Jennifer clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms as she tried to endure the searing pain radiating from the Key of Everything. It was relentless, a firestorm burning just beneath her skin, growing stronger with each passing moment. She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stay seated, but her breath came in shallow, rapid bursts.

James stood nearby, his concerned gaze fixed on her. “There's something wrong. You clearly need a doctor.”

“I’m fine,” she snapped, though her voice wavered. She wasn’t fine. The burn wasn’t subsiding. If anything, it was intensifying, demanding she move, now.

Her body gave in before her mind could. She shot to her feet, the chair scraping violently against the floor as she rushed to her bed. She dropped to her knees, yanking out her armor and gauntlets. Her movements were frantic, her hands fumbling as she pulled out each piece and began strapping them on.

“Jennifer!” James shouted, stepping closer. “What are you doing?”

“Just—don’t!” she barked, barely glancing at him as she snapped her gauntlets into place.

“Yeah, you weren't joking about being rude. You're kinda an asshole, you know that?” he shouted, following her as she bolted toward the door, fully armored now. “Where are you going?!”

She ignored him, bursting out of the apartment and onto the street. The burning subsided almost instantly, fading to a faint sting that pointed like a compass far beyond the city walls. She froze for a moment, gasping for breath, as the clarity of direction settled in her mind.

James caught up to her, grabbing her arm. “Jennifer, stop! Talk to me! What’s happening?”

Now that the pain was gone, for the most part, she cared to actually say something.

She opened her mouth to answer, but the moment the words formed, the pain exploded in her back, sharper and more agonizing than before. Her vision blurred as the world around her froze, locking everything in a suffocating stillness.

It was the same as when she’d almost told James about her skill.

Time snapped back into motion, and Jennifer stumbled slightly, steadying herself on a nearby wall.

She gasped, clutching at her chest, and managed to choke out, “I can’t tell you.”

James looked at her, his frustration mounting. “You can’t tell me? What does that even mean?”

“It means I’m confused too,” she said. She straightened, her armor clinking faintly as she stepped away from him. “And it means you can’t follow me. This could be dangerous.”

James stepped in front of her, blocking her path. “Seems like it’s dangerous for you too,” he said, his tone low but firm. “Whatever’s going on, it’s not normal. You’re running out of the city in full armor and refusing to explain why.”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Jennifer stared at him, her frustration boiling just beneath the surface. “James, please. Don’t make this harder.”

“Harder how?” he said simply, his jaw set.

"I don't have time nor the pain tolerance to argue with you..."

Without another word, she turned, used hyper movement to get out of his reach, and started running, the faint sting in her back leading her like a beacon.

"Damn it!" James followed his footsteps close behind.

---

The switch between jogging and walking was grueling.

James stayed close, his footsteps steady despite his own exhaustion. He didn’t complain, but his face was lined with determination.

Jennifer spun around, her frustration boiling over. “Why are you still following me?” she snapped, her voice echoing through the trees.

James slowed to a stop, his brow furrowed in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“I told you to go back, James. This isn’t your problem.”

James crossed his arms, his jaw tightening. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

Jennifer let out an exasperated laugh. *Fuck is wrong with people...*

She said, “Why? What’s the point? You’re just making things harder for yourself. You have no idea what you're walking into...”

“Maybe not,” James shot back, his voice rising. “But I’m not going to just walk away when—”

“When what?” she interrupted, taking a step closer. “When I’m doing something reckless and stupid? Yeah, that’s why you should leave. Let me deal with it!”

James shook his head, his voice softening but losing none of its conviction. “You don’t get it, do you? Why are you so against someone concerned about you?”

Jennifer scoffed, her hands clenching into fists. “Because it doesn’t make sense!”

James blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

“In this specific case, where I'm not able to tell anything, it doesn't make sense.” she clarified, her voice trembling slightly. “Why are you doing this to yourself? Why do you care so much? You barely even know me!”

James’s confusion deepened.

Her frustration spilled over. “Haven’t you ever thought about how insane this is? You’re out here, running yourself into the ground, chasing after someone you’ve barely met. Why? Just why? Am I just that pretty, huh?”

James hesitated, his expression softening as he studied her. “Have you ever had someone who gave a single fuck about you?”

Jennifer flinched, the question hitting harder than she expected. She clenched her teeth, her voice coming out sharp. “Of course I have. My brother was always there for me. But that’s different.” She jabbed a finger toward him. “That’s blood. You’re just...” She faltered for a moment, searching for the right words. “You’re just someone I met, James. I’m not your responsibility. I’m not your problem. Do you feel indebted to me? For what? You were the one that warned me and saved me against your brother. I owe you, so please don't put yourself in harm's way for no reason.”

James’s expression hardened slightly, but his voice stayed calm. “You’re not just ‘someone I met."

Jennifer blinked, her anger momentarily giving way to surprise. “What?”

“I’m serious,” James said, his tone quiet but steady. “You’re the only person I’ve ever felt like I could talk to. Or... could hopefully get along with. I’ve never had a friend. Ever. It was just me and my brother. And he wasn’t exactly a ‘talk about your feelings’ kind of guy. I want to be your friend because I don't have any friends.”

Jennifer stared at him, the fire in her chest briefly giving way to something softer. His words caught her off guard.

She didn’t respond. She couldn’t. Instead, she turned and resumed walking, the sting in her back pulling her onward.

James followed a few steps behind, his voice breaking the silence. “Try opening your heart a bit.”

Jennifer’s pace faltered slightly, but she didn’t turn around. She didn’t say anything, her gaze fixed ahead as the terrain stretched endlessly before them.