"The Ethan you knew... can't hear you anymore. I... Lyrus Celestial, the God of Chaos, am the one controlling his body now." [Lyrus's voice rang with cruel amusement, a cold laugh escaping his lips.]
Ava fought against him, her movements frantic, but it was useless. No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't break free from Lyrus's overwhelming strength.
"E – Ethan… I know you're listening." [Ava's voice was weak, each word coming slower as her breath grew shallower.] "The Ethan I knew... the Ethan I love... he would never hurt me. Wake up, Ethan. Fight him. It's your body, not his."
Her words were desperate, but as she struggled, it became clear—no matter how hard she fought, it was all in vain. Her strength was slipping away, and the weight of helplessness crushed her
Ethan (Lyrus) smirked, but then, without warning, the vice-like grip around Ava's neck loosened, and finally, it disappeared completely.
Ava gasped for air, coughing violently as her body shook, her face flushed a deep red. Her breaths came in ragged, desperate gasps.
Ethan's hand trembled, and for the first time, something raw and furious broke through his calm:
"GET… OUT OF MY BODY…" [he shouted, his voice strained with a mix of fury and desperation.]
Suddenly, a shadowy soul form erupted from Ethan's body, slamming into the wall with a sickening thud.
For a brief moment, Lyrus's soul form became visible—dark, powerful, and twisted—its presence palpable to anyone who witnessed it.
Ethan collapsed to his knees, a wave of pain surging through him from the wounds. His breath came in labored gasps, each inhale sending jolts of agony through his body.
Before he could collapse further, Ava was there, her arms wrapping around him, holding him close.
"I—I told you... I'll protect you, no matter the situation." [Ethan panted, his voice weak but filled with a sense of determination, despite the pain.]
Ava nodded, pulling him closer, her arms tightening around him as tears streamed down her face, unchecked and relentless.
Yet through the flood of emotions, a faint smile tugged at her lips—a smile that showed, despite everything, Ethan was back.
"IMPOSSIBLE..." [Lyrus's soul form roared in fury, his voice a storm of rage that seemed to shake the very air around them.]
Lyrus tried again to force his way back into Ethan's body, but with each attempt, he was met with resistance, as if an invisible, unyielding barrier was protecting Ethan.
His frustration grew with each failed attempt.
Ava tightened her hold on Ethan, wrapping herself around him as if to shield him from the world.
Raw, seething anger surged through Lyrus at his failure. With a clenched fist, he turned to Karnixm, his voice cold and commanding.
"Kill them. Now."
Karnixm, understanding the order without hesitation, advanced toward them, his steps heavy and purposeful, determined to carry out the command.
Ava's heart pounded as she saw Karnixm closing in. A cold dread settled in her chest, but she didn't loosen her hold on Ethan.
Instead, she clung to him even tighter, wrapping herself around him as if she could shield him from what was coming.
She shut her eyes, letting the warm tears trail down her face, yet somehow, a soft, broken smile touched her lips,
"We'll die together, Ethan," [she whispered, her voice trembling but certain.] "I'm not leaving you… not until my last breath."
Her fingers curled into his clothes, holding onto him as if that alone could keep him with her a little longer. She wasn't afraid anymore—not as long as she was with him.
Karnixm raised his claw, ready to strike. Lyrus watched the scene unfold, his eyes glinting with both excitement and frustration—frustration that he would soon have to find another vessel capable of containing him.
But just as Karnixm prepared to deliver the final blow, a sudden flash of light burst from Daniel's coat—blinding, radiant, piercing through the suffocating darkness.
[Lyrus's expression twisted in rage.] "Why did you stop? Kill them immediately!" [he roared.]
Yet Karnixm didn't move. His massive form stood frozen, as if an unseen force had wrapped around him, holding him back. His claws trembled mid-air, but no matter how much he tried, he couldn't take another step.
Something—someone—was stopping him
Suddenly, the NeuroMorphX1—the device hidden in Daniel's pocket—emerged, spinning so fast it became a blur, faster than the naked eye could follow.
A surge of radiant light erupted from it, engulfing Karnixm entirely. His body convulsed, twisting unnaturally as the light wrapped around him like chains.
Then, piece by piece, his form began to disintegrate, dissolving into the air as if he were being unraveled at a molecular level.
"M – M – Master… H – Help…" [Karnixm choked out, his voice barely a whisper.]
"I – Impossible" [Lyrus roared, his voice laced with fury and disbelief.]
He watched in horror as Karnixm vanished before his eyes, his confidence cracking for the first time. A chill ran through his veins as he realized the device was still spinning—faster, stronger, its glow intensifying.
Lyrus's soul form twisted and writhed as the light of the device wrapped around him like chains. He snarled, clawing at the air, his voice thick with rage
"You can't capture me…" [Lyrus roared in anger] "I'm God of Chaos –"
He stopped as he noticed his soul form started burning in blue flames.
He roared once again, and tried to enter Ethan's body but the invisible barrier around Ethan flared to life, repelling him with a blast of searing energy.
Fear gripped him as the realization sank in—there was nowhere to run.
He staggered back, panic surging through him, and then turned to run—but it was too late. The light caught him, wrapping around him like unbreakable chains, binding his very soul.
