Key Story (2) - Chapter 5
The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the cracked pavement of the basketball court. Raxian stood near the foul line, the basketball in his hands, feeling its texture beneath his fingertips. He wasn't in his element. He knew that. Physical sports had never really been his thing—not like gaming, where calculations, quick reflexes, and mind games reigned supreme. But today, as the ball bounced lightly between his hands, he felt something different, something lighter.
A couple of his friends were goofing off nearby, one of them dribbling lazily, the other trying and failing to land a half-court shot. The rhythm of their laughter and friendly jeers filled the air, and for once, Raxian felt... calm.
"Rax, pass it over!" one of his friends called out, jogging to the other side of the court.
He hesitated for a moment, but with a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips, he flicked the ball toward his friend. The pass was clean—he hadn't expected it to be. Raxian had always been more comfortable with a mouse and keyboard than anything else. But the way his friend caught the ball and grinned at him—it was different. Something about this felt good. Tangible. A kind of satisfaction that he hadn't felt in a while.
As they moved through a few more plays, his body began to relax into the motions. He even found himself enjoying the challenge. It wasn't the same rush as landing a perfectly timed ultimate in League, but there was something about the simplicity of it—the physicality, the sun on his face, the laughter in the background.
When the ball made its way back into his hands, Raxian glanced at the basket, just a few feet away. He took a deep breath, felt the weight of the ball, and with one smooth motion, he shot. The ball arced high, spinning in the air before hitting the backboard with a satisfying thud and dropping straight through the net.
"Nice shot, man!" one of his friends cheered, clapping him on the back.
Raxian felt a rush of warmth bloom in his chest. It wasn't like the adrenaline of a high-stakes ranked match, or the rush he'd get from carrying a game with Ekko. This was different. It was subtle but satisfying, like he was finally starting to explore a part of himself he hadn't paid attention to before.
As the game continued, sweat dripping down his forehead, he found his thoughts drifting back to the guitar lessons he'd been taking. At first, it had been just something to pass the time, an outlet to get his mind off the constant grind of League. But as weeks went by, he had started to really enjoy it—more than he'd expected. He was getting better, too. He could feel the progress with each new song he learned, the way his fingers danced more confidently over the strings. Even his teacher had commented on how fast he was picking things up.
It was strange—this feeling of growth outside of the game. For so long, his entire identity had been tied to League of Legends, to climbing the ranks, to proving himself on the Rift. But now, with basketball, with music, it was like he was finding new pieces of himself he hadn't known existed.
Maybe his value wasn't just tied to gaming.
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As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the court, Raxian and his friends called it quits. They leaned against the chain-link fence, catching their breath, laughing over the highlights of the game.
"You should play with us more often, Rax. You've got some hidden skills, man," one of his friends said, handing him a bottle of water.
Raxian chuckled, taking a long drink. "Yeah, maybe," he said, feeling a strange sense of contentment wash over him. This—this was good. This was something different, something he could look forward to that wasn't tied to winning or losing, to victories and defeats. It was just... living.
As they gathered their things and started walking toward the nearby shops, Raxian felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He pulled it out, glancing down at the screen. The name on the screen made his stomach flip.
Sable.
His fingers froze over the screen, the easygoing energy from the basketball game draining out of him in an instant. They hadn't spoken much in the past few weeks. Not really. He wasn't sure where they stood anymore—things had been... weird. Distant. He could feel it, and he knew she felt it too.
He swiped open the message. It wasn't long, just a simple question.
"Can we meet up later?"
There was something about the tone of it, though. It wasn't casual. Sable wasn't the type to just ask to hang out for no reason. No, there was something more to this. He could feel it in his gut.
The last time they'd really talked—really talked—had been during the winter break. She'd opened up to him, more than she ever had before. He'd listened, had tried to be there for her in the way she needed. But since then, things had... shifted. And now, as he stared at the screen, he had no idea where they stood anymore.
His friends were still laughing, chatting as they strolled down the street, but Raxian was barely paying attention now. He pocketed his phone, his chest tightening slightly.
He didn't know what Sable wanted, but the uncertainty gnawed at him. Part of him wanted to just leave it, to focus on the things that were making him happy right now—basketball, guitar, the easygoing time he was spending with his friends. But the other part of him, the part that couldn't shake the past, knew that he couldn't ignore it forever. Whatever this meeting was about, he needed to face it.
And then there was Fayne. The thought of her drifted into his mind, unbidden but impossible to ignore. Things with her felt... different. Easier. When he spent time with Fayne, it wasn't like the push and pull he always felt with Sable. It was calm, natural. He didn't feel like he was constantly on edge, trying to figure out what she was thinking or where they stood.
