SHADOWS OF THE BLOODLINE

CHAPTER 9

 Safe or not?

Rune

Everyone was looking in the same direction. The door. Just underneath, there were shadows. Moving rapidly. It was almost like they were trying to catch us. Waiting for us to step out of that door.

“We can't leave,” I muttered under my breath.

It was clear that whether we left or stayed, they were still watching us. I could feel something pulsing underneath my skin, more rapidly than usual. Almost like it was beating with the shadows.

Wilder groaned as he shook his head.

“They're on to us,” Wilder concurred. “It doesn't matter where we are. I won't be shocked if they can sense our energy. We aren't safe anywhere. Here or out there.” I didn't know if I was supposed to be glad that someone was finally seeing reason with me.

“At least we had Aeris to tell us what to do if things go wrong somehow,” Kaladin said, looking at Zayan like he was waiting for him to react.

“This is bullshit!” Zayan said, and I didn't miss the satisfied smirk that slipped from Kaladin’s lips. He looked like he was going to be the most troublesome of the group.

Zayan’s knees suddenly gave way, and his fist landed first on the floor. It was too late when he realized that the ground was cracking underneath him.

“Move!” I screamed, and he moved away just in time for the ground to split into two.

“What the hell?” He asked. The words were barely out of his mouth when Kaladin floated. It was almost like he didn't even know what was going on.

“Kaladin!” Wilder called out. Within seconds, Kaladin was in the floor again, with a loud thud.

“How do I stop it?!” Eilish screamed, looking at her palms that were now forming a rapid fire.

“Calm down,” Wilder whispered, walking over to her. I watched as the flames shone brightly on both their faces. “It can't hurt you,” he whispered.

He ordered her on how she was supposed to take deep breaths. Slowly, whatever was wrong had calmed down, and the shadows seemed to retreat as well.

For the first time since we got there, Zayan was quiet. His fists that made him smirk before suddenly made him frown. He almost look at it like it was the monster part of him.

I broke the silence. “I'm sure that we've concluded what we're going to do.”

“We have to stay here in the meantime,” they chorused.

I nodded, looking around the room. The ample space and training materials.

“We need to make do,” Wilder said, already ruffling through the boxes that were slightly opened. I didn't miss the grin that was plastered on his lips as he pulled out a sleeping bag.

It had to be Aeris’ arrangement somehow. He knew that we wouldn't be able to leave. He knew that we would be stuck there with him. I didn't even know where he disappeared to.

“Is there food?” Zayan asked, his tough exterior slowly faded away. Wilder shot him a look, but went further to check the rest of the boxes, bringing out more sleeping bags and handing them over to us.

He then brought out a few bags of chips and sodas that he shared around. I kept my own safely on my sleeping bag.

Food wasn't one of the luxuries that I had. But I wasn't hungry at that moment. Even Eilish that seemed like she didn't want to say anything else, was already munching on the chips. She needed it more than anything.

I was just glad that the light had finally stabilized. And whatever was wrong with our powers was over.

“Is it normal that he didn't even come here anymore?” Wilder asked me. The both of us were the only two who knew little about each other outside this place. I gave him a small shake of my head.

“He's probably giving us the time and space to think about everything. He knew we'd find the sleeping bags. He knows we aren't stupid.”

Wilder pursed his lips. I noticed that he didn't eat his chips as well. Both of us got started at setting our sleeping bags.

About an hour later, I could hear the soft snores of the other four. I couldn't sleep. Hell, I couldn't even close my eyes for the fear that something would happen.

I took my time in counting the ceiling. Diagonally, horizontally, and vertically. The shadows moved right above my head, and I found myself wishing that it would just take me once and for all.

I wondered if my parents were even going to notice that their child was missing. Would they go around trying to call all my friends like a concerned parent would? How would they react when they find out that their child didn't even have any friends?

Or would they just think that the burden was finally gone?

They always wanted me out of the way anyway. My mom looked for a reason to be high, and my dad found anyone that he could pour his frustrations on. The only people who might miss me were my customers. And even my role in their life could easily be replaced.

I lokked at everyone in the room, under eath their sleeping bags. Zayan was right. Not everyone had people who didn't care about them. They had families too. People who would actually miss them. But was going back worth it?

My wrist was still pulsing with light, and my chest was starting to burn again. The light that wanted to find its way out. It was almost like there was a raging fire in my chest. I tried hard not to groan. I slowly ran my hands through my chest as I tried to catch my breath. Would it have made any sense to go and find Aeris at that point in time?

The shadows moved above my head, like they were watching my every move. It didn't matter if we stayed or not. The countdown had begun.