The city was alive again, humming and thrumming like a creature waking from its slumber. The echoes of the fight clung to my skin as I moved cautiously through the streets, sticking to the shadows where the glow of the lights couldn’t touch me.

My limbs ached, the dagger in my hand slick with the residue of the creature I had just slain. The serpents writhed in agitation, their movements quick and sharp as if they sensed my unease.

The thought of Orion flickered in my mind. Was he still alive? And if he was, would he find me before they did?

I pressed forward, each step measured. The streets around me were quieter now, the humans retreating to their strange glowing homes as the hour grew late. The air carried a faint chill, tinged with the smell of rain on the horizon.

The shadows twisted as I moved, the faint glow of the city lights reflecting in pools of stagnant water along the ground. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched, though I saw nothing when I glanced over my shoulder.

I needed to find somewhere safe.

Ahead, the outline of a crumbling building caught my attention. Its windows were shattered, its walls marred with cracks and overgrown vines. It was abandoned, forgotten, just like me.

I slipped through the broken doorway, the darkness inside swallowing me whole. My steps echoed faintly in the empty space, the air thick with dust and decay.

The serpents stirred, their hisses rising in the silence. I placed a hand on one of them, their warmth grounding me. “We’re safe for now,” I murmured, though the words felt hollow.

Moving deeper into the building, I found a corner where the shadows were thickest and settled against the wall. My legs trembled as I sank to the floor, the weight of the night pressing heavily on my shoulders.

The fight replayed in my mind, the stranger’s hollow voice echoing in my ears: “She doesn’t belong here.”

Who were they? What did they want?

And why had they called me a mess?

I clenched my fists, the dagger still in my grip. The blade glinted faintly in the dim light, a reminder of how close I had come to death. If Orion hadn’t intervened, I might not have made it this far.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

The thought of him sent a flicker of anger through me. He had dragged me into this, promising safety and guidance, yet he had vanished when I needed him most.

“You’re not safe here.” His warning rang bitterly in my mind.

I leaned my head back against the wall, closing my eyes. The room was silent except for the faint hiss of the serpents, their movements calming as I tried to steady my breath.

But the calm didn’t last.

A faint sound reached my ear, a whisper of movement, soft and deliberate. My eyes snapped open, and the serpents hissed in unison, their bodies coiling tightly.

I rose to my feet, the dagger ready in my hand. The shadows seemed to ripple, shifting unnaturally, and my heart raced.

“Who’s there?” I demanded, my voice steady despite the fear clawing at my chest.

For a moment, there was no response. Then, a familiar figure emerged from the darkness.

“Easy, Medusa,” Orion said, his voice calm but edged with exhaustion.

I lowered the dagger slightly, though my grip remained firm. “You survived?”

“Barely,” he muttered, leaning against the wall. His dark clothing was torn, and a faint bruise marred his jaw.

“What happened?” I asked, my tone sharp. “You left me.”

His eyes met mine, and for a moment, something flickered there, regret, perhaps, or something deeper. “I didn’t leave you. I stayed behind to make sure they didn’t follow”

“And did they?”

He shook his head. “No. At least, not for now.”

I studied him, the anger in my chest mingling with a reluctant sense of relief. I didn’t trust him, not fully, but I couldn’t deny that he had fought to protect me.

“Who were they?” I asked, the memory of the strangers glowing eyes and jagged movements sending a shiver down my spine.

“They’re called Shades,” Orion said, his voice low. “Remnants of the gods, power, twisted and corrupted. They hunt what’s left of the old world.”

“And you didn’t think to tell me about them sooner?”I snapped.

“I didn’t think they’d find you so quickly,” he admitted, his tone unapologetic. “But now that they have, we need to move carefully. The more you use your power, the more attention you’ll draw.”

I clenched my fists, anger flaring in my chest. “What do you expect me to do? Let them kill me?”

“No!” he said firmly. “I expect you to survive. But survival means knowing when to fight and when to stay hidden”

The serpents hissed, their movements agitated, and I exhaled sharply, trying to rein in my frustration. “What do they want from me?”

Orion hesitated, his gaze shifting to the floor. “They see you as a threat. The gods may be gone, but their echoes remain, and you’re one of the loudest. To them, you’re a relic of chaos, a reminder of what they fear most”

I laughed bitterly, the sound harsh in the silence. “A monster, then. Just like everyone else sees me.”

“You’re not a monster,” Orion said quietly, his eyes meeting mine. “You’re more than what they’ve made you.”

The sincerity in his voice caught me off guard, and I looked away, my chest tightening.

“Rest” he said after a moment. “You’ll need your strength. The Shades won’t stop, and we’ll need to be ready for what’s coming”

I didn’t argue. The exhaustion of the night was catching up to me, my body aching as I sank back to the floor. The serpents coiled around me, their warmth a fragile comfort.

As my eyes drifted shut, Orion’s words lingered in my mind. You’re more than what they’ve made you.

I wanted to believe him.

But in the depths of my heart, I wasn’t sure I could.