CHAPTER TWENTY SIX: AWAKENING

Darkness. Suffocating, endless, and hungry.

Ken found himself standing in a wasteland of shifting shadows, the ground beneath him cracking like dried bone. The air was thick, like tar, crawling down his throat, making every breath a struggle. A low, guttural whisper slithered through the silence, circling him. He turned, but nothing was there—only the writhing darkness stretching infinitely in every direction.

Then, the whispers turned to screams.

The ground beneath him erupted, and from the cracks, hands shot out—blackened, gnarled, clawing at his legs. He staggered back, only to feel something coil around his throat. His own shadow had risen, strangling him, pulling him into the abyss below.

Pain. It seared through his veins, his muscles spasming violently. His own body was betraying him, the foreign Shadow raging inside like a beast trapped in a cage. His skin cracked like porcelain, dark veins pulsating underneath, threatening to consume him whole.

A presence loomed ahead.

A figure stood in the distance, just beyond the mist—a grotesque distortion of himself, grinning with jagged, broken teeth. The thing cocked its head, its eyes hollow and burning with crimson light.

"You don't belong here."

Its voice wasn't his. It was twisted, guttural, layered with something ancient and wrong.

"This power isn't yours. You are an intruder. A thief. You will break."

Ken staggered forward, but with every step, the ground sunk beneath him, like a rotting corpse swallowing him whole. His body burned, his vision flickered—shadows wrapping around his limbs like snakes, dragging him down.

"No… I won't die here."

He gritted his teeth, pushing forward, but the force pulling him down was relentless. His strength was failing. He was drowning.

Then—

"Ken… Ken, wake up… please."

The voice.

Selena's voice.

It cut through the nightmare like a dagger of light, echoing in the suffocating void. Ken gasped, his body trembling as the darkness recoiled slightly. He tried to call out to her, but his voice was lost, swallowed by the abyss.

"Ken, don't leave me."

Her voice trembled, desperate. It was real.

With a final surge of defiance, Ken reached toward the sound. The darkness shrieked, trying to hold him back, but he pushed through, grasping at the one thing that still felt real. The shadows lashed at him, trying to rip him apart, but he refused to let go.

The nightmare shattered.

Everything collapsed in on itself—shadows twisting, screaming—before vanishing into nothingness.

And then—silence.

Selena's eyes snapped open.

Her heart pounded, her breath shallow, as if she had been jolted from a deep abyss. A cold sweat clung to her skin, and an eerie feeling gnawed at the edges of her consciousness—something had shifted.

Helen, seated across the room, closed the book she had been reading and studied her daughter with sharp eyes. "Are you alright?"

Selena took a slow breath, composing herself. "Yes," she answered, but the weight in her chest told another story.

Helen exhaled, setting the book aside. "Good. Because we need to talk."

Selena knew where this was going before her mother even spoke the words.

"You need to return to the Shadow Realm and reclaim a new Shadow." Helen's voice was firm, unwavering. "You cannot live without one. You know this. If you stay here too long, your connection to the Realm will sever, and you will die."

Selena clenched her fists. "I'm not leaving."

Helen sighed, rubbing her temple. "You're being reckless."

"I don't care."

"You should," Helen countered, her voice gaining an edge. "You've already made one foolish decision. Do you plan to make another? Staying here accomplishes nothing. If Ken wakes up and you're dead, what good will that do?"

"I won't die."

Helen's gaze darkened. "That's not up to you."

The tension thickened, the air heavy with unspoken emotions. They had been here before—Selena's stubborn defiance against Helen's calculated reasoning.

"You're not thinking clearly," Helen continued. "You've already risked too much for him."

Selena's jaw tightened. "Then let me risk this too."

Helen scoffed. "And what if he never wakes up? What then?"

"He will."

"That's not an answer."

Their voices had risen now, their argument looping in circles.

Then, the door creaked open.

Nicole stepped inside hesitantly, clearly sensing the heavy atmosphere. She awkwardly glanced between the two before forcing a small smile. "Uh… Did I come at a bad time?"

Neither Helen nor Selena answered right away.

Nicole rubbed the back of her neck. "Right. I'll just—" she motioned behind her, "go stand over there while you two… continue whatever this is."

Selena exhaled deeply, the tension still thick in the air. She pushed herself off the bed, taking slow, measured steps toward Nicole. She felt the awkwardness in the room and didn't want to add to it, but the silence was unbearable.

"Hey," Selena began, her voice soft. "I'm sorry about the tension. I didn't mean to make things uncomfortable." She paused in front of Nicole, offering a sheepish smile. "I'm Selena. Her daughter."

Nicole blinked, clearly surprised by the approach but grateful for it. She extended a hand, smiling awkwardly in return. "It's okay. I'm Nicole Valtoria. Nice to meet you, Selena."

The two stood there for a moment, the weight of the silence fading as Selena tried to ease the situation. Nicole's smile was a welcome contrast to the tension she felt earlier.

Before the moment could fully settle, Helen's voice cut through the air, sharp and urgent. "Selena."

