Choruslyne Fate

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The trio stumbled through the forest, Harriet's unconscious weight bearing heavily on Lucius' weakening arms. Nai limped beside him, her injured arm held close to her chest, while Yu Xuan trailed behind, one hand gripping his electric guitar, though his fingers trembled with exhaustion. Each step was agony, each breath a struggle, but the only thing keeping them moving was the gnawing thought that the monsters could return at any moment.

Then, the sound of slow, deliberate footsteps echoed through the dark trees.

"Ah, there you are," came a boyish voice, light yet laced with menace.

Lucius froze, his eyes darting to the figure emerging from the shadows. It was a boy—short, unnervingly pale, with white hair that glowed faintly under the moonlight. His face was painted in circus-like makeup, giving him an eerie, doll-like appearance. He wore a tailored suit on his upper half, while a long, flowing skirt swept the ground as he moved.

Nai murmured, her voice shaking with recognition, "Bram…"

Bram tilted his head, a painted smile stretching across his face. "It's so rude to run off like that. I was just starting to enjoy the show back at the shelter."

Yu Xuan stepped forward, though his legs wobbled. "What the hell do you want?"

Bram's smile widened. "Oh, nothing much. Just a little chat. Perhaps a bit of fun." His tone turned icy. "And maybe I'll take him with me." He pointed a slender, gloved finger at Lucius.

Lucius staggered back, his heart racing. "Stay back…"

"Now, now," Bram teased, taking a step closer. "You're already at your limit. Do you really think you can stop me?"

Yu Xuan gritted his teeth, gripping his guitar. "I can still try—"

But before he could finish, Elias stepped forward, blocking their view of Bram. "Run," he said simply, his voice steady.

"Elias, no—" Lucius began, but Elias shot him a glare that froze him in place.

"I said run!" Elias barked. "I'll hold him off."

Bram clapped his hands together, delighted. "Oh, a volunteer! How noble of you, Elias."

Nai hesitated, her eyes darting between Elias and Bram. "We can't just leave him!"

"We don't have a choice!" Yu Xuan snapped, grabbing Nai by the arm and pulling her forward. "Lucius, move!"

Lucius clenched his teeth, every fiber of his being screaming to stay, to fight, to do something. But Harriet's weight in his arms reminded him of their reality. They couldn't win. Not like this.

As the trio fled into the forest, Bram sighed dramatically, placing a hand over his painted heart. "Abandoned by your comrades. How tragic."

Elias didn't respond. He simply raised his weapon—a gleaming spear of light—and pointed it at Bram.

Bram's painted smile turned into a wicked grin. "Let's see what you've got, then."

As the distance between the trio and the fight grew, the forest was filled with the clash of power—Elias's light against Bram's shadowy aura. Nai glanced back once, tears streaming down her face, but Yu Xuan pulled her forward.

Lucius didn't look back. He couldn't.

Behind them, the sounds of battle grew louder, the sky lighting up with flashes of power. Then, as they disappeared deeper into the woods, silence fell.

The trio collapsed near a riverbank, Harriet still unconscious, their breaths ragged. None of them spoke.

And far behind them, in the darkened clearing, Bram stood over the crumpled form of Elias, his painted smile fading into an emotionless stare. "Now… where is Zara?"