Shattered Illusions

Elena's Point of view:

"Do not you dare walk away from me again." Orion's voice is low, yet it radiates a ferocious will that shivers me.

He approaches me with deliberate steps narrowing the distance, his eyes fixed on mine as though he could see the maelstrom whirling in my soul.

I want to reply, but the words lodge in my throat, trapped between dread, wrath, and something more. fragile something.

Though the danger we both know lies just out of sight, his presence is like a magnet drawing me closer despite the anarchy all around us.

Though all I can do is stare at him, I want to yell and ask him how we got here. His face, marked in harsh lines of determination, shows nothing of the struggle building between us.

Not since Marie, not since everything collapsed.

"You promised," I responded, my voice quivering slightly even with my best attempts to be cool. "You said we would be in this together, fighting this beast side by side.

Still, you..." My words stumble, the wrath poised to surface.

" Orion, you lied to me. You gave me betrayal. His eyes soften, nearly sorrowful, as his jaw gets stiff.

"I never wanted to hurt you," he continues, approaching closely and speaking a raspy whisper.

"None of this is what I wanted. But as you turned away... I had no option.At his comments, I gently back off; my chest tightens as everything weighs down on me. You had a choice, I say, my heart racing.

"You always have a choice." The tension building between us for days, for weeks crackles in the air.

The lying, the secrets, the treachery. How did I get here? Tell me, then, Orion continues, his voice softening but his eyes never leave me.

How did this disaster become our reality? "Tell me how I could correct it. Since I'm not sure how to mend what's broken between us.

"Unshed tears stinging in my eyes make sense. I am inclined to believe him.

I want to think that whatever this is between us, is recoverable. Still, the betrayal hurts like salt in a wound, and I'm not sure whether I can believe him going forward.

But before I can reply, something sharp rips through the air, and all of a sudden things change.

From the shadows a person appears, their shape only discernible in the low light.

My heart pauses, then I turn, grasping for Orion's arm automatically.

His breath steady on my ear as his muscles stiff under my fingertips he brings me nearer.

The stranger adds, their voice mocking, chilly, "Looks like you two have some unfinished business.

"My gut becomes empty as awareness strikes. I am familiar with voice. That presence is known.

Marie. "My breath freezes; before I can even register a reply, she enters the light, her face contorted into a smile. Her eyes shining with a cold, hostile fire, "Did you really think you could escape me, Elena?" she taunts.

"What are you doing here? I gasp out with a shaking voice.

Why... Why are you doing this? Marie shrugs lazily, staring alternately between Orion and me.

"Oh, I'm here just for the performance. You know, to ensure that events follow the schedule.

What plan?" Orion has a deep, deadly voice.

He approaches me with a protective posture and never looks away from Marie.

Marie laughs, a little, austere sound.

She lacks humor. You honestly do not know, do you? I had been waiting for this very long time.

All the components are at last in place.

You have performed your roles; now... Her grin opens out but lacks warmth.

"Now, the real fun starts.

"My pulse increases. The intention was not to include this.

Not meant to happen was this.

The barricades I believed to be collapsing around me have evolved into something far worse, a trap.

A trap put in place right from the start.Orion advances, his hand grabbing for his weapon, his eyes blazing with determination.

"What do you desire, Marie?"She replies simply, "I want everything," her voice a chilly whisper in the nighttime air.

And you are in the way. Everything suddenly changes like a switch turning on. The air gets thicker, heavier, and I get a coldness that shills me all the way through.

Though my instincts scream at me to run, I am unable. Not now. Not when all around us everything is going to crumble.

Orion growls, his voice harsh with a mix of rage and will, "I won't let you do this." "Elena, we are leaving here. We are not letting her triumph.

My heart thumping in my chest, I look at him.

But Marie's smile falters and her eyes tighten as she retreat into the shadows, her speech dripping with hatred before I could react.

"Oh, but Orion, it is already too late for that.

The game ended already. Already in action are the parts. And now your chance to lose.

"Though I can't be sure, the last thing I hear is a sound, maybe footsteps, a gunshot, or something far worse.

My body jerks in Orion's arms as my planet whirl around us into night.

The only things I know for sure are the icy, stifling sense of anxiety around my chest and the knowledge that we are rapidly plunging into a dream we cannot flee.

And everything quietens exactly like that. A gunshot sounds out in the darkness. And in that instant I'm not sure whether I will ever see dawn once more.

Except for the sound of the gunshot, the room goes quiet.

My pulse rushes as I try to understand what just transpired.

"Orion! " I scream, my voice unvarnished with terror.

My hands seek him automatically in the stifling gloom. He is here next to me, his breathing erratic and laboured.Though his voice is strained, he adds, "I'm fine." lies.

The room has a terrible glare when the low emergency lights blink back on. Searching for Marie, my eyes darted about but she was gone.

The air smells metallic, like blood. Sharp and stifling.Orion holds his side, his hand firmly pushed against his bright scarlet shirt."You're not fine," I say, shakily.

"You're right."He tries to stand but his knees buckle; "We don't have time for this," he says between gritted teeth. I seize him, hardly holding him straight.

"You think I'm allowing you to bleed out here?" I grab, rage stoked by dread. "Not a possibility."Chills down my spine from the corner of the room, a low, mocking chuckle.

"You two are pathetic," Marie says from the darkness. "Always acting the heroes, always believing you could succeed.

Show yourself!" I shout, my voice cracking under irritation.

"No need," she says with a nasty tone. "I've already prevailed. If you survive your last hours together. Enjoy them.