The knot in his chest twisted tighter. He wasn't sure what to do with all these feelings. Everything was changing, shifting in ways he wasn't ready for.
He glanced at his phone again, the message from Sable still sitting there, unanswered. With a deep breath, he made a decision.
"Yeah. Let's meet."
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Raxian hesitated for a moment outside the door to Sable's apartment. He hadn't planned on actually coming here, not like this, but something about her message earlier had been different—urgent in a way that Sable usually wasn't. And now, here he was, standing at the threshold of a part of her life he'd never been close to before.
He knocked, the sound echoing faintly in the quiet hallway. A few moments later, the door creaked open, revealing a man he didn't immediately recognize. Tall, with a slightly rugged look—like someone who didn't fuss over appearances—Sable's dad. The man's eyes were sharp, but not unkind.
"Looking for Sable?" her dad asked, his voice calm, yet firm, breaking the silence between them.
"Uh, yeah," Raxian replied, straightening up a bit. "She said we'd meet..."
The man gave a small nod, stepping aside just enough to allow Raxian a view into the apartment. "She's probably up on the roof. Heads there when she wants to think."
Raxian muttered a quiet thanks, but before heading up, he couldn't help but take in the scene behind Sable's dad. The apartment was... clean. Neat. Almost too orderly for what he'd expected. Nothing flashy, no unnecessary decorations, just a few pieces of art on the walls—abstract, almost calming. He wasn't sure why, but the simplicity struck him. It fit Sable, in a way he hadn't thought about before—controlled, deliberate, but... quiet.
There was a bookshelf against one wall, too. He caught a glimpse of titles—some strategy guides, some philosophy books—things he wouldn't have pegged her as being into. Maybe he had only seen one side of her all this time.
"Nice place," Raxian found himself saying, almost absently.
Her dad gave a small smile, barely there, but it reached his eyes. "We like to keep things simple," he said, before adding, "Take care of her, yeah?"
Raxian blinked, surprised by the weight of that statement. He nodded, his throat feeling a bit tight. "Of course."
As he made his way to the rooftop, Raxian's mind was buzzing. He hadn't expected that—Sable's dad wasn't intimidating exactly, but there was something in his tone that lingered. A quiet protectiveness. Not the overbearing type, just... present. It made Raxian wonder how much Sable shared with him, or if she kept everything inside, like she seemed to with him these days.
When he reached the top, the evening sky stretched out before him, painted in hues of soft pink and orange. The city below buzzed with life, but up here, it felt like another world entirely—quiet, almost serene.
And there, by the edge of the rooftop, Sable stood, her back to him. The wind tugged gently at her braid, the blue streak in her hair catching the fading sunlight. Raxian hesitated for a moment, taking in the sight, the quiet tension between them hanging heavy in the air.
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Raxian stands on the rooftop, the evening sky deepening into twilight. The sun has already dipped below the horizon, leaving the city bathed in a soft, dusky glow. Distant streetlights flicker to life, casting long shadows across the buildings. He spots Sable near the edge of the rooftop, her figure barely illuminated by the fading light. She doesn't turn to acknowledge him as he arrives, her back still to him, her posture stiff and guarded. For a moment, Raxian hesitates, his hands fidgeting nervously as the tension in his chest tightens. He takes a breath and steps forward, his voice quiet, unsure.
Raxian: (hesitant) "Hey."
Sable doesn't move at first. Her gaze remains locked on the darkening skyline, and for a second, Raxian wonders if she's even going to respond. But then, she gives a slight nod, an acknowledgment that's barely there, but enough to let him know she heard him. The silence between them stretches, heavy and thick with unspoken words.
The cool evening breeze brushes past them, but the chill in the air seems nothing compared to the cold distance between them. Raxian shifts uneasily, not knowing how to start, feeling the weight of everything left unsaid.
After what feels like an eternity, Sable speaks. Her voice is low, her tone even, but there's no mistaking the undercurrent of tension beneath it.
Sable: (finally) "You've been hard to reach lately."
Her words cut through the quiet night like a sharp knife. Raxian winces inwardly, though he tries to keep his face neutral. He hadn't been expecting her to be so direct, so blunt. He scratches the back of his neck, trying to play it off with a casual tone that feels forced.
Raxian: (trying to sound casual) "Yeah, I've just been busy. You know... trying new stuff, hanging with friends... guitar lessons."
He forces a small smile, hoping to lighten the mood, but Sable doesn't bite. She turns to face him slowly, her expression hard to read, but her eyes—those stormy eyes—hold an intensity that makes his stomach twist. The smile falters on his lips as she steps closer, her face illuminated by the faint glow of the city below.
