Chapter 28 HIM
Chapter 28 HIM
"Cassian, that call... Hale's voice. It can't be real," Ivy whispered, her hand still clutching the phone I'd dropped, her fingers trembling against mine. We were back in the manor—our manor—but the air felt heavier now, laced with doubt. The others—Ben, Lena, Aris, Elijah—huddled around us in the chamber, their faces etched with concern and exhaustion. Elijah paced slowly, his cane tapping the stone floor like a metronome of worry. "If Hale's reaching through, the core isn't as stable as we thought. We need to check it."
I pulled Ivy into my arms, holding her tight, feeling that electric spark from her touch chase away the creeping numbness. My heart ached with love and fear, emotions I'd fought so hard to claim. "Ivy, whatever this is, we'll face it. I love you—more than any cycle or illusion. You're my reality." My voice cracked, raw with the vulnerability she alone could draw out of me.
She nodded against my chest, tears dampening my shirt. "I love you too, Cassian. But if we're still trapped... I can't go through losing you again. It breaks me every time." Her voice was soft, broken, full of the pain we'd shared across timelines.
Ben clapped a hand on my shoulder, his grip steady. "We're with you. But sitting here's no good. Let's head to that bar again—clear our heads, talk it out. Maybe the normalcy will shake loose some answers."
Lena nodded, her eyes fierce. "Yeah. And if Hale's playing games, we'll draw him out."
We piled into the cars again, the drive to the bar feeling surreal under the November night sky. It was still November 10, 2025—the date etched in my mind like a curse. The bar was busier now, packed with locals unwinding after work, the jazz replaced by upbeat pop from the jukebox. We claimed the same booth, ordering drinks to steady our nerves.
Aris fiddled with a device she'd salvaged from the core—a small scanner humming faintly. "Readings are off," she muttered, her voice laced with worry. "Residual energy. Like the illusion's bleeding through."
Elijah sipped his whiskey, his wise eyes scanning the room. "We need an outsider's perspective. Someone not tied to our mess."
As if on cue, a new character approached our table—a woman in her mid-30s, with sharp features, dark curly hair tied back, and a leather jacket that screamed "I've seen things." She carried a notebook and a camera slung over her shoulder, her eyes curious but cautious. "Mind if I join? Name's Kira Voss. Investigative journalist. Overheard you talking about 'cycles' and 'cores.' Sounds like a story. Or trouble."
Ben eyed her warily. "How much did you hear?"
Kira slid into the booth uninvited, her smile disarming. "Enough to know you're not talking video games. I've been chasing leads on temporal anomalies—weird stuff happening since October 29. People vanishing, reappearing with no memory. If you're involved... I can help. Got contacts in weird places."
Ivy leaned forward, hope flickering in her eyes. "Contacts? Like who?"
Kira lowered her voice, emotion creeping in—haunted, like she'd lost someone to this. "Government types. Fringe scientists. Lost my brother to a 'glitch' last month. He called me babbling about loops before he disappeared. If your 'Hale' is connected... let's team up."
Elijah nodded slowly. "An ally from outside. Could be what we need."
But before we could dive deeper, the bar erupted. A rowdy group at the counter argued over a spilled drink. "You did that on purpose!" one bellowed, swinging a fist. Chaos spread—punches thrown, tables overturned, patrons scrambling.
"Not again," Lena groaned, standing. "Stay put, Kira. We'll handle—"
Too late. A fighter crashed into our booth, knocking drinks everywhere. I shoved him off, pulling Ivy behind me. "Stay close!" Kira jumped up, surprisingly agile, cracking a bottle over an attacker's head. "I've got your back!"
We fought as a group—Ben tackling a big guy, Lena kicking another's knee, Aris using her device to zap a stun. I traded blows with a drunk, my jaw aching from a hit, but Kira impressed—dodging, punching with precision. "Journalist by day, boxer by night?" I quipped mid-fight.
She grinned through a split lip. "Gotta stay sharp for stories like yours."
In the frenzy, two strangers collided near the jukebox—a bubbly waitress with pink-streaked hair and a stoic trucker nursing a beer. She tripped into him, spilling his drink. "Oh, sorry!" she yelped, but he caught her, their eyes locking. Unexpectedly, he pulled her close, crushing his lips to hers in a sexy, heated kiss—raw and intense, her hands clutching his shoulders, his tongue exploring as she melted against him, her leg hitching up his thigh. The bar hooted, momentarily distracted by the passion.
Ivy's breath hitched beside me. "That's... electric. Like us, in the beginning."
The fight wound down as bouncers intervened, but the adrenaline lingered. Back in the booth, Kira wiped blood from her brow. "Okay, that was fun. Now, spill. What's this 'core'?"
We explained—cycles, convergence, Hale. Kira's eyes widened, emotion flashing—grief for her brother. "Sounds like what happened to him. I have a lead: a safehouse nearby. Hidden tech. Let's go."
We followed her to an abandoned warehouse, the night air crisp. Inside, screens flickered with data—temporal readings spiking. "This is my base," Kira said, voice trembling. "Brother's last message led me here."
But as we delved deeper, passion ignited between Ivy and me—the fight's rush, the uncertainty. "Cassian," she whispered, pulling me into a shadowed corner. "I need you. To feel us, real and alive." Her voice was emotional, tears in her eyes.
"I love you," I murmured, kissing her deeply, hands roaming under her shirt, feeling her warmth. "Always." We stripped urgently, my mouth on her breasts, sucking until she moaned. "Yes... there," she gasped, guiding my hand between her legs.
I entered her against the wall, thrusts hard and loving. "Feel my love," I groaned, her walls tight around me. "Through everything."
We climaxed together, sobs of release mixing with "I love you"s.
But as we dressed, Kira called out. "Guys! Look—the readings. Hale's signal. He's not a construct. He's... my brother. Corrupted by Valeria."
Plot twist: Kira revealed a photo—Hale was her sibling, twisted by the convergence. "He pulled you into the illusion to protect you. But now... he's coming. To end it all."
Sirens wailed outside—agents? No, echoes manifesting. Kira's eyes teared. "Help me save him."