struggles, the people she met, the challenges she faced. There had to be something she could latch onto, something she could slip herself into without setting off every red flag Xavier had.

And then it hit her.

“I got it!” She exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as the perfect idea clicked into place.

She quickly ran through the details in her head, remembering one of the game’s missions involving the search for Aether core fragments. In Zayne’s route, players had been introduced to a city called Chansia, a place Aspen had visited before during a previous event. The problem? Sercia had never actually played that event, so she had no idea what had happened the first time around. But maybe… just maybe, she could work around that.

Turning to Orion, she explained her plan. “I’ll say I’m someone Aspen met in Chansia,” she said, the pieces falling into place as she spoke. “She saved me from a Wanderer attack, and ever since then, I’ve been forever grateful. After that, we swapped socials on Moments and kept in touch every once in a while.”

Orion tilted their head, considering the idea. “That’s… a start,” they admitted, though their skeptical expression told Sercia they weren’t completely convinced. “But if you want to make this believable, you’ll need more than just a story. Xavier won’t just take your word for it. How do you plan on proving that you and Aspen know each other?”

Sercia then smirk. “That’s where you come in,” she said confidently and without hesitation, Sercia grabbed the new phone and held it out toward them. “Since you can bring things into existence, I need you to create a fake Moments profile for me, one that looks completely legit.”

Orion raised a brow. “Go on.”

Sercia took a deep breath, laying out her plan. “I'm going to need followers, realistic ones. Then, I need you to add me to Aspen’s followers, and vice versa, so it looks like we’ve been connected for a while. I also need fake comments and likes from me on her posts and hers on mine. Make it look like we’ve interacted naturally over time, dating back at least a year.”

Orion hummed in thought but didn’t interrupt, so Sercia kept going.

“Then, I need you to add fake DMs; casual conversations, links to random videos, stuff that makes it seem like we actually talk every once in a while. Nothing too deep, just enough to make it believable.”

Orion finally let out a small chuckle, shaking their head. “You really thought this through in a short amount of time.”

Sercia folded her arms. “I just came up with whatever to be honest. But can you do it?”

Orion gave a single nod. “Yes, I can do that. Give me a moment.”

A faint glow surrounded their raised paw, and Sercia felt a subtle pulse of energy pass through the phone still in her grasp. The screen flickered slightly before settling. Curious, she swiped to unlock it, her eyes widening in awe. The Moments app was there and fully functional, as if it had always existed.

Clicking on it, she was met with a complete profile: a perfectly crafted account under her name, filled with old posts, a reasonable follower count, and most importantly, Aspen as a mutual friend. Scrolling through, she saw the carefully placed likes and comments from her, and clicked on Aspen's profile to see the same thing. She then tapped into her DMs and saw messages from other people, but she barely glanced at those. What caught her attention were the messages between her and Aspen. There was small check-ins, shared memes, and harmless exchanges about daily life.

Sercia let out a low whistle, clearly impressed. “Wow,” she muttered. “That's incredible.”

“Like I said, I'm not bound to these rules.”

Now, with a fully fabricated digital history, she thought she stood a chance at pulling this off. But there was one more thing. Even with the profile, her sudden arrival would still seem off. If the others had already noticed Aspen was missing, why would she be the one showing up now? Why would she even be in Linkon City in the first place? She needed a reason, a sense of urgency that would justify her presence.

Her gaze flickered back to Orion, a new idea forming in her mind. “Can you add a distress message?” she asked. “Something from her… in our DMs?”

Orion’s ears perked up with interest. “A distress message?”

“Yeah,” Sercia nodded, thinking fast. “Something that makes it look like she reached out to me before she "disappeared", like she was in trouble but didn’t have time to explain everything.” Then, another thought struck her. “And a voice message, too. Something unfinished, like it cuts off suddenly.”