Sable: (quietly) "And what about us?"
The simple question sends a chill down Raxian's spine. He shifts his weight, unsure how to respond. He knows something has shifted between them, but he hadn't thought about it as deeply as she clearly has. His chest tightens, and he frowns, trying to deflect the weight of her question.
Raxian: (frowning) "What do you mean?"
Sable's lips press together in frustration, and she exhales sharply, her shoulders tensing as if holding back something she doesn't want to fully reveal. When she speaks again, her voice trembles, just enough for him to notice.
Sable: "It's like you've moved on, Raxian. I barely see you online anymore. You're... distant." (pauses, voice softening) "You used to need me. We used to be... something."
Her words hang in the air, thick with emotion. Raxian's heart sinks. He hadn't realized how much his absence had hurt her. His first instinct is to defend himself, to explain that he hasn't been avoiding her on purpose. But as he looks into her eyes, the hurt there stops him in his tracks.
Raxian: (defensive, trying to explain) "I still care, Sable. But... things change. I'm trying to figure out who I am outside of League. I thought you, of all people, would get that."
He means for the words to sound reassuring, but even as they leave his mouth, he can tell they've landed wrong. Sable's eyes flash, and it isn't with anger—it's with something deeper and far more painful. Hurt.
Sable: (bitter laugh) "Of course I get that. I'm not asking you to stop growing, Raxian. I'm asking you why, in all this growth, you left me behind."
The bitterness in her laugh sends a cold shiver down Raxian's spine. It isn't anger she's throwing at him—it's disappointment. Regret. Her words hit harder than anything else, and for the first time, Raxian feels like he's truly seeing the extent of the damage. He looks away, staring at the lights of the city below, unable to meet her gaze.
He tries to speak, to fix the silence between them, but his voice comes out softer than he intended, almost helpless.
Raxian: (softly) "I didn't mean to."
Sable hugs her arms to herself, as though she's trying to protect herself from the cold—or from him. Her posture is more defensive now, the vulnerability she had shown him during winter break now closed off behind walls of hurt.
Sable: (voice quieter, but cutting) "You don't get it, do you? After winter break... I thought things would be different. I showed you... I trusted you with parts of me I don't show anyone, and now it feels like you're the one pulling away." (pauses, voice trembling) "And then there's Fayne."
At the mention of Fayne, Raxian's head snaps toward her, his gut twisting. He hadn't expected her to bring Fayne into this. His chest tightens at the accusation, even though he knows, deep down, there's nothing romantic between him and Fayne. But the way Sable says her name, the way it sits between them—it feels like something else entirely.
Raxian: "This isn't about Fayne. We're just—"
But Sable cuts him off, her voice cracking slightly as she interrupts him.
Sable: "It is about her. Maybe not the way you think, but she's part of it. You spend time with her, you talk to her. She's the one you lean on now. And I'm..." (pauses, voice breaking slightly) "I'm just here. Waiting for you to remember I exist."
The rawness in her voice hits him like a punch to the chest. Raxian hadn't known how much she'd been holding in, how much she'd been waiting for him to come back. He hadn't realized how much she still needed him. And now, looking at her, seeing the tears she's fighting to hold back, he feels like he's failed her in a way he never anticipated.
Raxian: (softly) "Sable, I didn't know you felt like this."
Sable: (voice tight, almost a whisper) "Because you didn't ask."
Her words sting more than anything else. He hadn't asked. He hadn't checked in, hadn't realized how much distance had grown between them. He had assumed that things between them were solid, that they could withstand the time apart. But he'd been wrong.
Sable takes a deep breath, and Raxian can see the cracks in her armor now, the way her carefully built walls are crumbling under the weight of her emotions. When she speaks again, her voice is quieter, but there's a finality to it that makes Raxian's heart race.
Sable: "You're not the same anymore, Raxian. I don't even know if I want to be a part of this new life you're building. Maybe I don't fit in it."
Panic rises in Raxian's chest. He takes a step toward her, trying to reach out, trying to stop the growing chasm between them.
Raxian: "That's not true. I still—"
Sable: (cutting him off, shaking her head) "No. You don't get to say that. Not when your actions have been telling me something completely different."
Her voice cracks, and for the first time, Raxian sees the tears brimming in her eyes. She steps back, putting more distance between them, and Raxian feels like the ground is slipping away from beneath him. He's losing her, and he doesn't know how to stop it.
Sable: "I can't do this, Raxian. I can't keep waiting for you to figure out what you want. I thought I knew where we stood, but... I was wrong."
Before Raxian can respond, before he can reach out to stop her, Sable turns and starts walking toward the stairwell.
