The morning sunlight slipped through the blinds, scattering soft rays across Adrian's face. His eyes fluttered open to find Ethan sitting on a chair beside his bed, grinning like a fool.
Adrian blinked groggily. "What is it? You've been smiling like that since I got back."
Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. "Brother, to be honest, I really thought I'd never see you again. After you were gone for days, I blamed myself for not being there for my twin brother. That was the first time I cried as man."
Adrian sat up, smiling despite himself. "Ethan…" He sighed, pulling his brother into a hug. "Don't worry. We'll always stick together—forever. Nothing's coming between us. Not even death."
Ethan grinned, sniffing dramatically. "You're getting soft on me."
Adrian laughed. "Yeah, yeah. Enough with the pity party. What are we eating for breakfast?"
"I already made pancakes," Ethan said proudly as he stood.
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Do you even know how to make those?"
"Try it and see.lls goûtent délicieux (They taste terrific)," Ethan replied, tossing the words casually over his shoulder as he walked toward the kitchen.
Adrian snorted. "There you go with the language thingy again."
Ethan turned halfway, wagging a finger. "It's not a thingy. It's *Français*," he said in exaggerated French pronunciation.
Adrian grinned. "Yeah, as if I even know what that means."
They both laughed. The sound filled the small house with warmth—the kind they hadn't felt since their parents disappeared.
As they sat down to eat, Ethan's tone shifted slightly. "Hey, bro… about Selene. She left before I could say goodbye yesterday."
Adrian froze for half a second, fork midway to his mouth. "Oh… yeah. She came up with an emergency, so it was kinda sudden."
Ethan frowned slightly. "Oh. I hope it's nothing serious."
Adrian looked away, rubbing the back of his neck. "You have no idea," he muttered under his breath.
"What?" Ethan asked.
"It's nothing," Adrian said quickly, forcing a small smile. "She'll be fine."
Ethan nodded, pushing back his chair. "I'll be heading out to get some stuff. Stay safe… and stay out of danger!"
Adrian grinned. "Yes, mum."
Ethan paused, pretending to frown. "Ha-ha, very funny. See you later."
---
Adrian's POV
After Ethan left, the house fell quiet again. Adrian stepped outside, the crisp morning air brushing against his skin. He needed a walk—somewhere peaceful, away from all the noise in his head.
He found himself wandering toward the forest. The trees whispered as the wind passed through, and birds sang somewhere above. The scent of damp earth and pine wrapped around him like comfort. It was peaceful—too peaceful.
Then, without warning, a sharp pain pierced through his skull.
Adrian staggered, gripping his head. The world spun violently. The mark on his wrist—usually faint and unnoticeable—began to glow, its red light pulsing in sync with his heartbeat.
"What the—" he gasped.
The pain intensified. His vision blurred, and it felt like his entire body was burning from the inside. The light grew brighter, searing his skin, the veins on his wrist glowing like molten fire.
Then came the sound—a scream.
It tore from his throat, but it wasn't human. It was deep, resonant, powerful—like a shockwave that shattered the silence of the forest. The sonic burst erupted outward, toppling trees and scattering birds in a violent flurry.
And then… everything went black.
Adrian collapsed, the red glow dimming as his consciousness faded.
---
Ethan's POV
Meanwhile, in the heart of town, Ethan strolled through the mall with a light bounce in his step. He'd missed days of normalcy, and today felt like a breath of fresh air.
He wandered into a clothing store, scanning racks aimlessly until a flash of movement caught his eye. A girl stood by the mirror, holding up a sleek black dress against her frame, tilting her head thoughtfully.
Without thinking, Ethan walked closer. "That dress would really look nice on you," he said, his voice smooth but sincere.
The girl turned, startled at first—then smiled. "Thank you. I was actually trying to decide between this and the red one."
Ethan stepped beside her, pretending to evaluate both. "The red one's great, but the black one suits you more. It's… bold. Classy."
Her smile widened. "In that case, I'll take them both."
They both laughed softly.
"I'm Ethan," he said, offering his hand.
"Lyra," she replied, shaking it. Her hand was soft but strangely cold. "Nice to meet you."
"Lyra," Ethan repeated thoughtfully. "That's a rare name—for a rare beauty."
Lyra tilted her head, smirking. "You practice those lines in the mirror?"
Ethan chuckled. "Nope. These are original. Besides, how can someone look this good and not be a princess?"
Lyra leaned slightly closer, lowering her voice playfully. "You don't know… maybe I am."
Ethan grinned. "If you are, then I'm honored to be in royal company. How about I buy you coffee sometime? You know, to confirm your royal status."
Lyra raised an eyebrow, amused. "Smooth talker, aren't you?"
"Only when inspired," Ethan said with a wink.
She laughed again, a sound that somehow made the air around them colder and sweeter at once. "Alright, you can have my number… on one condition."
Ethan leaned in a little. "And what condition is that?"
Lyra smiled—slow, mysterious, almost hypnotic.
"Don't make me regret giving it to you."
Ethan laughed softly, unaware of the faint, unnatural gleam
in her eyes as she handed him her phone.
Ethan saved her number as they parted ways while saying their goodbyes.
"Thank you for reading, comment who your favorite character is so far"