Orion’s eyes gleamed with approval. “That’s actually a really good idea.”

The same pulse of energy passed through Sercia’s phone and she watched as the messages appeared before her eyes in real time, seamlessly integrated into the existing chat history. A text message from Aspen, timestamped from last night before, reading:

"Sercia, I think I messed up. I went out to check on something, and now… I don’t know. I don’t think I should be here. I should’ve told someone, but it’s too late now. If anything happens, please, just-"

It cut off abruptly, the unfinished sentence leaving a heavy silence in its wake.

Right below it was an unopened voice message and she hesitated for a moment before pressing play.

Aspen’s voice crackled through the speaker, slightly distorted as if it had been recorded in motion.

"Sercia… I-" A sharp breath. Footsteps pounding against pavement. The sound of her breathing growing heavier.

"I went out to do something, but something’s here. I don’t know what it is, but it’s-"

A harsh, static-like noise interrupted her for a second before she continued, voice more frantic now.

"I-It’s something I can’t fight. I should’ve told someone where I was going but I didn’t, and now I'm going-"

A heavy thud. The sound of something scraping, a gasp-

And then-

Silence.

The message cut off completely.

Sercia let out a slow breath and glanced at Orion, who simply tilted their head.

“Yeah,” she muttered, locking the screen. “That’s definitely convincing enough.”

She played the voice message one more time, listening carefully as Aspen’s frantic words crackled through the speaker. Even though she knew it was fake, the realism sent a still made her uneasy. With a quick shake of her head, she placed the phone down on the coffee table and got up, stretching her arms to shake off the lingering tension. She then looked over at Orion. “Alright, I’m ready to go meet Xavier.”

Then, as if on que, her stomach growled and she frowned. “But I need fuel first. No way I’m meeting ‘his majesty’ on an empty stomach.”

Orion let out an amused huff as she turned on her heel and made her way to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, she peeked inside and paused. Something about it caught her attention now that she was getting a good look at it. The fridge was very full, far more stocked than she would have expected for someone who lived alone. But then, realization hit.

Oh, right. She and Xavier share fridges.

That thought alone made her snort. Seeing it in person was different from reading about it. The neatly arranged, nutritious meals? Definitely Aspen’s doing. The sheer number of energy drinks, instant meals, and random convenience store snacks stuffed in the door compartments? 1000% Xavier. She shook her head with a small chuckle before grabbing a pre-made sandwich. It looked decent enough, and honestly, she doubted Xavier would even notice if it went missing. This man was the type to survive off gas station food and black coffee; if he did notice, he probably wouldn’t even care. Just as she turned around-

"AHHHHHHH!"

She screamed, nearly dropping the sandwich as she stumbled back.

Orion was right there. Floating.

Levitating effortlessly in front of her, their tails swaying in the air like they had always belonged there. Their white eyes twinkled with amusement as if this were the most casual thing in the world.

Sercia clutched her chest, breathing heavily. “How are you floating like that?!”

“It’s something I’ve always been able to do,” they said casually, as if floating mid-air was the most natural thing in the world.

Sercia scoffed and rolling her eyes. “Of course it is,” she muttered before leaning onto the kitchen island and taking bite of the sandwich. She chewed thoughtfully before raising a brow at them. “Anything else I should know about you before we do this?”

“I can disappear.”

Sercia blinked. “Disappear?”

They nodded. “You won’t be able to see me, but I’ll always be there. No one in this world can know about me except for you.” Their gaze sharpened slightly as they floated closer. “So be mindful. Try not to mention me to anyone.”

Sercia let that sink in before nodding in understanding. “Got it.”

Finishing the last of her sandwich, she walked over to the trash can and tossed the wrapper inside. As she straightened up, she glanced down and realized-

She had no shoes on.

Her eyes flicked to Orion, and without a word, they got the memo. With a simple wave, a pair of slippers materialized in front of her.

