Not on our watch

Ed’s POV 

  My heart hurt, and I felt a tight ache in my chest as I fought to pry my eyes open. The world was shrouded in a dim haze, but as I blinked against the dimness, a familiar figure came into focus. Eliza’s beautiful face floated before me, radiant even in this murky world. 

  “Eliza,” I called out, a hoarse whisper barely piercing the quiet. But as the clarity settled in, I realised she wasn’t there. My heart sank, disappointment crashing over me like icy waves. This was just a figment of my mind, a desperate dream conjured from the depths of my longing.

  Confusion tangled with grief, leaving me disoriented and unsettled. Where was I? What had happened? I tried to push myself up but found my limbs heavy as if weighed down by invisible chains. Panic surged through me, fluttering in my chest like a frantic bird desperate to escape its cage.

  I scanned my surroundings, the muted light casting long shadows. The walls around me appeared rough, crumbling concrete that groaned under the weight of time. It felt familiar yet foreboding, as if I had entered a world that was both an echo and a nightmare. 

  Eliza’s laughter danced in the corners of my mind. It was a flicker of warmth, a reminder of happiness—her smile, her fierce spirit—but it felt tainted by something dark, something that lurked in the very fabric of this place. “What is happening?” I murmured to myself, trembling in the eerie silence. 

  I concentrated on the ebb and flow of my breath, grounding myself in the moment. Fragments of memories began to stitch together, each one sharper than the last. The battle, the voices, the chaos flooded back like a tidal wave. 

  “Eliza…” I breathed, desperately seeking that bond we shared. There was an unyielding connection between us, and in this dark moment, I focused on it. Where was she? Was she safe? The gnawing fear tightened around my heart again, making it hard to think clearly. 

  In a sudden burst of clarity, I remembered the last moments I had spent outside—the tension in the air, the oppressive sense of dread. Yelda’s face, twisted with malice, came rushing into focus. I had fought; I remembered the surge of power coursing through my veins, the primal urge to protect my mate at all costs. 

  But then… darkness. A daunting void where the pain had overwhelmed me, dragging me down into the abyss. 

  “Get up, Ed,” I urged myself, a whisper of determination breaking through the haze. “You need to find her.” 

  Using every ounce of strength I had left, I pushed against the weight of my own body, forcing myself to sit. The room spun slightly, but I steadied myself, taking deep breaths. There had to be a way out of here. I could feel it—my instincts screamed at me, urging me to break free.

  My gaze drifted toward a flickering light seeping in through a crack in the wall. Hope ignited—if I could reach that light, maybe I could find Eliza. Perhaps I could return to her and fight whatever darkness Yelda had wrought upon us.

  With trembling limbs, I shifted my weight and swung my legs over the edge of the makeshift cot beneath me. The cold surface sent a shiver up my spine, but the flicker of light beckoned, warmer than the pang of fear that gripped me.

  “Hold on, Eliza. I’m coming,” I vowed, my voice firmer now as I put one foot in front of the other. Each step resonated with purpose, fueled by the love that anchored me. I wasn’t going to let this darkness win. Not now, not ever. 

  As I edged toward the glow, I promised myself I would fight through whatever barriers stood. For myself, for my mate, and for the bond that shadows couldn’t break. The journey ahead would be rife with challenges, but I wouldn’t falter. I was coming for you, Eliza.

  “Ed, is that you?” A familiar voice called out, cutting through the encroaching shadows. My heart skipped a beat, a spark of recognition igniting in my chest.

  “Rio?” I exclaimed, relief flooding my veins as his name fell from my lips. In this desolate place, the very sound of my brother’s voice felt like a lifeline, a thread woven back into the fabric of my reality. “Where are you?”

  “Here! Over here!” His voice came again, rising from the depths of the darkness. I turned toward the sound, tentatively moving toward it. The flickering light guided my steps, each carrying me closer to the warmth of family. 

  A few more steps, and I could see him—my brother, dishevelled but alive, crouched low near the edge of our crumbling surroundings. Relief washed over me, settling into my bones. “I thought I lost you!” I rushed toward him, the world's weight lifting slightly as I reached his side.

  “Same here, man,” he admitted, his expression shifting from worry to a hesitant smile. There was a shared understanding in that relief, an unspoken acknowledgement of the battles we had faced together and apart. "I woke up a little while ago, and it took me forever to figure out where the hell we are."

  “I don’t know either,” I replied, trying to shake off the lingering confusion. “Yelda… she must have done this. She’s trying to break us, to tear us apart.” 

  Rio scowled, a flicker of anger igniting in his eyes. “We can’t let her win. You know she won’t stop until she has what she wants.” 

  I nodded, the gravity of those words weighing heavily on my shoulders. “We have to find Eliza. I can’t leave her out there.”

  “Agreed,” he said, determination blazing in his gaze. “But first, we need to figure out how to get out of this place. We have to find a way to fight back and reclaim what’s ours.” 

  A sudden crash echoed through the dim space, causing both of us to tense. Instinctively, I drew closer to Rio, ready to face whatever threat loomed. “Did you hear that?” I whispered, scanning the shadows that danced within the room's corners. 

  “Yeah,” he replied, his voice low. “We should stay alert. Rylan and Enz must be around here somewhere.” 

  With a tight nod, I focused on the sound of shifting shadows and muffled voices. The air crackled with tension, heavy with the unknown. “If they’re here, it means we’re not alone. And Yelda can’t be far.”

  “Let’s move,” Rio urged, his expression fierce. “We’ll find a way out together.”

  We stepped cautiously through the crushing darkness, our senses heightened. I recalled the flicker of light that had beckoned me earlier, now completely overtaken by the surrounding shadows. I felt a surge of urgency—the further we ventured, the more fear clawed at my heart for Eliza’s safety. “I hope they’re alright,” I said, almost to myself.

  “They have to be. We’re strong together,” Rio reassured me, his voice unwavering. “Let’s just keep our eyes peeled.”

  As we rounded a corner, I spotted the faint outline of a doorway ahead, the door slightly ajar. The distorted sounds—echoes of hushed conversations and uneven footsteps—seeped through its threshold. My heartbeat quickened. Was it Rylan and Enz? Were they alive?

  “Do you want to check it out?” I whispered, peering cautiously into the sliver of light that poured from the door. 

  “Absolutely,” Rio replied. “On three?”

  “On three,” I agreed, drawing in a deep breath. “One, two, three!”

  We surged forward together, throwing the door open wide. The sight that met our eyes was almost overwhelming. Rylan and Enzo were backed against a distant wall. 

  And there was Eliza. 

  Our Eliza. 

  She was about to get attacked by that hag. Yelda. 

  “Oh, no. Not on our watch.” I growled with clenched fists.