The sky seemed to collapse around Eko as she moved through the chaos, her world engulfed in fire and thick smoke, the ground crumbling beneath her feet.

What was she going to do with Madison now?

Maybe Eric could take Madison to the Elders' Plain, give everyone a chance to breathe, and get her cousin's head straight. The repercussions of this disaster would be severe—lives lost, both soldiers and civilians. Jesse was injured, and the others' status was unknown. Matthew would be furious; Toni already was, and Eko knew she would bear the brunt of the blame. This was partly her fault for not controlling Madison, for not recognizing how unstable she'd become.

Eko sliced down a youma lunging at her, the creature's screams mingling with the chaos around her. She forced herself to push the guilt and fear aside, focusing on the immediate danger. Shoving people toward safety, directing them behind her, she cleared a path through the burning, smoke-choked streets.

Blood soaked her clothes, soot clung to her skin, and ash rained down. The survivors moved through the smoke, eyes wide with panic. Eko's senses sharpened as she pressed forward, zeroing in on the epicenter of the chaos, where she suspected Xero was orchestrating the carnage. Bodies collided with her, feet stumbling over debris, yet she pushed onward. Civilians fled the destruction, but Eko, resilient and determined, ran straight into the heart of it.

Eko had always believed it was in her blood—this unrelenting pull toward the horrors of life, this drive to fight and protect those who couldn't protect themselves. Tonight was no different. Tonight, they would dismantle their enemies like so many times before. And afterward, she would find solace in the arms of a man who made her skies stop falling down around her.

Her focus sharpened as the clouds split above her, a surge of power vibrating through the air. Lightning tore across the sky, strike after strike, as if the storm itself had arrived to aid in their fight, its fury helping to contain the wildfires raging around them.

Pivoting sharply, Eko saw Jasmine striding toward her, a defeated youma lying at her feet. Jasmine's pink hair was wild, framing her face in a disarray that mirrored the chaos around them. She pointed a sharp, manicured finger at Eko, frustration etched on her features.

"Look at this face, Eko!" Jasmine shouted, her purple nails flashing as she gestured. "This is me really trying to keep my shit together! What the hell is up with your cousin?"

Before Eko could respond, another monster charged. Jasmine spun her sword in her hand, a blur of steel and precision, and drove it into the creature's chest, bringing it down in an instant.

"I know!" Eko shot back, her voice laced with frustration. "I know, Jasmine! You don't need to tell me!" She ran a hand through her hair, shaking her head as if to dislodge the chaos swirling inside it. "I'm dealing with it!"

The smoky grey sky above them darkened with an unsettling speed, storm clouds swirling into a formidable mass. The horizon was a chaotic blend of flickering fire and thick smoke, casting an almost otherworldly pall over the battlefield. The ground beneath them quaked intermittently, a grim reminder of the ongoing war and its devastating toll.

Every few moments, a flash of lightning tore through the sky, its bright, jagged bolts lighting up the landscape in brief, harsh bursts. The thunder that followed was a deafening roar, echoing the chaos that raged below. The wind howled around them, fierce and relentless, carrying with it the acrid stench of burning and the metallic tang of blood.

The storm was building, its fury a reflection of the escalating conflict. Dark clouds churned overhead, obliterating any remaining light and casting the world into a deep, unnatural gloom.

"I'm sitting at like an eight right now!" Jasmine shouted over the crack of thunder, her voice strained. "If we're still here when that storm hits, I'm telling Matthew what the whole 10k credit card was actually spent on! And I'm telling him that you tipped the staff!"

Eko gasped, a mix of shock and amusement flashing across her face. "You wouldn't dare! Girl code, Jazzy! Freakin' girl code!"

Before their banter could continue, Toni appeared beside them, his expression grim as he surveyed the battlefield. Jasmine and Eko's conversation was abruptly cut off by a barrage of fireballs hurtling toward them. With a swift, practiced motion, Toni grabbed Eko and pulled her to the ground, shielding her with his body. Jasmine sprang into action, her figure becoming a blur as she dispatched the creature responsible, disappearing from Eko's immediate view.

Eko muttered her annoyance into the dirt as she covered her head with her arms, waiting for the danger to pass. When the fire ceased, she lifted her head, her eyes sweeping the chaotic scene. The air was thick with smoke, stinging her eyes and throat, and the acrid stench of burning flesh mingled with the metallic tang of blood. Flames licked at the edges of the battlefield, casting eerie, flickering shadows that seemed to dance in the violent gusts of the storm.

