Chapter 63: Shadows of Despair
The team retreated to their hideout, their hearts heavy with Scott's absence. The air was thick with grief and uncertainty as they tended to their wounds in silence. Mia sat apart from the others, her hands trembling as she stared at the faint traces of Scott's elemental energy lingering in the air.
Theo broke the silence first. "We can't stay like this. Scott wouldn't want us to give up."
"But how are we supposed to fight without him?" Allison snapped, her voice laced with frustration and fear. "He was our leader, our anchor. Without him, we're...we're lost."
Derek slammed his fist against the wall, his telekinesis causing nearby objects to tremble. "We're not lost. We still have each other. And we're going to get him back."
Malia stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. "We need a plan. Scott's not just our leader—he's our friend. And I refuse to believe he's gone forever."
Mia finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "The darkness took him for a reason. It didn't kill him. That means there's still a chance to save him."
Her words reignited a spark of hope in the group. They began strategizing, pooling their knowledge and resources to figure out where the darkness might have taken Scott. Malia used her psychic abilities to search for traces of his presence, while Theo and Allison scouted the surrounding areas for clues.
As they worked, Mia wrestled with her guilt and grief. She replayed the battle in her mind, tormenting herself with thoughts of what she could have done differently. But beneath her pain burned a fierce determination. "I won't let you go," she whispered to herself, clutching the necklace Scott had given her as a token of their bond.