Sercia gave a small smile while slipping them on. “Thanks.”

With that taken care of, she made her way back to the coffee table, picking up the phone before reaching into her pocket and pulling out her old one. She then put her old phone on the table and made a mental note to put it somewhere even safer when she got back.

With that done, she turned to Orion, clapped her hands together, and grinned. “Alright. Now I’m ready.”

𓍯𓂃𓂃𓂃

Sercia peeked her head out of the apartment and scanned the hallway for any signs of movement but the coast was clear. It was close to 9 AM, which meant most people were probably already at work. Good, the last thing she needed was to awkwardly run into any of Aspen’s other neighbors. If someone did stop to talk or question her, she wouldn’t have the faintest clue on what to say.

She glanced back at Orion, who was floating behind her. “We’re good,” she whispered, stepping out into the hallway with them following closely behind. With that, the two of them headed out, the door clicking shut behind them and that’s when it hit her. Her eyes widened, and she whipped around, staring at the door in sudden horror.

“…Wait. I don’t have a way to get back in.”

Orion let out a sigh, like they had expected this from her. “The code is 3614,” they deadpanned.

Sercia turned to them, eyes narrowing. “You couldn’t have told me that before we left?”

Orion shrugged. “You didn’t ask.”

She muttered something under her breath but chose not to argue. Instead, she made a mental note of the code, mouthing the numbers to herself just in case. She’d rather not embarrass herself later by being locked out. With that small crisis averted, the duo walked down the hallway toward the elevator. Thankfully, no one else was around to witness the strange sight of a floating fox and a woman who has never been seen in this building before. When they reached the elevator, she pressed the button and took a deep breath. When the doors slid open, and they stepped inside, her hand hovered over the buttons for a moment before she pressed 6, the floor Xavier was on.

As the elevator doors shut, Sercia inhaled, “Okay. You got this.” Sercia then exhaled deeply and nodded. “You’re just a concerned friend, looking for Aspen. Nothing weird. Just be normal. Be cool.”

The elevator chimed, signaling their arrival and she clenched her fists.

Showtime.

The two headed down the hallway, the soft chime of the elevator faded behind them. Her mind buzzed with nerves as her feet carried her forward automatically, muscle memory kicking in from all the times she had seen this in the game.

Apartment 636.

She repeated the number in her head as they approached, each step making her pulse quicken. This is actually happening. Oh my god. I am about to knock on Xavier’s door. The reality of it felt suffocating. It wasn’t just some scripted event she could sit back, and watch unfold. No, this was her, now standing outside his door, about to try and initiate a conversation with someone who, if things went south, could probably end her existence. Her hand hovered just shy of the smooth surface of the door, hesitating. A long pause stretched between her and the moment, tension pressing against her chest like a weighted blanket. She sucked in another deep breath, exhaled slowly through her nose, then finally moved.

One sharp rap.

Two lighter ones.

The sound echoed faintly in the hallway as she waited. Her body stiff and ears straining for any sign of movement from the other side.

Nothing.

Maybe he didn’t hear me? She knocked again, this time a little louder, her knuckles rapping firmly against the door.

Still, there was no response.

Sercia let out a frustrated sigh, turning her head slightly to glance at Orion. “Of course he’s not home, why would finding him be this easy?"

“We could go out and look for him,” They suggested.

Sercia immediately shook her head. “No way. That’s way too risky.” She still wasn’t comfortable going outside yet, not without a solid plan at least. If she got caught up in something unexpected, she wasn’t sure how well she could handle it. “We should just go back to Aspen’s place and wait a few hours before trying again,” she decided, turning back toward the elevator. Orion gave a small hum of agreement, and the two began walking. But just as they neared the elevator, the faint sound of footsteps reached their ears.