Suddenly, a group of soldiers sprinted past them, their faces masks of desperation. Eko's heart pounded as she turned to follow their line of sight. A break in the crowd revealed three lifeless bodies sprawled on the ground, limbs twisted at unnatural angles, eyes wide open in horror. The sight sent a chill down her spine. 

But it wasn't the sight of the bodies that filled Eko with dread. It was the sudden, overwhelming sense of Matthew's fear pulsing through her veins. It thudded in her heart, raw and unrelenting, unlike anything she had felt from him before. Panic surged through her, and she frantically scanned the battlefield, searching for him, for a glimpse of his powers, anything that would tell her where he was.

Another crack of lightning split the sky, drawing Eko's gaze toward the Ferris wheel in the distance, its metal structure engulfed in flames, sending thick, black smoke spiraling into the sky. The fire cast an eerie, hellish glow, making the scene look like something out of a nightmare. In a sudden flash of lightning, the area was bathed in blinding light, revealing three figures standing ominously before the burning Ferris wheel.

"T-Toni?" Eko gasped, her voice trembling as she pointed toward the figures in the distance. Toni followed her gaze, his heart hammering in his chest, a mix of fear and anticipation surging through him.

Eko's mind struggled to process the scene unfolding before her: Madison, her hand pressed against Matthew's chest, powers pulsing with raw, unstable energy. Xero, the puppet master of this chaos, stood beside her, his presence a dark and malevolent shadow.

"No, no, no," Eko whispered, frozen in place, her body refusing to move.

"Fuck!" Toni snarled, jolting into motion, sprinting toward the figures. Eko snapped out of her paralysis and chased after him. Around them, the chaos intensified—thunder bellowed overhead, mingling with the shrieks of the terrified and the growls of monstrous youmas. The flickering flames created warped, moving shadows on the ground, transforming the battlefield into a living nightmare. The wind lashed at them, carrying ash and debris, stinging their eyes and skin.

***** *****

Madison's hand trembled as it hovered in the air, her eyes darting between Matthew and Xero. The storm above them seemed to mirror her turmoil, Lightning flashed, turning night into day for a brief, blinding moment. The sound of thunder was a constant drumbeat.

"Maddy, just lower your hand," Matthew urged, his voice steady but laced with an undertone of urgency. Each word was chosen with care as he locked eyes with Madison, trying to reach her through the storm of emotions. "Come towards me, grab Eko, and leave. I swear, I won't stop you."

Xero's smirk deepened, his eyes glinting with malicious delight. "She wants to kill you, isn't it that obvious?" He taunted, his voice dripping with mockery. "Then she'll probably take that little pocket rocket of yours and leave. You know, make a clean break."

"Shut the fuck up, Xero," Matthew snapped, his eyes narrowing into dangerous slits as he glared at the creature. Xero's tail flicked lazily, his grin widening as if savoring the tension thickening in the air. 

Matthew ignored Xero, keeping his focus entirely on Madison. He knew that if he lost control of the situation, even for a second, the consequences would be disastrous. Behind him, he sensed Toni and Eko fighting their way through the chaos, their powers a rising surge against the darkness Xero had unleashed. They were getting closer, each of their attacks pushing back against the tide of monsters.

"Madison, listen to me," Matthew pleaded, his voice dropping to a softer, more earnest tone. He extended his hand toward her, palm open, a gesture of peace. "Whatever this is, I promise I won't interfere. You and Eko can go wherever you want, and I won't follow. I won't set foot in your lives ever again. Just lower your hand and step toward me. Let me  deal with that piece of shit behind you."

Madison's eyes flickered, the raw conflict in her gaze a mixture of anger, fear, and confusion. Her hand wavered, the energy around it sparking and hissing, like a barely contained storm ready to explode. Xero's presence loomed, his eyes fixed on Madison, watching with a predatory gleam, ready to exploit the slightest weakness.

A moment of silence stretched between them, the storm's roar fading into the background. Matthew's heart pounded, his breath shallow as he waited for Madison's decision, the choice that could either save them or plunge them all into disaster.

"You know you can't trust him," Xero murmured, his voice low, taunting. It slithered into Madison's mind like a snake, coiling around her thoughts, squeezing tight.

"I said shut the fuck up, Xero!" Matthew snapped, but his words were almost drowned out by the raging storm.

Madison's focus snapped back to Xero, the creature who had tormented her, tried to kill her, but now whispered what felt like truths. Despite his monstrous nature, he seemed to understand her desperation in a way that made sense. "You know what he is, Madison, what he's capable of," Xero purred, his voice like velvet wrapped around a knife.