Selena turned, her expression shifting to one of resolve.

Helen's face darkened with frustration. "Come back here. You can't stay here. You need to go back to the Shadow Realm and—"

Before Helen could finish, the door to the room opened again, interrupting her. Her assistant, a tall woman with dark hair, stepped in, her expression professional but urgent.

"Lady Helen," the assistant said, bowing slightly, "Liam is waiting for you in your office."

Helen's eyes flickered toward the assistant, the frustration in her expression still present, but the urgency of my presence quickly cut through.

"Thank you," Helen replied shortly, before turning her attention back to Selena. "We'll discuss this later," she added, her voice laced with a mixture of anger and concern.

Selena stood in place, but a small flicker of relief washed over her. She shook her head slightly, determined to stay. "I'm not leaving."

Helen's gaze hardened, but she didn't argue further. "Fine. Stay here if you must, but know this—there are consequences. You can't avoid the truth forever."

Selena nodded, but her resolve didn't waver. She glanced at Nicole briefly, offering a small, apologetic smile.

Helen's eyes narrowed as she turned toward the door, preparing to leave. "I'll be back soon," she muttered under her breath before exiting the room.

As the door closed behind her, Selena sank back onto the bed, letting out a quiet sigh. Her focus shifted back to Nicole, trying to recover from the strained atmosphere.

As the door closed behind Helen, the weight of the silence in the room settled back in. Selena sat on the edge of the bed, her head hanging low as she stared at the floor, her emotions in turmoil. The weight of everything pressing on her heart felt unbearable. Nicole, noticing the shift in her demeanor, cautiously approached.

"You've been through so much," Nicole said gently, her voice filled with sympathy. She stepped closer, hesitant at first, but then sat beside Selena. "I know you're worried about him—Ken, right? But you have to take care of yourself too."

Selena's gaze flickered up, meeting Nicole's. She wanted to say something, to reassure herself that everything would be okay, but her words were stuck in her throat.

Nicole continued, placing a hand on Selena's shoulder in a gesture of comfort. "I know it's hard right now. You're fighting for him, but you can't lose yourself in the process. He's not going to get better if you don't look after yourself first."

Selena's eyes welled up, and she quickly wiped away a tear that threatened to fall. "I just... I can't stand the thought of losing him," she admitted, her voice cracking. "I did something so reckless... I don't even know if he'll survive."

Nicole squeezed her shoulder softly. "He'll be fine," she assured her, her voice firm with belief. "You have to trust that everything will work out. And if he's meant to survive, he will. You did what you had to do to save him. Now, you need to save yourself by going back."

Selena was quiet for a long moment, the weight of Nicole's words sinking in. "But what if I can't fix everything?" she whispered, almost to herself.

"You don't have to fix everything," Nicole replied, her voice warm and comforting. "You're doing the best you can. And that's all anyone can ask for." She paused, giving Selena a small, reassuring smile. "Go back, get your shadow, take care of yourself. Then, when you're ready, you can be there for him when he wakes up."

Selena took a deep breath, the words offering a small amount of relief. It wasn't easy, but perhaps Nicole was right. She had to take that first step— for Ken and for herself.

"Thanks, Nicole," Selena said softly, her voice still laced with vulnerability but with a hint of hope.

Nicole gave her a soft smile, her eyes filled with understanding. "Anytime."

Selena glanced at Nicole, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips as she spoke, "You know, you're... different from what I imagined a princess from the Demon Realm to be." There was no mockery in her voice, just a genuine curiosity that softened the air around them.

Nicole blinked, surprised by the compliment, but a warm, shy smile replaced the initial shock. "Different how?" she asked, her tone playful yet unsure.

"I don't know," Selena mused, her eyes studying Nicole more intently now, though still soft. "I thought you'd be... well, a little more regal. More like... cold, I guess." She chuckled lightly, shaking her head. "But you're kind, and I didn't expect that."

Nicole's cheeks flushed slightly, her usual composure slipping for a moment as she shrugged. "Well, I'm not exactly your typical princess," she said quietly, almost embarrassed. "I never liked the idea of living in a bubble, so I guess that's why I'm different."

Selena smiled, her expression softening even more. "I like that. I'm not so fond of things being... all perfect either."

For a few moments, the tension in the room felt lighter, an unspoken understanding blooming between them. It was an unexpected connection, one neither had anticipated but that seemed to come naturally. Selena's gaze flickered to the door, where the sound of footsteps echoed, signaling a shift in the moment.

Nicole cleared her throat and stood, offering a soft smile. "You should rest. Things will get better for both of you, I'm sure."

Selena nodded, though the weight of the situation still pressed on her chest. She couldn't help but feel comforted by Nicole's words, a rare warmth that made her feel less alone in that moment.

The door to the office opened, and I sauntered in, my usual sarcastic grin plastered across my face. I leaned against the doorframe, my arms crossed, eyeing Helen with amusement. "So, do you always keep your students waiting this long, or is this just a special treatment for me?"