Before she could react, Orion had already disappeared into thin air without a sound. She let out a huff, knowing they’d still be there but unseen. She kept her head down, assuming it was just some random tenant passing through. No reason to panic. No reason to overthink it. Her mind drifted as she walked, thoughts spinning around what she was going to do if she could find Xavier. Would he even believe her? Would he listen? How was she supposed to handle him if he didn’t?”

The footsteps grew closer.

Then, just as she was about to brush past the person, a strange sensation went through her chest. It was subtle, unshakable feeling in the back of her mind, telling her to look and before she could stop herself, she turned her head slightly.

And froze, breath catching in her throat.

No way. No freaking way.

There he was.

Walking toward his apartment and with his back towards her, she could tell it was him by his silver hair and white hunter clothes he wore. He moved with heavy steps and his body looked sluggish and tired, as if he hasn’t slept in days.

Xavier.

The real, actual Xavier.

Sercia stared, completely forgetting how to function for a second.

Oh. My. God.

ꫂ ၴႅၴ Taglist: @llamabois

𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈! 𝑳𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆, 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔!

[crycxbey]

⚘️𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝑴𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒅𝒚⚘️

🥀"𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒍 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒄 𝒃𝒐𝒙 𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒆, 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒊𝒎"

[crycxbey]

𝑰𝒏 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔

𝑿𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒓

𝑨𝒈𝒆: 𝑼𝒏𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒏 (𝟐𝟑)

𝑩𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒅𝒂𝒚: 𝑶𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝟏𝟔𝒕𝒉

𝑺𝒊𝒈𝒏: 𝑳𝒊𝒃𝒓𝒂

𝑯𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕: 𝟔'𝟏𝒇𝒕 𝟏𝟖𝟓𝒄𝒎

𝑬𝒗𝒐𝒍: 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕

𝑱𝒐𝒃: 𝑫𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝑯𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓

𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆: 𝑺𝒆𝒍𝒇-𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝑯𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓

"𝑴𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒃𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆, '𝑪𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆'𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒈𝒐𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕." 𝑳𝒊𝒇𝒕 𝑶𝒇𝒇, 𝑳𝒂𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒉

𝒁𝒂𝒚𝒏𝒆

𝑨𝒈𝒆: 𝟐𝟕

𝑩𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒅𝒂𝒚: 𝑺𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝟓𝒕𝒉

𝑺𝒊𝒈𝒏: 𝑽𝒊𝒓𝒈𝒐

𝑯𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕: 𝟔'𝟏𝒇𝒕 𝟏𝟖𝟔𝒄𝒎

𝑬𝒗𝒐𝒍: 𝑰𝒄𝒆

𝑱𝒐𝒃: 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒄 𝑺𝒖𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒐𝒏

𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆: 𝑨𝒌𝒔𝒐 𝑯𝒐𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒍

"𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆." 𝑨𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝑫𝒐𝒘𝒏, 𝑮𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒇 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒔

𝑹𝒂𝒇𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒍

𝑨𝒈𝒆: 𝟐𝟒

𝑩𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒅𝒂𝒚: 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉 𝟔𝒕𝒉

𝑺𝒊𝒈𝒏: 𝑷𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒆𝒔

𝑯𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕: 𝟔'𝟏𝒇𝒕 𝟏𝟖𝟑𝒄𝒎

𝑬𝒗𝒐𝒍: 𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒆

𝑱𝒐𝒃: 𝑨𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒕

𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆: 𝑴𝒐 𝑨𝒓𝒕 𝑺𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒐

"𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝑰 𝒔𝒂𝒚 𝒖𝒑𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒘𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏? 𝑰 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒕, 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅." 𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒆𝒂, 𝑲𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊 𝒀𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒛𝒖

𝑺𝒚𝒍𝒖𝒔

𝑨𝒈𝒆: 𝟐𝟖

𝑩𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒅𝒂𝒚: 𝑨𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒍 𝟏𝟖𝒕𝒉