"Madison, look at me," Matthew's tone was firm, but there was a desperate edge to it. His eyes bored into hers, searching for a glimmer of recognition, of the girl who loved her cousin and would do anything to protect her. "I would never let anything happen to Eko. You know that! If you think the safest thing is to take her away, to get her out of all this, I'll make it happen. I swear to you, I will. Just lower your hand and come to me, and just talk to me?"

Rain pounded down, soaking them to the bone, turning the ground beneath them into a slippery mess of mud and blood. The storm was a living thing, its fury echoing the turmoil of their confrontation, each thunderclap a punctuation to their unspoken fears.

"Talk?" Madison spat, her voice as sharp as a blade. "What is there to talk about? You say you'll let us go, but how do I know you're not lying? How do I know you won't hunt us down? How do I know letting you live won't just be another mistake?"

Matthew's voice grew more desperate, trying to cut through the storm and the chaos in her mind. "Because I'm here right now, telling you to go. I'm not going to fight you, Maddy. Take Eko. I'll give you anything you need. I won't come after you. I swear. Just lower your hand, and trust me."

"You want me to trust you?" Madison's voice was brittle, each word a knife edge. "Then prove it. Prove it by dying, Matthew. Because the only way she'll be safe, the only way any of us will be free, is if you're gone. If you're dead."

Matthew's breath caught, but he didn't look away. His eyes stayed locked on hers, pleading, searching for any trace of the Madison he once knew. "Maddy," he said, his voice barely a whisper, as he took a cautious step back, feeling the storm of her magic closing in. "Please..."

"I know what this will do to you," she said, her tone devoid of any mercy. "Your condition—she never shuts up about it. She's terrified for you, constantly on edge, always fucking worried." A bitter smile twisted her lips. "She'd be better off without you. Free from that burden. Free from someone so weak!"

Matthew held his ground, his eyes never leaving Madison's. He could see the war raging within her, the clash of emotions that mirrored the storm around them. "And no one is going to love her like I do! You think she's going to be better off, but she needs me, and I fucking need her." He said, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotion, barely audible over the wind and thunder. "God, Maddy, I -I love her. I fucking love her, whether you ever believe it or not. She is loved by me."

"I don't give a shit about how you feel!" Madison shot back, her voice laced with venom. "You've proven, once again, just how selfish you are! She needs you?" Incredulous at the thought as tears streaked down her dirt-stained cheeks, cutting lines through the grime. "You have never stopped to think once about how she could love you!"

Matthew's heart stuttered. The raw pain in Madison's words hit him like a blow, making him falter for a second, the storm's howl filling the silence between them.

"What makes you think she is capable of love, huh? Because she's not!" Madison's voice cracked with emotion, the intensity in her eyes like a dagger stabbing at his soul. "She loves me! She need ME! I am her family! I am the only piece of it left! NOT YOU! YOU WILL NEVER REPLACE THE LOVE WE HAVE FOR EACH OTHER! We are the only thing each of us has left of each other in this world!"

"I—" Matthew tried to interject, reaching out, but Madison's fury drowned him out. Her anger was a tangible force, almost as if it could split the world apart.

"You will never understand!" Madison screamed, her voice resonating with a mix of rage and heartbreak. "She doesn't need your love! She needs me! And I will never let you take her from me! Never!"

"MADISON, STOP!" Eko's voice cut through the storm like a blade, and before either Matthew or Madison could react, Eko threw herself between them, her hands outstretched defensively, knocking Madison's charged hand away. Eko's eyes were wide, pleading with her cousin, desperation written all over her face.

Without thinking, Matthew's hand shot out, grabbing Eko's wrist and pulling her back towards him. He pushed her behind him, shielding her with his own body, his heart pounding like a war drum against his chest. "Stay back!" he ordered, his voice strained with urgency. His arms were like a fortress around her, protecting her from Madison's wrath.

The ground itself seemed to shudder as Toni's voice thundered through the storm, cutting through the chaos like a physical force. "JESUS CHRIST!" he bellowed, skidding to a stop beside Matthew.

Matthew raised his hands, palms out, a futile gesture of peace in the midst of this storm of anger and betrayal. His voice, however, remained calm, steady, like the eye of a hurricane. "It's okay," he said, his gaze never leaving Madison. "Toni, take Eko and go. Get out of here now. Eko, pack what you need. Madison will be joining you. You're both leaving today."

