Shadows Beneath the Morning
The first light of dawn kissed the settlement's rooftops, casting soft golden hues over the quiet streets. Morning dew clung to every surface, glimmering faintly in the sunlight. The settlement awoke slowly, with its usual hum of daily life creeping back—merchants calling out their wares, children laughing, and the sound of carts rolling across cobblestones.
Inside the lodging, the air was warm with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and baked bread. The group sat together for breakfast, the table piled high with supplies gathered the day before. For the first time in weeks, laughter drifted softly among them, though it was tentative, like a fragile thread that could snap at any moment.
Margot, however, remained silent. Her sharp gaze flicked between Elias and Maddy, observing them with the precision of a hawk.
Later that morning, Caleb found Maddy seated on the porch, her knees drawn up to her chest. She stared out at the horizon, her face pale and drawn. Her once-bright eyes held a shadow now, a haunted look that hadn't been there before.
"Maddy?" Caleb's voice was soft, careful not to startle her.
She didn't look at him as he sat beside her, his heavy frame making the wooden steps creak. The silence between them stretched, broken only by the distant sounds of the market bustling to life.
"You've been quiet," Caleb said, his tone gentle. "Too quiet."
Maddy's lips parted, but no words came. She ran a hand through her dark curls, exhaling shakily.
"I'm scared," she said at last, her voice barely above a whisper.
Caleb frowned, his hand resting on her shoulder. "What are you scared of?"
Her gaze turned to him then, her eyes glistening. "Elias. Not because of him," she added quickly, seeing the concern in his face. "But because of what he is. Because of what he's had to do."
Caleb's brow furrowed. "What do you mean? What is he?"
Maddy hesitated, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap. "He's not… like us, Caleb. He's not human. He saved me after I died, but I don't remember how. It's like… pieces of my memory are missing. But I've seen enough to know he's not ordinary. He's something else entirely."
Caleb sat back, the weight of her words pressing against his chest. "Maddy… you're saying Elias isn't human? That he's… what? Some kind of creature?"
"Yes," Maddy said quietly. "I don't know exactly what he is, but I've seen glimpses. He's powerful, Caleb. He fought the guardian and won. He's faced shadows worse than anything we've ever encountered—and he didn't flinch. He wants to destroy this City as much as we do, maybe more."
Caleb rubbed his face with his hands, struggling to process what she was telling him. "And you're sure he doesn't mean us harm?"
Maddy's lips trembled, but she nodded. "Elias saved me, Caleb. He brought me back when I was gone. If he wanted to hurt us, he would have done it by now. But…"
"But what?"
Maddy swallowed hard, her voice lowering. "There's someone coming. Someone worse than the Architect. His name is Dex. Even the shadows of this City are terrified of him. That's why Elias didn't come back right away—he's been watching Dex, trying to learn his movements but you must not tell anyone this not a single soul "
"I promise Maddy I won't say a word about this "Dex"," Caleb's voice was barely above a whisper. The name sent a chill down his spine.
"Yes," Maddy said, her voice trembling. "I don't know what he is, but he's powerful. Elias hasn't said much about him, but I can tell he's scared. And if Elias is scared…" Her voice broke. "Then we're in trouble."
Caleb placed a hand over hers, his voice firm despite the unease creeping into his heart. "We'll face it together, Maddy. Whatever comes next, I won't let anything happen to you again. I swear."
Maddy gave him a faint smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "You don't have to protect me, Caleb. I'm stronger now. I promise I'll be myself again, but… what I've seen weighs on me. It's hard to forget. Sometimes, it even follows me into my dreams."
Caleb's grip on her hand tightened. "You don't have to face it alone. We'll get through this. All of us."
Maddy nodded, though her gaze drifted back to the horizon, a flicker of fear still lingering in her expression.
The market was bustling, the streets alive with color and sound. Vendors called out their wares, hawking everything from fresh produce to handcrafted trinkets. Lara moved through the crowd, her basket swinging at her side as she gathered ingredients for dinner.
She paused at a stall selling spices, her attention caught by the vivid hues of saffron and paprika. As she handed over a few coins, a sudden chill swept over her, making her shiver despite the warmth of the sun.
When she turned, her eyes fell on a man standing near the center of the square.
He was strikingly handsome, his dark hair neatly styled and his piercing gray eyes scanning the crowd. His black coat, tailored and immaculate, set him apart from the bustling marketgoers. But it wasn't his looks that froze Lara in place—it was the aura of cold detachment that radiated from him.
The girls in the market whispered among themselves, their gazes lingering on him with open admiration. Yet no one dared approach.
Before Lara could look away, the man's eyes locked onto hers. Her heart stuttered as he began walking toward her, his steps deliberate and unhurried.
"You're Lara," he said, his voice smooth and unnervingly calm.
Lara clutched her basket tighter, her breath catching. "How do you know my name?"
He tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "Because you hold the key to understanding this City. The photograph you once had—that is where it begins. The first step to ending the madness is to know its origins."
Lara blinked, confused. "What photograph?"
But before she could ask more, the man turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd as though he had never been there.
Lara returned to the house in a rush, her thoughts racing. She found Elias and Margot in the common room, where they were discussing the day's plans.
"I met someone," Lara said, her voice urgent. "In the market. He knew my name. He mentioned a photograph and said it's the first step to understanding the City."
Elias stiffened, his jaw tightening.
Margot noticed instantly, her sharp eyes narrowing. "You know something about this, don't you?"
Elias didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the floor.
Margot stepped closer, her tone turning accusatory. "You've been holding back, Elias. First the healing stone, now this? How much are you hiding from us?"
"I'm trying to protect you," Elias said, his voice low and strained.
"Protect us?" Margot snapped. "By keeping us in the dark? Do you even care what happens to us, or are we just pawns in whatever game you're playing?"
Elias's fists clenched, his body trembling with restrained emotion. "You don't understand—"
"Then make us understand!" Margot shouted, her frustration boiling over.
The tension in the room was suffocating, the argument escalating until Tobias entered, his expression stern. "That's enough," he said, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.
Elias turned abruptly, grabbing Lara's arm. "We're leaving," he muttered, pulling her out the door.
Elias led Lara to the edge of the settlement, his grip on her arm firm but not painful. When they finally stopped, she pulled free, her chest heaving.
"What's going on, Elias?" she demanded. "What aren't you telling us?"
Elias's shoulders slumped, and he turned away from her, his voice trembling. "I've lost everything, Lara. My parents, my siblings… I was there when the shadows tore them apart. I couldn't save them."
Lara's heart broke at the pain in his voice. She stepped closer, reaching out to him. "Elias…"
He shook his head, his breath hitching. "That's when it happened. The grief, the anger… It changed me."
His body began to shift, his skin darkening and black veins spreading across his arms , and his eyes glowed red.
Lara gasped, stumbling back.
"This is what I am," Elias said, his voice hollow. "A demon. A monster."
But instead of running, Lara stepped forward, her hand trembling as she touched his arm. "You're not a monster," she whispered. "You're the man who saved me. The man I love."
Elias's demonic form flickered and faded as tears slid down his cheeks. He pulled Lara into his arms, holding her tightly as the weight of his past poured out in broken sobs.