The air was thick with tension as Aonmi stood before Addison, his body rigid with a barely contained fury. The cloaked figures took a step back, their glowing eyes fixated on him, sizing him up. For a moment, it was as if time itself had stopped. The eerie silence hung in the air, broken only by the distant rustling of the wind.
Addison's vision flickered in and out of focus, the pain from her earlier attack clouding her senses. Despite the agony, she could still feel the surge of power emanating from Aonmi, a force so intense that it felt like the earth itself was trembling beneath their feet.
"Get away from her," Aonmi's voice was low, lethal, and filled with a promise of retribution. His eyes, usually filled with that unsettling calm, were now wild with something more dangerous-something far darker.
The cloaked figures didn't back down. Instead, one of them stepped forward, its silhouette more defined now, revealing a tall, wiry figure with eyes burning with unnatural fire. "You think you can stop us?" the figure hissed. "You're too late."
Aonmi's lips curled into a sneer. "I've never been too late."
The ground beneath them vibrated, the air crackling with energy as Aonmi released a torrent of power. His hands moved in a fluid motion, and a wave of darkness shot toward the figures, forcing them to stagger backward. But they weren't unyielding.
One of the figures raised a hand, sending a dark bolt of energy toward Aonmi. He dodged it with ease, his body moving with predatory grace. Without a moment's hesitation, he shot another wave of force, knocking two of the figures off their feet. They hit the ground with an audible thud, their cloaks billowing around them like smoke.
Addison, struggling to stay conscious, pushed herself up with what little strength she had left. Her body trembled, and blood dripped from the side of her face where she had struck the stone. But she couldn't let him fight alone. She couldn't. Not after everything that had happened.
With a determined breath, she reached for her weapon, the blade still strapped to her side. Her vision swam, but she clenched her jaw, forcing herself to stand.
"Aonmi," she whispered hoarsely, her voice barely audible over the chaos.
He didn't look at her, but his posture stiffened, and she saw the edge of his lips twitch as if acknowledging her. He knew she was still there, still fighting. Still standing.
One of the figures managed to recover, its form towering over the others. It stepped forward, pulling a jagged, obsidian dagger from beneath its cloak. The blade shimmered with an otherworldly glow.
"You won't win, not this time," the figure said, its voice laced with venom.
Aonmi's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenching. "I've already won."
With a sharp, sudden movement, he lunged, faster than Addison could even comprehend. The figure's eyes widened in surprise, but it was too slow. Aonmi's fist slammed into the figure's chest with the force of a tidal wave, sending it crashing into the ground. The dagger clattered uselessly to the side, and the figure crumpled into a heap.
Addison took a steadying breath, her legs shaking beneath her as she stood, still clutching the weapon. The remaining figures hesitated, clearly unsure of how to proceed with their fallen comrades. They had underestimated Aonmi. And now they knew better.
But Addison wasn't sure if they were done. She could still feel their presence lurking in the shadows.
Aonmi turned to her, his eyes softening just for a moment before his expression hardened again. "Are you alright?"
Addison's breath hitched, but she forced herself to stand tall. "I'm fine," she lied, not wanting to admit the pain coursing through her body. The only thing that mattered was Rosalia-finding her and getting her to safety.
Aonmi's gaze flickered to the distant entrance of the tunnels, where Rosalia's fate still hung in the balance. "We need to move," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Before they regroup."
Addison nodded, and they both turned toward the darkened path ahead. But just as they took a step forward, a shadow moved near the entrance, too quiet, too deliberate.
Aonmi's body tensed, his energy flaring once more. "We're not alone."
The figure that stepped out of the shadows wasn't one of the cloaked figures from before. This was someone entirely different, someone more familiar. Addison's breath caught in her throat as the silhouette took form in the dim light.
It was a man, tall and angular, with pale skin and dark hair falling messily around his face. His eyes locked with Addison's, and something dark, something cold passed between them.
"I told you..." the man's voice was calm, too calm, as if he were speaking from a distance. "You should've stayed out of this."
Addison's heart skipped a beat. She recognized him. It was him. The figure from her dreams.
He was real.
Aonmi's posture stiffened even more, if that was possible, and his eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"
The man didn't respond right away. Instead, he stepped forward, his eyes fixed solely on Addison, as if no one else mattered. "I'm the one who's been watching you," he said. His voice sent a shiver down her spine.
"Who are you?" Aonmi repeated, stepping in front of Addison protectively.
The man's lips twisted into a dark grin. "I am everything you're afraid of, and I've been waiting for this moment."
Addison's mind raced. The hooded figure. The strange, unsettling words. The reflection. Everything suddenly clicked. This wasn't just a random encounter. This man was connected to everything. To Rosalia's disappearance. To her.
And somehow, everything had just become far more dangerous than she could have ever imagined.