Eko's eyes were wide with shock, her mind reeling at Matthew's command. She glanced between him and Madison, her heart caught in a painful vise of fear and confusion. "What are you talking about?" she choked out, trying to push forward, but Matthew held her firm, his arm a solid barrier keeping her behind him.

Xero's smirk deepened, his eyes glinting with dark satisfaction as he watched the tension escalate. He shifted his stance slightly, acknowledging Toni's arrival with a mocking bow. "Hello, Toni," he drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He cast a sidelong glance at Eko, taking in her small, fierce frame. "And I see the girlfriend has made an appearance. Quite the little pocket rocket back on Creon, weren't you?"

Eko's glare could have cut steel. She took a step forward, her voice low and venomous, every word a deadly promise. "I will fucking kill you."

The air crackled with electricity as the storm above reached a fever pitch. Xero's eyes flickered with amusement, feeding off the chaos he had helped to sow. He opened his mouth to taunt them further, but the storm chose that moment to unleash its wrath, nature itself intervened.

A lightning bolt, charged with the fury of the heavens, ripped through the night sky, illuminating the battlefield in a searing, blinding flash. The ground shook beneath them, a deafening roar filling the air as the bolt struck the earth. Shockwaves radiated outward, the raw energy crackling along the ground like living tendrils, seeking anything to latch onto.

Madison, caught in the throes of fear and uncertainty, reacted on pure instinct. The energy ball she had been holding, pulsating with a power she barely understood, slipped from her control. In a moment of sheer panic, it shot from her fingertips, a glowing orb of destruction racing toward the lightning strike. The collision was inevitable, a meeting of forces too wild and unpredictable to be contained.

The impact was cataclysmic. The orb collided with the lightning in midair, a violent explosion of light and sound that tore through the battlefield. The energy release was blinding, a wave of pure force that flattened everything in its path. Eko, Matthew, Toni, and even Xero were thrown back, their bodies hitting the ground hard, breath knocked from their lungs. The shockwave radiated outwards, bending the air with its power, the deafening roar drowning out everything else.

They were all caught in the epicenter of the blast, hurled backward like mere ragdolls by the sheer force of the explosion. Their bodies were flung through the air, limbs flailing helplessly, before they slammed into the ground with bone-jarring impact. The force of the collision drove the breath from their lungs, pain radiating through their bones as they lay sprawled and stunned. Dust and debris filled the air, a thick, suffocating cloud that swirled in the aftermath, making it almost impossible to see or breathe.

The shockwave rippled outward, its destructive reach far greater than anyone could have anticipated. The ground itself seemed to tremble, cracks spider-webbing through the earth, swallowing anything in their path. Flames that had flickered around the battlefield were snuffed out by the force, replaced by the dark, rolling smoke that now blotted out the sky.

****** *****

Droplets of water were the first sensations Eko felt, trickling down her face, mingling with the sweat and soot. Her skin was damp—a strange mix of fire's heat and rain's coolness. Each breath was a struggle, her lungs burning, as if they were coated in ash. Her powers flickered weakly within her, like a dying flame, and the sheer weight of exhaustion pinned her to the ground.

Slowly, painfully, she lifted her head. The world around her was a desolate wasteland of smoke and charred earth. Flames hissed and sputtered as rain poured down, creating wisps of steam that curled into the air, a battle between fire and water. The storm still raged overhead, lightning flashing and thunder rolling, the sky reflecting the chaos below.

Bodies lay scattered across the battlefield, eerily still. To her left, Toni lay motionless, half-buried beneath debris. His chest barely moved with shallow breaths, his face obscured by a layer of ash. In the far distance, Xero's still silhouette loomed, a dark figure against the storm's fury.

Madison lay closer, her legs twitching slightly, a low, pained groan escaping her lips. Eko's heart tightened at the sight, torn between anger and concern. But what gripped her with a sudden, icy fear was Matthew. He lay crumpled nearby, his body unnaturally still, his clothing singed and tattered. There was no sign of movement, no sound, and the sight of his unmoving form sent a jolt of panic through Eko's chest.

Gritting her teeth against the searing pain, Eko forced herself up on her elbows. Agony screamed through every nerve, each movement a fresh wave of torment as her burned skin and battered body protested. Her clothes clung to her like a second skin, soaked with rain and blood, the fabric sticking to her wounds, tearing them open with every shift. Her vision blurred, but she blinked furiously, willing herself to focus. 

