ADONIS (Aiden)

The world around me was a void, a swirling, grey nothingness that stretched out infinitely.

Panic clawed at my chest as I tried to make sense of where I was. My breaths came quick and shallow, the cold grip of fear tightening around me.

"Where am I?" I muttered, turning in every direction, but all I could see was the endless expanse of grey.

Suddenly, the scene shifted. The oppressive gloom gave way to a breathtaking garden bathed in warm, golden sunlight.

Vibrant flowers of every color bloomed around me, their sweet fragrance filling the air. Birds chirped happily from the branches of lush, green trees.

I blinked, the sudden change leaving me momentarily stunned. As I took in the beauty around me, my eyes fell on a figure standing in the middle of the garden. It was my mother.

Her long, dark black hair cascaded down her back in gentle waves, and her beautiful sea green eyes, just like mine, sparkled with warmth and love. She wore a flowing, elegant dress that shimmered in the sunlight.

She glanced at me, a soft smile spreading across her lips. My heart leaped with joy, and a lump formed in my throat. "Mom," I whispered, taking a step toward her.

But just as I was about to reach her, a small figure ran past me. It was a young boy, no older than five, with a head full of wild, dark hair and rosy, cute cheeks.

My five-year-old self. He dashed into my mother's arms as if I were a ghost that never existed.

She knelt down, embracing him tightly, her fingers gently ruffling his hair. "Aw, Addy, see? I bought this just for you." She pulled out a small coconut cake from a delicate, woven basket.

"Thanks, Mommy!" Young me cheered, his face lighting up with a beautiful smile.

For a brief moment, happiness filled my heart as I watched the tender scene. But then, the dream turned dark and bloody. The serene garden morphed into a nightmarish landscape.

The sky darkened, and the vibrant flowers wilted and died. Blood stained the ground, and a chill ran down my spine.

"He's just a kid!! You can't put that cursed chain on him!" My mother's voice echoed through the chaos.

I turned to see her, standing defiantly before an elf elder, her eyes blazing with fury and desperation.

"Silence, you sinner!" The elder roared, his voice filled with venom. "You brought a cursed being upon us! This boy will turn into a monster one day! And it's your fault! You betrayed your people for a human!"

The elder raised his hand and struck her across the face. "No!" I screamed, reaching out to catch her, but my hand passed right through her as if she were nothing but a ghost.

The elder ignored her cries, his focus on the gem he held in his hands. A cold, unfeeling determination shone in his eyes as he prepared to place the cursed chain around my younger self's neck.

The nightmare continued to twist and morph. The elder's cold eyes locked onto my mother, and with a harsh gesture, he signaled for others to take her away.

Rough hands grabbed her arms, dragging her through the mud and grime. She struggled, her face a mask of despair and anger.

"Let me go!" she screamed, her voice breaking with anguish. "He's just a child!"

They ignored her pleas, treating her like a criminal. They shoved her into a cell, slamming the iron bars shut.

She fell to her knees, her once beautiful dress now torn and dirtied, her hair disheveled and eyes filled with tears.

"Mom!" I tried to reach her, but my feet wouldn't move. I was rooted to the spot, forced to watch helplessly as they mistreated her. Her sobs echoed in my ears, tearing at my heart.

The scene shifted again. I found myself in a dimly lit chamber, the air thick with tension. A circle of elders sat around a large, ornate table, their faces etched with stern resolve. They spoke in hushed tones, their words filled with malice and fear.

"The boy is a danger to us all," one elder said, his voice like gravel. "We can not allow him to live."

"But he is still a child," another argued, though his tone was less than sympathetic. "Is there no other way?"

"No," the first elder insisted. "His powers will only grow stronger. If we do not act, he will bring ruin upon us. We must execute him on his 21st birthday."

A murmur of agreement spread through the circle. They nodded solemnly, their decision final. The weight of their words hung heavy in the air.

Outside the chamber, hidden behind a door, a young boy stood in the pouring rain.

Tears streamed down his face, mixing with the raindrops that soaked his clothes. He clutched the gem tightly to his chest, his small body shaking with silent sobs.

