AT THE SAME TIME
XAVIER'S POINT OF VIEW:
Xavier's face was so close now, I could practically feel the warmth of his breath. He wasn't letting go. And, despite the fight in me, a part of me didn't want him to.
I wanted to scream. I wanted to push him away and run as far as I could, but the truth was I was tired. So tired of running. His words echoed in my mind, and I couldn't ignore the cold truth in them. I was scared. Not just of him, or Alastor, or even the temple. I was scared of being alone, of being stuck in that endless cycle where no one saw me as anything more than a tool.
"Friendship level with Xavier: 32%." System said.
I blinked, my breath catching in my throat.
No. I didn't want this. I didn't want to be tied to anyone, especially not him. But the number was there, glowing in the corner of my vision. It had risen. Again.
I could feel my pulse quicken as the system's presence loomed just behind me, an invisible force that was dictating my every move. Every word I spoke, every choice I made it was all somehow connected to the percentages. And now... now, with Xavier standing so close, the connection felt stronger. Too strong.
I pulled in a shaky breath, trying to push the panic down.
"No." I whispered under my breath. "No, no, no..."
Xavier raised an eyebrow at the sudden change in my demeanour. He seemed to sense the shift, and his grip loosened just slightly as if trying to read my mind.
"What's wrong?" His voice became softer.
I couldn't look at him. I couldn't. My heart was racing in my chest, my mind whirling in confusion. How could I be feeling this way? How could I be letting him affect me like this?
"You're... you're not going to let me go, are you?" I finally managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.
He didn't answer immediately, his gaze fixed on me with a strange intensity. I could see the confusion in his eyes too, but it wasn't enough to make him loosen his grip.
"You're not the only one afraid, you know." His voice was low, almost too soft, and I couldn't understand what he meant.
I swallowed hard.
"What does that mean?"I asked.
He didn't answer right away, and for a brief moment, we just stood there, both of us tangled in something neither of us had expected. But inside, all I could think about was that damned percentage. And the sudden, overwhelming urge to run again. To escape before I got too deep into something I wasn't ready for. The system was playing with me.
Before I could process what I was feeling, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from behind us, growing louder by the second. My heart nearly stopped. My instinct kicked in, and panic surged through me like a tidal wave. I had no time to think. I couldn't be caught again not by them, not by anyone. Without a second thought, I yanked my arm from Xavier's grasp and turned, my legs already moving faster than my mind could keep up.
"Wait!" Xavier's voice cut through the air, but I wasn't stopping.
I could hear him following me, his footsteps gaining on mine. I didn't want him to be involved, but I couldn't stop myself. The fear of being captured again the fear of being trapped, of being controlled was too much. The guards were close, too close. I had to get away. I had to find a way out. I darted into the trees, heart pounding, breath ragged. I could hear Xavier behind me, his voice calling out to me, but I didn't care. He was just going to slow me down. I couldn't let him stop me.
I pushed myself harder, the edge of the forest finally coming into view. My legs burned, my breath shallow and quick, but I wasn't about to let anyone catch me again. And then, in one horrifying moment, I tripped. My foot caught on a branch, and I stumbled forward, my body crashing against Xavier's with a loud gasp.
"Damn it, Isabella-" Xavier's arms instinctively wrapped around me to steady me. But it was too late.
The force of my fall knocked both of us to the ground. Before I could push him away, I heard it. The unmistakable sound of the guards' voices in the distance, growing louder as they approached. They were closing in.
"No…" My voice trembled as I pushed myself up, pulling away from Xavier's grip.
I could feel the panic bubbling up inside me again, threatening to choke me. I forced myself to stand, but my legs were shaking. The cliff was right in front of me now, the drop steep and dangerous, a jagged fall to the waters below. I was running out of options. I turned toward Xavier, who was on his feet now, his expression a mix of confusion and concern.
"Isabella, where are you-?"He tried to talk to me.
"I have no choice!" I shouted, the words spilling out before I could stop them. "I can't go back. They'll take me. I can't go back to the temple. They won't let me live. They won't let me go!"
The tears threatened to spill from my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Not now. Not when I was so close to losing everything.
"Isabella, wait-" Xavier's voice cracked with desperation, but it only pushed me further toward the edge.
I couldn't stop. I couldn't think. Without another word, I took a step back, eyes fixed on the cliff, my breath coming out in ragged gasps. I didn't want to do this. But if I had no other choice... Before I knew it, my foot slipped. I reached out instinctively to grab hold of something anything but my hand collided with Xavier's, and just like that, we both went over the edge.
I barely had time to scream before everything went dark.