_______________
The air around them crackled with tension, the shadows stretching unnaturally as if the world itself was holding its breath. Addison could feel her heart racing, pounding in her chest as the man's cold gaze fixed on her.
Aonmi's stance remained protective, his body a shield between Addison and the stranger. The man-he looked almost too familiar to Addison, though she couldn't place him in her memories. His presence was like a dark weight pressing down on her, as if everything she had been running from had led to this exact moment.
The man's grin deepened, his lips curling in a way that sent a chill crawling up Addison's spine. "You're more than you think you are, Addison. You always have been." His voice was low, smooth, almost hypnotic, like he was trying to draw her in with each word.
"No," Aonmi snapped, his voice filled with a venomous edge. "Get away from her."
But the man didn't flinch. Instead, he stepped forward, closer to Addison, his eyes never leaving hers. "You're not the girl you once were. You've changed... but so have I."
Addison's mind spun, memories flashing like broken shards of glass, none of them clear enough to form a coherent picture. There was something about his presence, something that pulled at the very core of her being, but she couldn't remember. Not yet.
"Who are you?" Aonmi's voice was demanding now, more forceful as he took a step toward the man. His posture was coiled, ready to strike, but the man didn't move. He simply watched them both, as though amused by their tension.
"I've already told you." The man's smile widened, something almost predatory lurking in his gaze. "I'm the one who's been waiting for this moment. You're not just fighting for Rosalia, Addison. You're fighting for your past, your memories, and everything you've tried to forget."
Addison's throat tightened. His words didn't make sense, but at the same time, they felt too familiar. There was a knot of dread in her stomach, an instinctual warning that told her to stay away, to run, but her feet were frozen to the ground.
"No," she whispered, trying to gather the strength to back away. "I don't know you. I don't know anything."
The man's expression faltered, if only for a brief moment, but it was enough for Addison to feel that flicker of recognition. She had known him. But where? And when?
Aonmi's voice cut through her thoughts, filled with urgency and raw emotion. "Addison, stay back. He's not who he says he is."
The stranger's smile never left his face, but his eyes narrowed as he turned slightly, acknowledging Aonmi for the first time. "You really think you can protect her, Aonmi? You've already failed once, haven't you?"
The words hit like a blow to the chest, leaving Addison breathless and dazed. What did he mean? She hadn't heard anything from Aonmi, hadn't seen him fail, but the stranger's words carried the weight of something Addison couldn't comprehend yet.
"I haven't failed her," Aonmi growled, stepping forward again. His voice was strained, the intensity of his emotions clear in his every word. "And I won't. I won't let you take her from me again."
The man looked at Aonmi with something like pity in his eyes before he turned back to Addison, his gaze softening. "It doesn't have to be this way, Addison. You're meant for something far greater than this, something more than the life you've been given. You've only just begun to scratch the surface of who you are."
Addison's heart pounded, the words echoing in her mind like a siren's call. She felt as though something was slipping through her fingers, like she was standing on the edge of a cliff and about to fall into a past she couldn't remember.
"No," Addison whispered, more to herself than to the stranger. "I'm not like that. I just want to live my life. I want to save my sister."
The man tilted his head slightly, as though considering her words. "You can't save her, not unless you remember. Not unless you remember everything."
Before Addison could respond, Aonmi made a sudden move, his hand reaching out as if to strike, but the man was faster. He sidestepped effortlessly, his movements fluid, almost unnatural. Aonmi's attack only cut through empty air, and the man's laugh rang out, unsettling in its coldness.
"I told you, Aonmi," the man said, voice dripping with contempt. "You can't protect her from this. From me."
Addison's pulse quickened, the overwhelming sense of danger mounting. Aonmi was struggling, his energy crackling around him like a storm contained within a fragile shell. She could feel his frustration, his anger, but she could also sense his desperation. He needed to protect her. But how?
"Stop!" Addison cried out, her voice shaking, as much as she wanted to stand her ground. "I don't know you. I don't want to know you!"
The man's expression softened, almost wistful. "You will. You'll remember, Addison. I'll make sure of it."
Before she could ask what he meant, the world around her seemed to shift. The air turned thick, the ground beneath her feet unsteady. The man's presence intensified, warping the reality around them like a nightmare come to life.
"No!" Addison shouted, but her words were swallowed by the darkness that began to close in on them. It was as if the world was disintegrating around her, and she was being pulled into it, pulled toward something she couldn't understand.
She reached out for Aonmi, but he was too far, and the shadows were already enveloping her, pulling her into a dark abyss where nothing made sense anymore.
"Addison!" Aonmi's voice came, distant and desperate, but she couldn't reach him. She was slipping, falling into a place she couldn't escape from.