The words of the elders cut deep, a knife twisting in his heart. He knew now that his fate was sealed, and the world he once knew was lost forever.

~~~~~

My eyes snapped open, my vision still blurry and unfocused. I reached up to touch my face, feeling the wetness on my cheeks. Turns out I had been crying in my sleep. Again.

I tried to get up, slowly lifting my body off whatever surface I was on until I was in a sitting position. Suddenly, something fell off my forehead and into my palm. It was a cold, wet cloth.

"Aiden!" A familiar voice called my name urgently. Well, my human name. I turned to see who it was, only to be enveloped in a tight hug. It was Mila.

"I was so worried. I can't believe you fought an elf and survived!" she exclaimed, holding onto me tighter.

I glanced at her with confusion. "What... happened? How did I get-... Wait! The dog, is Bella okay!?" I asked worriedly as I pulled away from her hug.

She smiled softly and nodded. "Ask her yourself."

She pointed at the now bandaged, cute dog sitting down and wagging her tail. Bella barked happily at me.

I chuckled to myself, relieved that this fluffy little dog now knew my secret. Thank god animals can't talk.

I looked back up at Mila. "Uh, still, where exactly are we?"

She moved out of the way, revealing a familiar figure behind her. "You're in my house," the guy said. As he got closer, I realized he wasn't someone I wished to meet anytime soon. Zane.

He smiled innocently, almost too lightly. "I was just passing by and saw two corpses laying on the ground helplessly. You can never imagine how surprised I was when I found out it was you. Aiden."

My mind raced. Zane. Why did it have to be him? I forced a smile, trying to hide my unease. "Thanks for the rescue. I owe you one."

He waved his hand dismissively. "No need for that. What are friends for, right?" His ember honey eyes sparkled with a strange intensity, and I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his 'rescue' than he was letting on.

Mila, oblivious to my discomfort, beamed at him. "He really helped us, Aiden. He got Bella to a vet and took care of you. When the weather got really cold and stormy, I really thought you wouldn't make it..." She uttered gratefully. Her eyes were full of concern and empathy.

I nodded, still wary. "Thanks, Zane. Really."

His smile widened. "Don't mention it. But you should rest. "

I glanced at Bella, then back at Mila. "We should get going soon. We can't stay here long."

Mila frowned. "But you're still weak and feverish, and Bella needs more time to heal." She said as she placed a hand on my forehead.

Zane chimed in, his voice smooth. "She's right, Aiden. You need to recover fully. My place is safe. No one will find you here."

I didn't like the idea of staying, but he had a point. I was in no shape to go anywhere, and Bella needed more care. I sighed, nodding reluctantly. "Fine. We'll stay. Just for tonight."

Zane's smile seemed to grow even more, if that was possible. "Good. Now, how about some food? You must be starving. I am a great cook. So trust me!" He exclaimed cheerfully.

~~~~~
MILA: ZANE'S HOUSE

I decided to stay by Aiden's side after dinner and called Grandma, informing her that I was staying out tonight.

The room was quiet except for the occasional murmur from Aiden and the soft padding of Bella's paws as she tried to comfort him.

His fever was relentless, making him sweat through his clothes, and the small whimpers that escaped his lips broke my heart.

He kept frowning and wincing as if something was tormenting him beyond the reach of reality.

His mumbling was almost incoherent, a mix of desperate pleas and haunting memories. "Mom... No..." he whispered incoherently.

Each time he spoke, Bella would lick his hand and nudge him gently, trying to offer some solace.

The dog's attempts to comfort him were endearing, but they did little to ease the pain Aiden was clearly enduring.

I brushed a damp strand of hair from Aiden's forehead, noting the white lock among the dark strands.

I couldn't tell if my eyes were playing tricks on me. Or did that white lock get bigger than last time.

"Aiden," I whispered softly, my voice trembling. "Who really are you?" I asked, knowing deep down that he's not gonna answer me. But I just felt that there was something deep to him.

Something beyond just a handsome model who appeared out of nowhere.

He continued to mumble, his face twisted in pain. I dabbed a cold cloth on his forehead, trying to bring his fever down, but he was restless.

Every now and then, I would look at Bella, who stayed close to Aiden, her eyes full of concern.

It made me smile a bit. Snice she was completely aware that he was the one who saved her, and she was grateful for that.

But that smile soon faded when I saw him frowning and wincing in pain. "Stop... you..." he muttered breathlessly, shaking his head restlessly. As if trying to escape from something. "Stop..." he gasped out, clearly having a bad nightmare.

I shook him a bit, trying to wake him up. "Hey, Aiden. It's okay. Wake up." I whispered softly.

It took him a minute before he jolted up and snapped out of his sleep. Breathing heavily and maybe shivering a bit. "They... they... she's dead... she's..." he muttered, his eyes wide with fear.

I placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him down. "It's just a dream. Everything is going to be okay. Just calm down."

Gradually, his breathing started to slow down, but he kept his face covered by his palms. And his body was still shaking slightly.

"You're safe here. It's okay." I whispered reassuringly. And patted his shoulder.

He didn't say anything, but instead, he dropped his head into my shoulder. Leaning closer to me. His hair fell limply on both sides of his face, covering his eyes.

"What are you-" I tried to push him politely, but he held my hands to stop me.

"Just a little bit. Please." He whispered in a voice barely audible. "I don't... wanna hurt you anymore." He mumbled again under his breath. It took me some effort to know exactly what he was saying. And to be honest, it didn't make any sense.

It was clear that he was just hallucinating because of the fever. But something about this vulnerability made me feel... different about him.

"Fine, you can stay like this. But for only ten minutes." I said as I pulled away my hands, allowing him to rest his head on my shoulder.

"Ten minutes." He repeated incoherently. And let out a long sigh of relief.

Though his body usually felt really cold and chilly. For the first time, he actually felt kinda warm in a soothing way.

Maybe it was just the fever. But deep down, I really liked this new side of him.

<~~~~>