Fear and panic ran through Eirin's whole body after she heard footsteps coming after her.
"Why the fuck are you running away!?"
Shade Cromwell chased after the teenage girl, screaming.
Eirin continued running, thinking that it would be better not to respond to the illusion of the young man chasing after her. She thinks she can't leave the place because she's been with an illusion all this time. Her eyes were getting clouded as she breathed heavily. The vines that were once nowhere to be found started creeping on the ground, surrounding Eirin and even trying to trip her.
The teenage girl was quick on her feet, dodging and escaping all kinds of attempts from the vines. A smile formed on her face, thinking how thankful she was for being a ballerina with fast reflexes. The satisfaction she felt made her oblivious to the words of the young man screaming for her to come back.
"You idiot! Come back here before I let you die on your own!"
Shade kept calling out to Eirin, but the fear of being controlled by the never-ending illusion filled Eirin's mind as she wished to be able to leave the forest and never come back. The young man clicked his tongue after the vines swung right through his torso, slamming him to the ground and trying to separate him from the teenage girl. He burst into flames, burning the vines into crisps, causing a loud screech to echo throughout the forest.
Eirin halted as she covered her ears due to how ear-breaking the screech was.
"I told you to get back here," Shade said while wincing as he struggled to walk towards Eirin.
"Stop pretending to be Shade Cromwell!"
"It's because I'm— you idiot! I'm not an illusion, you freaking idiot!"
Eirin kept covering her ears as her amber round eyes stared at Shade's face, her eyebrows soon furrowed. "Your eyes aren't red. There's no way you could be the real Shade Cromwell!"
Shade blinked lots of times; he was left astounded. Even though he was confused as to why he didn't lose control, the teenage girl didn't give him enough time to explain as she ran away again. He cussed inside his head as he continued the chase.
"If you don't stop right now, I'll throw a fireball at you!"
Eirin stopped and looked back at the man, but the moment she did, one of the huge and firm tree roots caused her to trip, ending up falling on her back. She cursed as she accepted her fate until Shade swiftly grabbed her by the waist. The teenage girl's gaze was locked on the young man's face, and when their eyes met, Eirin blinked many times. It was straight out of a cliche romance story.
The forest howled as if teasing the two. The wind blew at Eirin and Shade but didn't hinder their eye contact. That was until Eirin reached out her finger and pointed out Shade's eyes. Shade pushed Eirin away from her, making her fall to her knees, but she ignored the pain as her gaze followed the man. His eyes were different. One was black, while the other was... turning red.
Peculiar indeed.
Eirin stood and rushed to the man with her bleeding knee. "What? You're not an illusion?" she mutters as she extends her hand, but before she can touch Shade's cheek, the young man flicks her on the forehead.
"Why did you do that!?" Eirin held onto her forehead in tears.
"Stupid. Think before you run away. You made me all hot and bothered."
The teenage girl's eyebrows furrowed. "It was your fault! You were a little gentler than usual, and you didn't look like the arrogant Shade Cromwell. That's why I was mistaken," she explained, moving away from the man.
Shade watched Eirin as she rubbed her forehead, ignoring the pain in her bleeding knees. Seeing her dark brown hair covered with dust caused Shade to move closer. His eyes might look different, but he was the same as usual. Only that time, Eirin looked sparkling in his eyes despite the gloomy atmosphere surrounding them, like a bright gem poking out from the ground.
"You—"
"Take her."
The young man froze where he was standing, not making any more steps toward the teenage girl upon hearing a man's mysterious, deep voice inside his head. He felt something creeping into his skin as if trying to make him lose all reason. Shade grunted and started moving backward.
"Hey, are you okay?"
Shade could feel the dryness in his throat. He couldn't understand what he did so wrong this time. No reaction happened to Eirin's touch, so why did he feel like his whole body was about to burst from the heat? His eyes locked on Eirin, and fear followed.
'Stop,' Shade thought as he suppressed the growing urge to hurt the person before him. He's aware of what could happen if he suddenly goes berserk right there.