And the last thing she heard, before everything went black, was the stranger's voice, hauntingly calm. "This is only the beginning."
_________________
The darkness swallowed Addison whole, her senses dulled by the overwhelming presence that surrounded her. The weight of the man's words lingered in the air, like a heavy fog she couldn't escape from. As she fell deeper into the blackness, she felt herself drifting further from reality.
But then, a sudden burst of light cut through the void, shining with an almost blinding intensity.
"Addison!" The voice called out her name, sharp and urgent, pulling her back from the abyss. It was familiar, comforting.
Javien.
Her mind tried to focus, but everything felt distant, as if she were hearing him from across an endless expanse. His voice reached her again, this time with a sense of panic. "Addison, stay with me. Don't close your eyes."
She fought to open her eyes, to focus, but the overwhelming darkness threatened to pull her under once more. But then, like a lifeline, another voice broke through.
"Addison! We're here, just hold on!"
It was Laura. Her voice was like a beacon in the storm, strong and full of resolve.
Addison's heart raced, struggling against the oppressive weight of the shadows. She had to fight. She had to stay awake.
Then, as though guided by instinct, her vision began to clear, and the darkness receded. It was replaced by flashes of light, streaks of color, until her surroundings started to form into something more tangible. The air felt different now, less suffocating. And there, standing in front of her, were Javien and Laura.
"Addison!" Javien's voice was a mixture of relief and worry as he rushed to her side, kneeling beside her. His brown eyes were wide with concern, and there was a faint tremor in his hand as he reached out to gently touch her shoulder. "Are you okay? You scared the hell out of us."
Laura stood a few steps behind him, her eyes scanning Addison with a protective energy that matched Javien's. The light in her gaze was softer, but the urgency in her presence was unmistakable. She took a deep breath, looking both relieved and tense at the same time. "You gave us a scare. We've been looking everywhere for you."
Addison blinked, her body still trembling from the aftereffects of the encounter. She felt the weight of their concern, the safety they offered, but her mind was still clouded with fragments of the stranger's cryptic words and the shadows that had tried to claim her.
"I... I don't know what happened." Her voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. "I-there was this man, and-" She shuddered, the memory of his presence sending a ripple of unease through her.
Javien glanced at Laura, his brow furrowing in confusion. "A man? Was he the one who attacked you?"
Addison shook her head, trying to gather her thoughts. "He didn't attack me-not directly. But he... he said something. About me. About memories. About something I don't understand."
Laura stepped forward, her expression softening as she crouched beside Addison. She placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, her eyes filled with both concern and a strange understanding. "We need to figure this out, Addison. But right now, we need to make sure you're safe. Come with us."
Addison nodded, still trying to shake the fog in her mind. The encounter with the man was lingering like a nightmare she couldn't fully remember. She felt the grip of fear tightening around her chest, the fear that whatever he had said, whatever he had done, had been only the beginning.
But as Javien and Laura helped her up, their presence grounding her, she realized one thing: for now, she wasn't alone. Not anymore.
With their support, she stood shakily, but stronger. The memory of the stranger's words still echoed in her mind, but she was determined to push them aside. They had come for her. They had found her. And she wasn't going to let whatever that man had said tear her apart.
"Let's go," Addison whispered, her voice steadying. "We need to keep moving."
Javien gave a small, relieved smile, nodding. "We're not going anywhere until we figure this out. But first, we need to get you somewhere safe."
Laura gave a slight nod, her eyes still scanning their surroundings. "We'll figure this out together, Addison. We'll find answers. But first, we need to get you away from here."
As they made their way through the shifting darkness, Addison felt herself draw strength from them. She wasn't sure what the stranger had meant, but she knew one thing: she wasn't going to let the past, or whatever shadows he had brought with him, control her future.
Not now. Not ever.
And as the trio began to move forward, the weight of the unknown still hanging in the air, Addison couldn't help but wonder: what other dangers awaited them? And more importantly-who was the stranger who had appeared from the depths of her forgotten past?
__________________
As the trio walked deeper into the unfamiliar terrain, the tension was palpable, thickening the air around them. Addison's mind still echoed with the cryptic words of the man who had appeared in the shadows. The certainty in his voice had shaken her, and even now, a lingering unease clung to her.
Laura was walking beside her, ever watchful, but her face was a mixture of concern and determination. She kept glancing back to make sure Addison was okay, though she had said little since they'd found her. Addison was grateful for her quiet support; sometimes words weren't necessary, especially from someone who could sense what was going on even without needing to ask.
Javien, on the other hand, was talking non-stop, trying to fill the silence with reassuring words. His voice was a comforting murmur in the background, his attempts at levity clearly trying to mask the worry creeping into his expression.
"Okay, we just need to get out of this area," Javien said, his eyes darting around as if anticipating some unseen threat. "Then we can figure out what exactly happened. You were out for a while, Addie. I mean, you really scared us. We didn't know where you went."
