In the Shadows of Desire

The air is thick with tension. The kind that coils around your throat and squeezes just enough to remind you that something is about to happen. Something big. Something dangerous.

Jae hasn't looked at me the same since I let those words slip. I won't lie… If I wasn't in this spiderweb of mine, then you would be the love of my life.

Stupid. So, so stupid.

Now, he walks ahead of me through the ruins, his body tense, his jaw clenched like he's holding something back. We haven't spoken since the last fight, and honestly? The silence is killing me more than the monsters outside.

And speaking of monsters…

A low, guttural growl rumbles from the shadows. Not just any growl—this one is calculated. Hunting.

Jae stiffens. His hand grips the hilt of his knife, slow, controlled.

"MJ," he murmurs, barely above a whisper. "Don't move."

That's definitely not what I wanted to hear.

The air shifts, and I can feel it before I see it—something watching us. Something big.

Then it steps into view.

It's like nothing I've ever seen. Not one of the usual mutants. This one is aware.

Its body is twisted—long limbs, razor-sharp claws, eyes that glow an eerie green. But the worst part? It's studying us. Like it's learning.

"Run?" I whisper.

Jae shakes his head. "Not yet."

The creature lunges.

Jae shoves me back, rolling to the side as it swipes at the air where we just stood. I hit the ground hard, breath knocked from my lungs. My spear—where the hell is my spear?

Jae moves like lightning, dodging, weaving, but the creature is fast. Too fast.

We're going to die.

Then—BANG.

A gunshot echoes through the ruins.

The creature jerks back, screeching in pain. And out of nowhere, a man steps into the light.

"Now, now," he drawls, spinning his pistol lazily on one finger. "Didn't your mama ever teach you not to play with your food?"

He's tall, broad-shouldered, with messy dark hair and a smirk that oozes trouble. A long scar runs down his left cheek, and his clothes are a mix of scavenged leather and old military gear.

Jae curses under his breath. "Chuck."

Chuck winks. "Missed me, lover boy?"

Wait. What?

I scramble to my feet, gripping my spear tight. "Who the hell is this?"

Chuck tilts his head, pretending to be wounded. "Aw, Jae. You didn't tell your girlfriend about me?"

Jae's jaw tightens. "She's not my—"

"Save it," I snap. "Someone just explain what is going on?"

Chuck grins. "Well, sweetheart, that depends. You wanna hear the truth, or the fun version?"

"I want to hear the version that explains why you shot that thing after it nearly killed us."

Chuck sighs dramatically. "Fine. Ruins the mystery, but alright."

Then he steps closer—too close—and looks me dead in the eyes.

"I've been tracking you."

Goosebumps rise on my arms. "Why?"

Chuck's grin fades, just a little. "Because of him." He jerks his chin toward Jae. "You really don't know, do you?"

Jae moves before I can react—one second he's standing there, the next he's got Chuck pinned to the wall, knife pressed against his throat.

The smirk never leaves Chuck's face.

"Touchy," he murmurs. "Just like old times."

"Say another word," Jae growls, "and I swear—"

Chuck's gaze flicks to me, then back to Jae. And whatever he sees in Jae's face makes his smirk widen.

"Ohhh," he breathes. "That's interesting."

I step forward, heart hammering. "What's interesting?"

Jae shoves away from Chuck, storming past me. "We're leaving."

"Nope," Chuck says, cracking his neck. "I'm coming with you."

Jae whirls. "Like hell you are."

Chuck shrugs. "Suit yourself. But if I were you, I'd focus less on ditching me and more on that thing waking up."

Jae and I snap our heads toward the creature.

It's moving.

"Oh, you have got to be kidding me," I groan.

Jae grabs my wrist. "Run."

We bolt. Chuck follows, keeping pace effortlessly, still grinning like this is all just a fun game.

A Moment Too Close

We make it to an old underground bunker entrance, slamming the steel door shut just as the creature smashes into it. The whole place shakes, but for now, we're safe.

I collapse against the wall, chest heaving. Jae is pacing, hands in his hair. Chuck? He just leans against a table like he owns the place.

"So," Chuck says, "who wants to tell ghost stories?"

Jae looks ready to murder him. I'm too tired to stop him.

Instead, I look at Chuck, trying to read him. "You knew Jae before all this."

Chuck tilts his head. "Bingo."

"And you know something about him. Something I don't."

Chuck's smirk softens—just a little. "Yeah."

Jae doesn't say a word.

I swallow hard. "I need to know."

Jae finally looks at me, his expression unreadable. Then he steps forward, slow, deliberate.

When he speaks, his voice is low, almost dangerous.

"To face the demons, I am one of two. But they are chasing me, and I am part of you. So escaping me is impossible."

A shiver runs through me. "What does that mean?"

He doesn't answer.

Instead, he reaches out—so slow, so careful—and brushes a loose strand of hair from my face. His fingers linger.

Chuck whistles. "Damn. Didn't think you had it in you, lover boy."

Jae ignores him.

And I—I can't move.

Because his touch is setting my skin on fire.

And I don't know if I want to run.

Or let myself burn.

The Truth Unfolds

As the night drags on, I feel the walls closing in. Chuck is hiding something. Jae is hiding everything.

And me?

I'm caught in the middle of two men who both hold pieces of a puzzle I don't understand yet.

But the thing about secrets?

They always come out.

And when they do—

Nothing will ever be the same.