The familiar smell of home greeted Aldrich as he stepped through the door, a comforting mix of his mother's cooking and the soft scent of lavender from the living room air freshener. He set down his bag with a soft thud, the weight of it grounding him for a moment. The apartment, though modest and cramped with only two rooms, always felt warm and safe. The second-floor flat was cluttered with old family photos, knick-knacks, and mismatched furniture—a place that had been filled with life, laughter, and the occasional argument over something as trivial as who forgot to take out the trash.
His mother's voice drifted from the kitchen as he stepped further inside, her tone concerned. "Aldrich?" she called, her voice full of warmth and worry. "Are you home? I heard from Sham that there was an accident yesterday. Are you alright?"
Aldrich's shoulders sagged, the weight of the conversation pulling at him before he even stepped into the kitchen. He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. The memories from yesterday—the chaos, the fear, the blood—came rushing back. But he had to keep it together. For her.
"I'm fine, Mom," he said as he rounded the corner, forcing a smile. Aileen stood by the stove, stirring something in a pot. The soft yellow light from the overhead bulb illuminated her features, making her look both timeless and tired. Her face softened when she saw him, her eyes instantly scanning him for any sign of injury.
"Sham told me about Jayson," she said, her hands stilling for a moment. "She said there was some kind of wild boar and a snake? That sounds... dangerous. What happened, Aldrich?"
Aldrich scratched the back of his neck, unsure how much to say. He had been so focused on getting through the immediate danger, he hadn't stopped to process everything himself. "Yeah, it was just Jayson who got hurt. Nothing too serious. He just got some scratches, a little blood, but nothing life-threatening."
His mother sighed, her face scrunching up in worry. She placed the spoon down and stepped toward him, placing her hands on his shoulders. "You have to be more careful, Aldrich. I can't keep losing sleep over you."
Aldrich smiled weakly. "I know, Mom. I'll be more careful."
She gave him a soft squeeze, then let go. "I'm just glad it wasn't worse. You're the most important thing to me, you know that?"
"I know, Mom," Aldrich replied, his throat tightening. He didn't say more, knowing that anything further would have made it harder for him to hold it together. She was right to worry. But he couldn't tell her the truth—the whole truth. That it wasn't just some wild animal they were dealing with. That there was something darker, something bigger coming. He couldn't burden her with that.
"I'll go to my room," Aldrich said after a beat. "I need to rest."
Aileen nodded, though her gaze lingered on him, as if she were trying to see past the front he was putting up. "Alright. Just... don't stay up too late. You've been through a lot."
Aldrich nodded and walked to his room, the small apartment feeling a little too cramped as his mind raced. His room, usually a haven of solitude, now felt like a cage. He glanced at his bed, then his desk—a clutter of half-finished projects, a gaming setup gathering dust, the remnants of a life that felt so far removed from the person he was becoming. He sighed and sat down, pulling out his phone.
He noticed Sham's message almost immediately:
Sham's message: "Hey, I'm going to my parents' house for a bit. I'll talk to you later."
Aldrich stared at the message for what felt like forever, his thumb hovering over the reply button. The silence of the room felt suffocating, and he found himself wishing for the noise of the outside world, the distractions that kept him from thinking too much. But he couldn't escape it. His thoughts kept circling back to the chaos of the past days—the fight, the runes, the power that surged through him.
He typed back, trying to keep his response light.
Aldrich's reply: "Be careful, Sham. Let me know when you get the chance."
He hit send, then stared at the screen, the weight of the unspoken words between them hanging in the air. The sadness. The uncertainty. The quiet ache of knowing they were both struggling to hold on.
On Monday morning, Aldrich woke up earlier than usual. His mind had been made up the night before, but it still felt surreal. It was time to let go, to step away from everything he had known. He packed his things quietly, his movements deliberate and slow. Each item he stuffed into his bag felt heavier than the last, and when he stood to leave, his gaze lingered on his empty desk.
Jayson, a man about his own age with a lean, toned frame and short-cropped hair, was already sitting at his desk, his usual energy missing. His dark eyes seemed tired, and there was an edge of resignation to his posture. He wasn't the old guy Aldrich had originally thought of. Jayson had always been the playful, carefree type, the one who cracked jokes when things got tough, but today, he was different.
"Hey, Aldrich, you headed out early today?" Jayson asked, his voice tinged with an unfamiliar flatness as he looked up from his computer.
"Yeah, I'm done here," Aldrich said quietly, the words tasting bitter on his tongue. "I'm resigning."
Jayson blinked in surprise. "What? Really? You quitting after everything?"
Aldrich shrugged. "I need a break. After what happened... I can't keep doing this. Not like everything's fine."
Jayson leaned back in his chair, looking at him thoughtfully. "I get it, man. If you need anything... anything at all, you know where to find me."
Aldrich smiled weakly. "Thanks, Jayson. I'll be fine." He didn't want to talk about it anymore. He grabbed his bag and headed for the door.
As he reached the elevator, he bumped into Sham and Jayson in the hallway. Their expressions were somber, and Aldrich could tell they had been waiting for this. The news was already out.
"You really going through with it?" Jayson asked, his tone more thoughtful now. "After everything?"
Aldrich nodded. "I need to, Jayson. I can't keep pretending things are normal when they're not."
Sham's eyes softened, her voice barely a whisper. "I get it," she said, her gaze lingering on him as if trying to memorize his face. "I'm resigning too. That day... it's still with me. It's not just the physical scars. It's everything. The fear, the panic. The uncertainty."
Aldrich nodded, a wave of relief washing over him. He hadn't expected her to say it, but it felt good to know that they weren't alone in this. "I'm glad you're doing what's best for you," he said quietly.
Jayson, ever the realist, gave them both a long look. "I'll stay. Someone has to keep the office running, right? But we'll keep in touch."
Sham walked Aldrich outside, her steps slow, deliberate. When they reached the street, she stopped and turned to him. "So, what's next? What's your plan now?"
Aldrich exhaled slowly, looking at the street around them. The city buzzed with its usual noise—the honking of car horns, the chatter of people walking by, the distant hum of construction. It was the same as always. But nothing felt the same. Not anymore.
"I'm going to train," he said finally. "Self-defense. That day... it was a wake-up call. I have to be ready for whatever's coming. I can't sit here, waiting for something worse to happen." His voice cracked slightly at the end, the weight of his words sinking in.
Sham nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. "I get it. You want to protect yourself... protect us. Just... don't go too far, okay?" She kissed him on the cheek, her lips warm against his skin. "Please, be careful."
Aldrich hugged her tightly, not wanting to let go. "I will. I promise."
Sham pulled back slightly, her hands resting on his shoulders. "I'll be here, Aldrich. We'll be here for you." Her voice was soft, but there was strength in it. "Just... take care of yourself."
Aldrich nodded, his throat tight. He watched as she walked away, her figure blending into the crowd. Then he turned, walking down the street, the sound of his footsteps drowning out everything else.
His reflection in the glass of a nearby building caught his attention—his tall, chubby frame was a stark contrast to the man he wanted to become. He wasn't the same person anymore. He couldn't be.
He jogged to the gym, his heart pounding with determination. When he reached the door, he didn't hesitate. He pushed it open and walked straight to Steve.
"I'm ready," Aldrich said, his voice steady.
Steve didn't say anything at first. He just looked at Aldrich for a moment, then nodded. "Good. It's time to start."
And with that, Aldrich's journey began. There would be no more running. No more hiding. It was time to face whatever came next.