"I'm here to see you of course." Lex said, his eyes narrowed as he took in Bryan's disheveled appearance. "You look like you've been through a war," he said with concern "What happened to you?"
Bryan waved his hand dismissively. "It's nothing, really. Don't worry about it."
But Lex's gaze lingered on the scratches on Bryan's face, the dark circles under his eyes, and the worn-out look on his friend's usually composed features. "Save it, Bryan. I've known you long enough to recognize when you're hiding something. You broke my door knob, by the way."
Bryan let out a sheepish chuckle and rubbed the back of his neck. "Ah, yeah. Sorry about that."
Lex's eyes bore into Bryan's, his expression unyielding. "Try again. What's going on? You're not exactly the type to get into bar fights or get mugged by gangsters."
Bryan snorted, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "You know me too well, Lex. Let's just say I had a...rough night."
Lex's eyes narrowed further. "A rough night? That's the best you've got? You're not going to try to feed me some BS about being tired from lack of sleep, are you?"
Bryan sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "Fine. Maybe I am a little tired. But that's all I'm saying for now."
Lex's gaze never wavered, his mind racing with possibilities as he sat down opposite Bryan. He knew his friend well enough to recognize when he was hiding something big. But he decided not to press any further, his thoughts consumed by the secrets he kept.
Bryan's eyes seemed to bore into his soul, as if sensing the turmoil within. His own mind was a maze of thoughts, rumors of the recent gangster deaths and Lex's connection to them swirling like a vortex. Stardom was a small town, where news spread like wildfire, and Bryan had heard the whispers.
"I heard about the deaths of Blake and his gang," Bryan said, dropping the bombshell.
Lex flinched, his eyes widening in shock. He had thought he'd kept his involvement hidden, but Bryan's words cut too close to the truth. His heart raced as he struggled to maintain his composure, the silence between them thick.
How much did Bryan know? The air was heavy with tension.
Bryan proceeded to tell Lex he also heard about his involvement - that he(Lex) was ambushed by the gangsters before their deaths.
"I need to leave now. I'm late for work." Lex said and instantly stood up.
"You're not going to say anything about what I just said?" Bryan asked as he also stood from the chair.
"We will talk about this later, Bryan." Lex said and hurried out of the house.
"Lex? Lex!" Bryan called but friend was gone already.
Lex had left Bryan's place three hours later and was now on his way to the library. But then he decided to take the alleyway and see things for himself. He hid in a corner and peeped out.
Before him, the crime scene unfolded like a macabre tapestry. Cops milled about, their faces grim and resolute. The yellow tape seemed to flutter in the faint breeze, a morbid banner heralding the arrival of death.
Khaos's voice whispered in his mind, a cold breeze on a winter's night. "So, you still doubted my words, Lex? Still clung to the fragile hope that you were innocent?"
Lex's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. "I...I didn't do it, did I?" The words trembled on his lips, a desperate plea for absolution.
Khaos's laughter echoed through his mind, a low, menacing chuckle. "Oh, but you did, Lex. You did. I merely...guided your hands."
"But can you do that again? Can you take over my body any time you wish to?"
Lex was curious, he wanted to know if Khaos can take over his body at will and do whatever he wants with it.
"Of course not. I was only able to do that because you were already dying, or should I even say, dead. Only when you are weak, Lex. Only when your mortal coil is at its most fragile, can I take over your body at will. Also, by your will, I can take over your body even you're as strong as ever"
"Well, I don't have plans of ever letting you take over," Lex dismissed the thought. Why would he ever let this monster take over his body? He only took over his body for a few minutes and what, he killed four people already?
The air seemed to thicken further, the shadows deepening into dark, living things that twisted and writhed around him. Lex knew he was doomed, a mere pawn in a game of ancient powers and unholy alliances. His fate was sealed, his destiny entwined with that of the monstrous Khaos.
Lex finally shook his head, trying to get rid of the crazy thoughts in his head. He turned away from the scene, his feet carrying him mechanically along the normal street.
He wandered the streets, his mind a blank slate. The darkness that had consumed him seemed to linger, a constant presence that threatened to overwhelm him at any moment.
As he turned a corner, he saw a figure standing in the shadows. Tall and imposing, with eyes that seemed to bore into his soul. Lex felt a shiver run down his spine as the figure stepped forward, its presence seeming to fill the air around him.
"Lex," the figure said, its voice low and menacing. "We need to talk."
Lex tried to run, but his legs felt heavy, as if rooted to the spot. The figure reached out a hand and grasped his arm, its grip like a vice.
"You can't escape the darkness, Lex," it said, its eyes glinting with malevolence. "It's a part of you now. And soon, it will consume you completely."
Lex tried to struggle, but it was no use. The figure's grip was too strong, its power too great. He felt himself being drawn back into the darkness, he felt it closing in around him like a shroud.
"Hey, watch out!" a stranger's voice pierced the air, shattering the illusion that had ensnared Lex.
Lex's eyes snapped open, his gaze focusing on the woman standing before him. Her expression was a mix of confusion and concern, her brow furrowed in a gentle frown.
"Are you okay? You almost bumped into me," she said, her words dripping with kindness.
Lex's face flushed with embarrassment as he stuttered an apology. "Oh, I-I'm very sorry."
He hastily departed, leaving the woman to watch him go with a puzzled expression still etched on her face.
"Did you do that?" Lex whispered to Khaos, his eyes scanning the crowded streets as if searching for an invisible presence.
"What are you talking about, kid?" Khaos's voice replied, laced with feigned innocence.
Lex rolled his eyes, his mind racing with the implications. "Don't play dumb, Khaos. You know exactly what I mean."
Khaos chuckled, the sound echoing in Lex's mind like a sinister whisper. "Oh, you mean the little hallucination you experienced? Nah, it's just a side effect of being resurrected."
"Resurrected? But I never died." Lex was confused.
"Yeah that's what you think,"
Lex shook his head as he approached the town library where he worked. He pushed open the library doors, the familiar scent of books and silence a welcome respite from the chaos in his mind. He made his way to the circulation desk, his feet carrying him on autopilot as his thoughts remained stuck on Khaos's cryptic words.
"Hey, Lex, what's going on?" his boss, Mrs. Thompson, asked, her voice piercing the fog in his mind.
Lex hesitated, unsure how to articulate the turmoil brewing inside him. "N-nothing, Mrs. Thompson. Just a little...distracted."
Mrs. Thompson's eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing. "Distracted? You look like you've seen a ghost. Is everything okay?"
Lex forced a smile, hoping to reassure her. "Yeah, everything's fine. Just a little...tired."
Mrs. Thompson's expression softened, her voice gentle. "Well, take a break if you need to, Lex. We're not too busy today."
Lex nodded, grateful for her understanding. "It's okay ma'am, I can manage." He said as he walked deeper into the library,