Helen, who had been deep in thought, barely looked up at me at first. Her posture stiffened slightly, and a sharp edge crept into her tone as she gestured to the chair across from her. "I didn't expect you to be so eager, Liam. Please, sit."

I raised an eyebrow, still grinning, and pushed off the doorframe, taking a seat with exaggerated laziness. "You're lucky I don't have better things to do. I might've taken a nap waiting for this little chat."

Helen's eyes narrowed, though she kept her composure, folding her hands together in front of her. "Let's get to the point, then. We both know why you're here."

"I want you to get this straight," I say, locking eyes with her. "I'm never gonna drop my vengeance."

A slow, knowing smile creeps onto her face. "Then why did you accept to become my student?"

I scoff. "I can't get my revenge if I'm locked up in that shitty room, can I?"

Helen leans back, arms crossed. "And you think being a student here gives you the freedom to leave the school grounds?"

"Nah. I know it doesn't." I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "I know you'll have your eyes on me." My gaze sharpens. "But you can't stop me from leaving."

Helen studies me for a moment before tilting her head. "And how do you plan on doing that?"

I smirk. "Don't worry. I had plenty of time to think about what I wanted to do… and exactly how to make it happen."

Helen exhales sharply, shaking her head. "You're as arrogant as ever."

I shrug. "Just being realistic."

She leans forward, resting her elbows on the desk. "And if I decide to tighten security? Lock down every exit, assign people to watch your every move?"

I chuckle dryly. "Then I'll just have to find another way. You should know by now, Helen—I don't take well to being caged."

She watches me in silence for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, she sighs. "Liam, your obsession with vengeance will destroy you."

I scoff. "Spare me the lecture."

She tilts her head slightly. "You think you're in control, but you're walking a path that leads to nothing but ruin. I've seen it before. And I've seen what happens to people like you."

I narrow my eyes. "And yet, here I am."

"Yes," she says, standing up. "Here you are, stuck in a school you don't want to be in, surrounded by people you don't care about, all because you refuse to let go of a dead man's sins."

I clench my jaw. "Don't talk like you understand me."

Helen steps around the desk, standing in front of me now. "I don't have to understand you to see where this road leads. You have a choice, Liam. Whether you admit it or not."

I huff a breath, looking away. "Yeah? Well, I already made mine."

She studies me for a long moment before shaking her head. "So be it. But remember—your choices have consequences. And when that time comes, I hope you're ready for them."

With that, she walks out, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I stuffed my hands in my pockets as I wandered through the school grounds, my sharp eyes scanning my surroundings. The place was bigger than I expected, but the air of discipline irritated me. Everything felt too structured, too controlled.

As I turned a corner, I nearly bumped into someone. Selena.

She froze, her eyes widening in surprise. "Liam?"

I raised a brow. "What? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Selena blinked, then scowled. "What are you doing out? Weren't you supposed to be locked up?"

I smirked. "What can I say? I have a way with people." I looked her over, taking in her pale complexion, the exhaustion evident in her eyes. my smirk widened. "Damn, Remmick. Letting yourself get beaten up this badly? That's embarrassing."

Her scowl deepened. "Shut up, Liam."

I chuckled, tilting my head. "Nah, I think I'll enjoy this moment a little longer."

Selena turned away, clearly done with the conversation, but as she took a step forward, my sharp eyes caught something off. I frowned. Something about her felt… off. It wasn't just the paleness or exhaustion—there was something missing.

"Hey," I called, my tone losing its usual teasing edge.

She ignored me and kept walking.

I narrowed my eyes and stepped in front of her, blocking her path. "What the hell happened to you?"

Selena glared at me. "Move, Liam."

I didn't budge. My eyes studied her, and then it hit me. My expression twisted in confusion. "Wait… where the fuck is your shadow?"

Selena's fists clenched at her sides. She scoffed, her voice sharp with irritation. "Oh, screw off, Liam. I don't have time for your shitty jokes."

My frown deepened. "I'm not joking, idiot."

Selena shoved past me, her expression darkening. "Then mind your damn business."

I stood there for a moment, watching her retreating form, my amusement gone. Something was seriously wrong.

The infirmary was silent except for the steady ticking of the clock and the faint rustling of curtains as a breeze slipped through the slightly open window. Ken lay motionless on the bed, his body heavy, his mind drifting between consciousness and the remnants of the nightmare he had barely escaped.

Then, a twitch. His fingers curled slightly against the sheets. His breath hitched.

Slowly, his eyelids fluttered, his vision hazy, blurred by the sterile white light above him. His body ached—every muscle, every bone felt like it had been set on fire and left to burn.

With great effort, Ken parted his lips, a dry breath escaping. His throat felt raw, his body foreign. He blinked sluggishly, trying to piece together where he was.

The scent of antiseptic. The soft beeping of machines.

A hospital? No… a school clinic.

His mind was sluggish, but a name slipped through the fog.

"…Selena?"

His voice was barely above a whisper, weak, almost nonexistent. His breathing was shallow, his body struggling, but he was awake.

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