𝑺𝒊𝒈𝒏: 𝑨𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔

𝑯𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕: 𝟔'𝟐𝒇𝒕 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝒄𝒎

𝑬𝒗𝒐𝒍: 𝑬𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒑𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆: 𝑶𝒏𝒚𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒔

"𝑩𝒂𝒃𝒚 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒘, 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆." 𝑯𝑨𝑼𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑫, 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒚 𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒚

𝑪𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒃

𝑨𝒈𝒆: 𝟐𝟓

𝑩𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒅𝒂𝒚: 𝑱𝒖𝒏𝒆 𝟏𝟑𝒕𝒉

𝑺𝒊𝒈𝒏: 𝑮𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊

𝑯𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕: 𝟔'𝟐𝒇𝒕 𝟏𝟖𝟖𝒄𝒎

𝑬𝒗𝒐𝒍: 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒑𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

𝑱𝒐𝒃: 𝑫𝑨𝑨 𝑭𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑷𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒕, 𝑭𝒂𝒓𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝑭𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒕'𝒔 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒍

𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆: 𝑫𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝑨𝒗𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑨𝒅𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

"𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆'𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘, 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏'𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝑶𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑰'𝒎 𝒊𝒏, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒊𝒏'𝒕 𝒏𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒈𝒐, 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆." 𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝑮𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔, 𝑺𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒄𝒌

𝑱𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒂𝒉

𝑨𝒈𝒆: 𝑼𝒏𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒏 (𝟐𝟒)

𝑩𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒅𝒂𝒚: 𝑴𝒂𝒚 𝟏𝟕𝒕𝒉

𝑺𝒊𝒈𝒏: 𝑻𝒂𝒖𝒓𝒖𝒔

𝑯𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕: 𝟔'𝟎𝒇𝒕 𝟏𝟖𝟓𝒄𝒎

𝑬𝒗𝒐𝒍: 𝑫𝒂𝒕𝒂 𝑾𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒓

𝑱𝒐𝒃: 𝑩𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑶𝒘𝒏𝒆𝒓

𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆: 𝑭𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒑 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒐

"𝑺𝒖𝒏𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏' 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒕𝒆 '𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒏'𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒎𝒚 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔." 𝑺𝒖𝒏𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓, 𝑹𝒆𝒙 𝑶𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒚

𝑨𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏

𝑨𝒈𝒆: 𝟐𝟐

𝑩𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒅𝒂𝒚: 𝑱𝒂𝒏𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝟐𝟗𝒕𝒉

𝑺𝒊𝒈𝒏: 𝑨𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒖𝒔

𝑯𝒆𝒊𝒈����𝒕: 𝟓'𝟓𝒇𝒕 𝟏𝟔𝟓𝒄𝒎

𝑬𝒗𝒐𝒍: 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆

𝑱𝒐𝒃: 𝑫𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝑯𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓

𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆: 𝑯𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓'𝒔 𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝑼𝑵𝑰𝑪𝑶𝑹𝑵

"𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝑰 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆, 𝒘𝒆'𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒔." 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝑪𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝑶𝒏 𝑴𝒆, 𝑫𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒓 𝑰𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒎𝒂

𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒊𝒂

𝑨𝒈𝒆: 𝟐𝟐

𝑩𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒅𝒂𝒚: 𝑱𝒂𝒏𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝟐𝟗𝒕𝒉