"Matthew," Eko whispered, her voice barely a breath against the howling wind. Panic gripped her chest, her heart racing as she dragged herself forward, inch by excruciating inch, every movement fueled by sheer desperation. The world around her had become a wasteland of destruction—charred and cracked earth stretched out before her, fissures zigzagging like the veins of some great, wounded beast. Smoldering fires flickered and hissed in the rain, their dim light casting eerie, distorted shadows across the ruin.

Smoke clung to the air, thick and choking, burning her lungs with each gasping breath as she fought to move. The devastation around her was overwhelming—the ground shattered and blackened, flames still licking at what little remained of the battlefield. Every flicker of fire danced like specters in the rain, casting long, ghostly shadows as they seemed to mock her struggle. But none of it mattered. All that mattered was reaching Matthew.

Ignoring the screams of pain tearing through her own body, Eko crawled forward, every muscle in her body protesting with each agonizing movement. Her skin felt as though it were peeling away, her limbs burning with the same searing pain that had scorched the battlefield. But she kept going. She had to reach him.

"Matthew?" Her voice cracked, barely a whisper, trembling with fear and desperation. Finally, she reached him. Her trembling hands found his shoulders, shaking him gently, her fingers curling around him with a fragile hope. When he didn't respond, her hand moved to his chin, tilting his face toward her. His skin was blistering hot, burns covering his body—he was hot, too hot. "Hey, baby, open your eyes for me," she pleaded, her voice breaking.

"Please, wake up." Her hands hovered over his chest, trembling as she pressed her fingers down, searching desperately for the thump of his heartbeat, praying for any sign of life. Her own heart thundered in her chest, frantic, wild, echoing her growing panic. "No, no, no... Come on! You're okay! You're okay!" She pressed her ear against his chest, desperate to hear that familiar, steady beat, but the only sound was the storm's furious roar and the hiss of steam rising from the scorched earth.

"Matthew!" Her voice rose in anguish, a cry ripped from the depths of her soul. She shook him again, harder this time, her fingers gripping his shoulders as if willing him to wake. "WAKE THE FUCK UP!" The words were raw, broken—filled with a desperation that clawed at her throat.

"Matthew!" she shouted again, her voice hoarse with panic. She gave him another hard shake, her body trembling. "Please... please, wake up," she begged, her voice barely above a whisper now. Leaning down, she pressed her ear to his chest once more, straining to hear the faintest trace of a heartbeat. But the storm raged around them, and all that answered her was the deafening silence.

Then, finally, a weak, erratic thump. Barely there, almost swallowed by the fury of the storm, but it was there. Relief crashed over Eko like a tidal wave, nearly knocking the breath from her lungs. "Thank God," she sobbed, her hands pressing to his chest, feeling the fragile rise and fall of his breath, shaky but real.

"Matthew," she whispered again, her voice soft but insistent, a plea filled with love and fear. "Come on, baby. Open your eyes. Just a little, please. Let me see you." Her trembling hands cradled his face, thumbs brushing over his closed eyelids, willing him to come back to her. The storm raged on, lightning splitting the sky, thunder crashing like the world was tearing apart. But in that moment, all that mattered was him.

A faint groan escaped his lips, his eyelids fluttering. Eko's breath caught, her heart stuttering in her chest as hope bloomed. "That's it," she whispered, her voice shaking with the weight of her desperation. "Come back to me, Matthew."

His eyes cracked open, just a sliver, but it was enough. "Eko..." he rasped, his voice barely more than a whisper, carried on the wind. "I'm...h-here."

A sob tore from her, raw and filled with relief. "You're here," she breathed, leaning down to press her lips to his in a kiss full of desperation and gratitude. "You're going to be okay. I promise."

His fingers twitched, barely finding the strength to reach for hers, but the gesture was enough. "N-not going... anywhere," he murmured, his voice weak and shaky, his breath uneven. "J-just... need a minute."

"Baby, how's your heart?" Eko asked, her voice cracking as tears streamed down her face. She could see the shallow, ragged breaths Matthew was taking, each one looking like a battle he was barely winning. Panic clawed at her chest, tightening its grip. Her hand moved to his chest, feeling for the reassuring beat of his heart. Her fingers pressed gently, trying to gauge the rhythm beneath his skin, praying it was strong.

Matthew's eyes shifted from Eko's tear-streaked face to the stormy sky above. The dark clouds mirrored his own turmoil, crackling with lightning, the storm building its fury. "Hmm," he muttered, his voice weak, almost drowned by the roaring wind.

Eko's heart pounded even harder. "'Hmm' what?" she pressed, her voice trembling with fear. "Is that good or bad? Matthew, talk to me!" Her voice carried the edge of desperation, her gaze locked onto his.