"I know you're not an illusion."
Shade glared at Eirin after hearing that. A pang on his temple caused him to wince.
"I'm sorry, okay! Now tell me, do I have to run away?"
The vile thoughts inside Shade's mind vanished as he continued hearing Eirin's voice. His head cleared up, and the pain disappeared like magic. He gazed up and moved closer to the teenage girl.
"What, you want to fight?"
Shade flicked Eirin's forehead again, causing her to scream at him in annoyance, telling him how it hurts more than he thinks.
"That's because you're stupid."
Eirin could not believe the young man after he said that and just told her to follow him since they needed to get moving before they got into more trouble. Seeing the young man act like his usual reassured the teenage girl. At least she'll only worry about how Shade Cromwell kept calling her stupid.
The hollow sound of the wind permeates Eirin's ears as she follows Shade, and with every step she takes, guilt fills her heart for what just happened. It was not her fault for doubting the man, but her actions surely almost got them both in trouble. Her clothes were already in a mess, tattered and muddy. Despite wearing socks, blisters still formed on her ankle as the teenage girl considered how tiring it was.
"ENOUGH!"
As if poured with cold water, Eirin felt shivers as she moved closer to Shade's back after a shrill and loud voice came out of nowhere. She grabbed Shade's shirt, causing the young man to look at her with an eyebrow raised.
"Didn't you hear that voice?"
Shade rolled his eyes as he flicked Eirin's forehead again. "Could you stop getting closer to me?" He said in disgust, leaving Eirin's mouth wide open due to surprise. "And I heard it, I'm not deaf." His voice sounded so sassy that it made Eirin scoff.
The mist surrounding them slowly disappeared, making them see the path clearly. Eirin knew how suspicious it was, which made her turn to Shade, looking for his reaction.
"What's going on?" she mutters.
"Do I look like I know?"
Eirin rolled her eyes and muttered, "Why is this guy so grumpy?" Her forehead soon creased as she followed Shade Cromwell with her gaze. "Where are you going?"
"What does it look like?"
"Could you try to answer properly? Or do you really need to be sarcastic all the time?"
"Why don't you stop asking the obvious and start using your common sense then?"
Eirin's mouth was left open, speechless and helpless. She did not have much choice as she followed the man. If she endures all of this, soon they'll be able to leave the forest. That's what she kept telling herself. Even though Eirin decided not to ask any more questions, she could not understand the situation. Her amber eyes glowed with curiosity as she glanced behind them.
At first, they were lost, but suddenly, everything hindering them vanished, and they're now walking on a straight path.
The vines battling to get ahold of them cower with every step due to Shade's flames following the two as they walk.
"Ei."
As if something grabbed Eirin by the heart, she glanced back again, hearing that soft voice. Her eyes found nothing, and her heart ached upon remembering the melancholic expression of Ava's illusion. How did the forest capture her best friend's emotion flawlessly?
"What are you waiting for?"
Eirin ignored Shade's words and was about to turn around when she once again heard Ava's voice, yet when she looked, she saw nothing but the trees and the mist that was starting to form in the air again.
"Please, Ei. Don't leave me here."
All the longing came rushing back into Eirin's heart as she could feel the loneliness in Ava's voice. She knew it was the forest's last attempt to trap her inside forever.
Eirin knew that, but she couldn't stay there. Not until she finds all the answers. Until she finds justice for her friend's death. To be free from the shackles that keep holding her back. And to let Ava go.
It didn't take long for the mist to grow darker and denser. And the moment Eirin faced Shade, a ball of sparkling light formed above Eirin's head. An ear-wrecking sound stuffed their ears, and instincts took over. Eirin grabbed Shade's hand, which was covered with a black leather glove. The man was taken aback. His pale white face turned red like a cherry.
"Are you blushing right now? In this situation?"
Another deafening sound formed, making Shade pull Eirin away, and they retreated from the destruction the ball of light had caused. Shade held Eirin's hand tightly, ensuring he would not lose her this time.