Addison nodded, but her attention was elsewhere. Something in the back of her mind gnawed at her. It wasn't just the shadowy figure from earlier. There was something else-something that she couldn't place, something deeply unsettling that had been buried under the surface for so long.
"I-I don't know what happened either," she muttered. "I... felt like I was somewhere else, you know? Like I was pulled away. It wasn't a dream, but it wasn't real either."
Laura caught her gaze, her brow furrowing. "Are you saying it was some sort of vision? Or a memory?"
Addison stopped walking, her heart pounding. The fog in her head seemed to lift just a bit as her thoughts started to align. "I don't know. I just remember him-this man in the shadows. He said things that... didn't make sense. But it felt like he knew me. Like he knew things I don't remember."
Javien looked between them, his face growing serious. "Do you think he was behind whatever's been going on with you lately? The dreams, the feelings, everything?"
Addison hesitated. She wanted to say yes. Everything seemed connected, didn't it? But there was still a part of her that wasn't sure. It was too complicated, too deep for her to grasp all at once. "Maybe," she finally said. "But I don't know why. Why now? Why me?"
A distant noise cut through the air. A low, echoing sound. The wind picked up, carrying with it an unnatural chill. Javien and Laura both froze, looking around with sharp eyes.
"You feel that?" Laura murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Addison nodded, her body tensing. Something was wrong. She could feel it. The air around them had thickened, and the once calm forest seemed to stir with an unfamiliar energy. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.
Before they could react, a sudden, sharp voice cut through the tense silence.
"Going somewhere?"
Addison froze. The voice wasn't one she had expected, but it was all too familiar.
Standing before them, tall and imposing, was Aonmi. His dark figure seemed to emerge from the shadows themselves, his eyes glowing with an intensity that sent a shiver down Addison's spine.
"Aonmi..." Addison whispered, her heart sinking.
He was back.
"I didn't expect to find you here," Aonmi said, his voice low and taunting. "But I guess you've been doing a good job of running away, haven't you?" His gaze flicked between Addison and the others. "I see you've made some new friends."
Addison stepped in front of Laura and Javien, instinctively protecting them, even as the confusion and hurt twisted in her chest. "What do you want, Aonmi?"
His smile didn't reach his eyes. "I don't want anything from you, Addison. I'm just making sure you don't forget. After all, you can't run from something that's already inside you."
"Get away from us!" Javien shouted, his voice rising with the protective fury that Addison had seen so many times before.
Aonmi's eyes locked onto him, narrowing. "And who exactly are you, trying to play hero?" His tone was icy, dangerous.
Laura stepped forward, placing a hand on Javien's arm, trying to calm him. "This isn't the time for this," she said quietly, her eyes never leaving Aonmi. "We don't want trouble, Aonmi. We're just trying to get out of here."
Aonmi ignored her, his gaze still fixed on Addison. "You should've stayed where you were. I gave you a chance to understand everything. To accept what we are. But now you've gone and made things complicated again." He took a slow, deliberate step closer, his shadow stretching unnaturally.
Addison's heart hammered in her chest. The memories of their past-memories she couldn't fully remember but couldn't completely forget-came rushing back. The first time he'd approached her, the way he had been there when things fell apart... He had always been around, lurking in the edges of her mind.
But she wasn't that person anymore. She couldn't let him control her.
"Leave us alone," she said, her voice shaking but steady. "I don't need you in my life anymore."
Aonmi's face twisted, something dark flickering in his eyes. He took another step forward, his hand reaching out like he was going to grab her, but before he could, Laura stepped in between them, her eyes blazing with an energy Addison had never seen before.
"You heard her," Laura said firmly. "She doesn't need you. You're not welcome here."
Javien stood beside her, his fists clenched. "You heard the lady. Back off, Aonmi."
A tense silence hung between them, the air crackling with a tension that made Addison's stomach churn. But Aonmi didn't move, instead, he looked at Laura and Javien with a quiet, chilling calm. "You two are making a big mistake."
For a long moment, none of them moved. Then, finally, Aonmi sighed deeply, his posture relaxing just a little. "You're right. You can try to run. But I'll always find you, Addison. You can't escape me."
And with that, he vanished back into the shadows, leaving behind nothing but the lingering weight of his words.
Addison stood frozen for a moment longer, her breath shallow. Laura and Javien didn't speak, but the tension between them all was palpable.
"What do we do now?" Addison asked, her voice barely audible.
Laura's gaze softened. "We keep going. Together."
Javien nodded, his expression firm. "We stick together. No matter what."
Addison took a shaky breath, finally feeling like they were on the same page. The road ahead would be difficult, but she wasn't facing it alone. Not anymore.