Raxian: (desperate) "Sable, wait—"
Sable: (without turning back) "No. I'm done waiting."
And with that, she's gone, disappearing down the stairwell, leaving Raxian standing alone on the rooftop. The night air feels colder now, the city below buzzing with life, but all Raxian can hear is the deafening silence between them. He stands there, staring at the door she walked through, the weight of her words settling over him like a heavy cloak. He had thought he was growing, evolving, but now he's left wondering if, in doing so, he's lost something far more important.
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After the rooftop confrontation, Sable storms down the stairwell of her apartment building, her emotions a tangled mess of anger, hurt, and confusion. The night air feels sharp against her skin as she steps out onto the street. She needs space, needs to clear her head—anything to get away from the weight of her conversation with Raxian. She starts walking, not caring where, just... away.
As Sable moves further from her apartment, the streets begin to quiet. She pulls her hoodie tighter around her, her thoughts spinning. Raxian's face flashes in her mind—his words, his hesitation. Everything felt so wrong. She walks faster, her sneakers hitting the pavement with more force than usual, the frustration in every step.
Sable: (thinking) He doesn't get it. He never did. Why did I even bother...
She stops at the edge of a street corner, the cold lamplight casting shadows on the empty street. Sable takes a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside her, but something in the air feels... off. It's too quiet. Her instincts, honed from years of being cautious, flare up. She looks over her shoulder. The street behind her is empty—too empty for this part of town.
Sable's pace quickens as she continues down the dimly lit street. A growing unease starts gnawing at the edges of her mind, but she tries to shake it off. She's used to being alone, used to handling things on her own.
But tonight feels different.
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Meanwhile, somewhere in the shadows, Lynx watches. He had been tailing her for weeks, subtly tracking her movements. Keeping an eye on her as she navigated her day-to-day life. To her, he was invisible—just another ghost blending into the background. But he had been watching. Waiting. And tonight, everything was finally in place.
Lynx: (smirking) Time to move.
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Back to Sable, who has now found herself in a quieter part of the city. The streets are more deserted, and the only sound is the soft hum of a streetlamp flickering overhead. She can feel the tension in her body growing, and for the first time that night, she realizes how alone she is. Her breath catches in her throat. She tries to shake the feeling off, but her instincts tell her to keep moving.
She reaches into her pocket, her fingers brushing her phone. Maybe she should call someone—just to feel connected, just to shake off the eerie sense that she's being watched. But as she pulls out her phone, the screen flickers.
Sable: (muttering) "What the hell?"
Her phone screen flashes once, then dies. No signal. No battery. Nothing. A sinking feeling pulls at her gut, and her steps falter as she glances around, scanning the empty street. Her pulse quickens as the shadows feel heavier, like they're closing in on her.
A sound behind her—a footstep, maybe two. She whips around, but no one's there. Her heartbeat thuds in her ears.
Sable: (to herself, whispering) "Okay... don't freak out. Just... walk."
She turns, determined to get back into the busy part of town, but before she can take more than a few steps, there's a movement out of the corner of her eye—a blur of motion. And then, everything happens too fast.
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Lynx moves like a shadow, swift and calculated. He steps out from behind her, his movements silent and precise. Before she can react, he grabs her, one hand clamping over her mouth, the other arm pinning her against him. Sable struggles, her heart hammering in her chest, but Lynx's grip is iron. Her muffled screams are swallowed by the night air, unheard in the empty streets.
Lynx: (whispering) "Shh. Don't make this harder than it needs to be."
Sable's mind races, panic surging through her veins. She thrashes against him, but it's no use. Lynx drags her back into the shadows, where a van waits. The door slides open, and in one fluid motion, Lynx pushes her inside. The world spins around her as she hits the cold floor of the van, the door slamming shut behind her.
Everything goes dark.
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Inside the van, Sable's breathing is ragged, her heart pounding in her chest as she tries to orient herself. Her wrists are quickly bound, and a blindfold slips over her eyes. Panic claws at her throat, but she forces herself to focus, to think. She can't afford to lose control now. She can't afford to fall apart.
Sable: (thinking, panicked) How did this happen? How did I let my guard down?
Lynx watches her for a moment before he speaks, his voice calm, almost too calm.
Lynx: (coldly) "Don't worry. You'll be safe... for now. But this? This isn't about you, Sable. It's about your friends. And when they come looking for you... well, let's just say it'll be interesting to see who cares enough to come running."
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As the van drives off into the night, leaving the quiet streets behind, Sable's mind races. She doesn't know where they're taking her, or what Lynx wants, but one thing is clear: she's in danger, and whatever is coming next... she needs to be ready.