𝑺𝒊𝒈𝒏: 𝑨𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒖𝒔

𝑯𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕: 𝟓'𝟓𝒇𝒕 𝟏𝟔𝟓𝒄𝒎

𝑬𝒗𝒐𝒍: Ḛ̷̷̷̷̷̷ͭ̉̇͟r̷̷̷̷̴̷̷̨̦͕̝r̷̷̷̷̴̷̷̨̦͕̝o̷̷̷̷̷̷̯̱̊͊͢r̷̷̷̷̴̷̷̨̦͕̝,̷ ̷ư̷̷̷̷̷̷̡͕̭̇ṇ̷̷̷̷̷̷̤͛̒̍ḳ̷̷̷̷̷̷̯͍̑ͦṇ̷̷̷̷̷̷̤͛̒̍o̷̷̷̷̷̷̯̱̊͊͢w̷̷̷̷̷̷̦̺̐̐͟ṇ̷̷̷̷̷̷̤͛̒̍ ̷v̷̷̷̷̷̷͒̄ͭ̏̇ā̷̷̷̷̷̷̤̓̍͘r̷̷̷̷̴̷̷̨̦͕̝ỉ̷̷̷̷̷̷͔͖̜͌ā̷̷̷̷̷̷̤̓̍͘b̷̷̷̷̷̷̬͖̏́͢l̷̷̷̷̷̷̙͖̑̾ͣẹ̷̷̷̷̷̷̿͋̒̕ ̷ḑ̷̷̷̴̷̷̷̞͛̒ẹ̷̷̷̷̷̷̿͋̒̕t̷̷̷̷̷̷̲̂̓ͩ̑ẹ̷̷̷̷̷̷̿͋̒̕c̷̷̷̷̷̷͕͗ͤ̕̕t̷̷̷̷̷̷̲̂̓ͩ̑ẹ̷̷̷̷̷̷̿͋̒̕ḑ̷̷̷̴̷̷̷̞͛̒

𝑱𝒐𝒃: 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝑨𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒕

𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆: 𝑹𝑹𝑺

"𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒓𝒖𝒏 𝒇𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒏𝒐 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝑰'𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒍𝒚 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒏𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔. 𝑻𝒆𝒂��𝒉 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒃𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝑰 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏." 𝑵𝒐 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆!, 𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒕

[crycxbey]

⚘️𝓐𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓜𝓮 ⚘️

🥀𝓝𝓪𝓶𝓮: 𝓬𝓻𝔂𝓬𝔁𝓫𝓮𝔂

🥀𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓷𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓼: 𝓼𝓱𝓮/𝓱𝓮𝓻

🥀𝓐𝓰𝓮: 𝓧𝓧𝓘𝓘

🥀𝓩𝓸𝓭𝓲𝓪𝓬: 𝓐𝓺𝓾𝓪𝓻𝓲𝓾𝓼 

🥀𝓜𝓑𝓣𝓟: 𝓘𝓝𝓣𝓟

⚘️𝓕𝓪𝓷𝓭𝓸𝓶𝓼 ⚘️

🥀𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓓𝓮𝓮𝓹𝓼𝓹𝓪𝓬𝓮

🥀𝓜𝔂𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓬 𝓟𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓮

🥀𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓴𝓪𝓲 𝓢𝓽𝓪𝓻 𝓡𝓪𝓲𝓵

🥀𝓦𝓱𝓸 𝓜𝓪𝓭𝓮 𝓶𝓮 𝓪 𝓟𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓮𝓼𝓼

⚘️𝓟𝓵𝓪𝔂𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓼⚘️

⚘️𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓪𝓰𝓼 ⚘️

🥀#𝓬𝓻𝔂𝓬𝔁𝓫𝓮𝔂

🥀#𝓬𝓻𝔂𝓬𝔁𝓫𝓮𝔂𝓵𝓭

🥀#𝓬𝓻𝔂𝓬𝔁𝓫𝓮𝔂𝓶𝓹

🥀#𝓬𝓻𝔂𝓬𝔁𝓫𝓮𝔂𝓱𝓼𝓻

🥀#𝓬𝓻𝔂𝓬𝔁𝓫𝓮𝔂𝔀𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓹

⚘️𝓞𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓢𝓸𝓬𝓲𝓪𝓵𝓼⚘️

🥀𝓨𝓸𝓾𝓽𝓾𝓫𝓮

🥀𝓐𝓸3

🥀𝓦𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓹𝓪𝓭

🥀𝓣𝓲𝓴𝓽𝓸𝓴

🥀𝓢𝓹𝓸𝓽𝓲𝓯𝔂