But before Matthew could respond, a piercing scream cut through the storm, freezing them both in place. Their heads snapped toward the source, and Eko's breath hitched in her throat. She clutched Matthew tighter, trying to instantly help him to his feet, her hands trembling. The fear in her chest was a physical ache, sharp and suffocating.

"The pulse of power is here!" a voice boomed, ominous and cold. Eko's eyes widened as she spotted Isis, her figure illuminated by the flashing lightning, surrounded by a dark, crackling energy that seemed to pull from the chaos itself. "It must be her!" Isis commanded, her arm thrust forward, pointing directly at Madison.

Xero stood beside Madison, gripping her by the hair and dragging her to her feet. Tears streamed down Madison's face, her body trembling, her eyes wide with fear. She struggled, but Xero's grip was unyielding, his face alight with cruel satisfaction

Toni stumbled toward Eko and Matthew through the wreckage, still reeling from the blast. His steps were slow, but the determination in his eyes was fierce. Pain etched every line of his face as he moved, but he pushed through, finally reaching them. Without a word, he hoisted Matthew's arm over his shoulder, helping him stand. The three of them were barely standing, their bodies charred and scarred, the acrid smell of burnt flesh mingling with the rain, smoke, and smoldering earth.

As the rain poured down, soaking them to the bone, Mya, Richie, and Jasmine emerged from the chaos, their faces etched with the exhaustion and fear of battle. Like the others, their bodies were battered, burned, and bruised, reflecting the relentless struggle they had just endured.

"Oh, it's here," Xero taunted, his eyes glittering with twisted amusement as he fed off the chaos surrounding them.

"Very curious indeed," Isis murmured, her predatory gaze locking onto Madison. There was something cold and calculated in her expression, her fascination with Madison more like a predator sizing up its prey.

Madison's voice trembled with confusion and terror. "What's here?" she gasped, her tear-filled eyes darting wildly between the faces around her. She was desperate for an explanation.

The rain continued its relentless drumming against the charred earth, thunder rumbling in the distance like an ominous heartbeat.

"What's our next move?" Xero asked, his voice dripping with amusement, eyes flicking toward Isis as though relishing the chaos. Eko barely registered his words. Her entire focus was locked on Madison.

"We need the crystal," Isis declared, her tone cold and unyielding. "By any means necessary."

Madison's breathing grew ragged, her body jerking as electricity crackled across her skin, lighting her up like a beacon of agony. Even with every nerve on fire, she forced her eyes open, squinting against the blinding light that blurred her vision. Every muscle convulsed, her body trembling under the unbearable pain, but still, she fought to stay conscious—to hold on, even if just for a moment longer. Amidst the haze of torment, Eko's voice cut through, a lifeline in the darkness, filled with desperation and love.

"JUST TAKE THE CRYSTALS!" Eko screamed, her voice raw and cracking under the weight of her plea. "GIVE HER BACK TO ME, JUST TAKE THEM!" She lurched forward, her body instinctively reaching for Madison, uncaring of the cost, ready to sacrifice everything for her cousin. Matthew's arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her back, his hold tight despite his own exhaustion. He was her anchor, holding her from her self-destruction, but barely holding himself upright.

Xero and Isis exchanged a look of dark satisfaction, their amusement growing as they reveled in the destruction they had orchestrated.

"I WILL TEAR YOU TO FUCKING PIECES IF YOU DO NOT GIVE HER BACK!" Eko's voice was a guttural roar, feral and uncontrolled, the rawness of her fury pouring out with every syllable. Her words cut through the storm like a blade, their savage power vibrating through the air, even overpowering the thunder that rumbled above.

Matthew's heart clenched with fear, not for himself, but for her. He could feel the madness in her, the unchecked rage that was pushing her toward the edge of no return. His own pain faded into the background as he pulled her back with all his strength, her body thrashing wildly against him.

"Stop it," he pleaded, his voice tight with desperation, struggling to keep her grounded. "Jesus fuck, Eko, stop it!" His words were choked, strained under the weight of both his fear and the physical effort of holding her back. He could feel her slipping from his grasp, the fury inside her like a wave threatening to pull her under.

"GIVE HER BACK TO ME!" Eko screamed louder. 

Xero's smirk widened as he stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with malicious amusement. The storm's light flickered off his sinister grin, casting shadows across his face as he taunted them. "Let's go then, children," he whispered, his voice oozing with delight, a twisted invitation to the impending clash.

It was a choice now, a decision that hung between rage and reason.