He struggled, thrashed, but it was useless. In this form, he was powerless.
"No! Noooooo…" [he howled, his scream echoing into the room as his soul ignited, burning away until nothing remained. Not even a trace.]
Ava and Ethan watched the scene before their eyes, their eyes wide as they watched the scene unfold before them.
The NeuroMorphX1 continued to rotate in mid-air, its light expanding outward in waves, consuming everything in its path.
The light spread relentlessly, sweeping across the world itself. Outside, the monsters—those terrifying beasts that had terrorized them—began to disintegrate, their bodies turning to dust as the light washed over them.
Ethan's gaze shifted, and his heart sank when he noticed Daniel, unconscious, lying nearby. Slowly, even Daniel's form began to dissolve into the air, fading just like the monsters.
"No… D – Daniel…" [Ethan whispered; his voice barely audible as the last traces of his friend disappeared.]
Ava's eyes followed Ethan's gaze, her breath catching as she watched Daniel's form fade into nothing, completely absorbed by the light. It was as if he had never been there at all.
"W – We, finally won, Ethan" [Ava whispered, a tear of joy slipping down her cheek, despite the overwhelming grief that still clung to her.]
But as her gaze fell on Ethan, her heart lurched. Blood stained his clothes, and too much of it had already spilled. His breaths were shallow now, slowing with each passing second.
Ava cupped Ethan's face, her fingers trembling.
"No… no… this can't be happening," [she whispered, her voice breaking. Tears fell freely, but she didn't care. She would give anything to keep him here.]
Ethan gave her a weak smile, his hand slowly brushing against hers.
"Ava… I—" [His breath hitched, his voice barely a whisper.]
"No," [Ava interrupted, shaking her head.] "You don't have to say anything. Just stay with me. Just—" [Her voice cracked, and a sob escaped her throat.]
She pressed her forehead to his, her hands gripping his shoulders as if holding him would keep him from slipping away.
"Ethan, do you remember the night we first met? At Wings Hotel? The way you looked at me and shake my hand… like I was just a person… not a celebrity, not someone famous—just Ava. That was the moment I—"
His breath slowed. The warmth in his skin faded.
"No—NO, please!" [She pulled him closer, shaking her head violently.] "Ethan, I LOVE YOU! Please, just—"
But his body had already gone cold in her arms
Ava's wrap herself around Ethan tightly and buried her face on his neck as tears flowed down continuously through her eyes.
"Why – why – why? It should me… not you…" [Ava choked out, her voice growing hoarse, as tears poured down her cheeks without end.]
The weight of her words hung in the air, a desperate plea that only echoed in the silence.
Finally, the device came to a stop. With a soft, almost final puffing sound, it vanished, leaving nothing but the emptiness that now filled the space around them.
…
2 WEEKS LATER
"Knock – Knock"
Alicia opened the door, her gaze softening when she saw Ava standing there.
Ava was dressed simply in a white dress, no jewellery to distract from her natural beauty.
The confidence that once filled her eyes had faded, replaced by a quiet sorrow, but there was still a warmth in her gaze—a warmth that was all for Ethan.
Her white hair cascaded down her back, glowing softly in the light, as though her very presence was a quiet, ethereal beauty.
In her hand, she held a small bouquet of white lilies, their delicate petals a silent testament to the love and loss she carried.
Alicia, on the other hand, wore a simple brown gown, her eyes shadowed with grief. Dark circles lingered beneath them, signs of the nights spent crying, mourning the loss of her son.
Her lighter brown hair was clean but messy, as though the weight of the world had left her with little energy to care for it.
"Please – come inside." [Alicia spoke softly, her faint smile unable to mask the deep sadness and grief in her eyes.]
Ava nodded and stepped inside, offering Alicia a faint smile in return. But as she crossed the threshold, a faint memory flashed through her mind—how that night had changed everything.
Her gaze flickered to the spot where she had held Ethan for the last time, the memory of his warmth still lingering in her heart, even as the emptiness settled in.
She entered the living room and sat down on the sofa, placing the bouquet on the table before her, her eyes scanning the cozy room, trying to find something familiar to hold onto.
Suddenly her gaze drifted, it landed on a photo hanging on the wall—a photo she knew all too well.
It was Ethan's photo, his smile as warm and bright as she remembered. The sight of it brought tears to her eyes, the ache in her chest deepening.
Unable to stay seated, she stood up and moved toward the photo. Her hand hovered over the frame, trembling slightly, as if afraid to touch it.
"He saved us… by costing his own life." [Alicia said, her voice breaking as a sob escaped her.]
Ava quickly wiped away her own tears, her heart heavy with the truth of Alicia's words. As her gaze shifted, she noticed a glass of water in Alicia's hand.
Without a word, Alicia handed it to her, and Ava took it gratefully, her fingers brushing the cool glass.
Ava went toward sofa and moved to sit beside Alicia, Ava's body sinking slowly onto the sofa as she drank the water, trying to steady herself. Once finished, she placed the empty glass on the table in front of her.
The two women sat in silence, the weight of their shared grief hanging in the air, neither knowing what to say to ease the pain that seemed to fill the room.
…
…
…