Madison struggled to make sense of the muffled voices surrounding her, faint whispers of her name weaving through the chaos. Amid the torment, she thought she heard Sera's frantic cries, lost in the relentless agony echoing in her mind.

"JUST LET HER GO!" Eko's voice rang out, sharp and commanding, cutting through the storm as if the sheer force of her will could tear Madison from Xero's grasp.

"She possesses the crystal! Feel it pulse!" Isis's voice dripped with malicious satisfaction. "We've finally found it."

Eko fought back her rising panic as she watched Isis and Xero's malevolent smirks fixate on Madison. Xero's grip on her cousin tightened, his dark intent unmistakable. Eko's heart raced, fear surging through her as she felt powerless against their hold.

"Matthew!" she called out, her voice raw, needing for him to act. "Please!"

Without hesitation, Matthew turned to Eko, his hands gripping her shoulders firmly, grounding her amidst the swirling chaos. His eyes locked on hers, steady and relentless, burning with determination. The intensity in his gaze reassured her; he had a plan. He still had a way forward in the middle of this storm of violence and uncertainty.

Before she could question him, Matthew moved with swift decisiveness. He pushed Eko, sending her toward Toni, who stood nearby, braced for what was coming. Eko stumbled slightly, caught off guard, but Toni's reflexes were sharp, and he caught her before she fell. His grip on her wrist was firm, an unspoken promise that she wouldn't go back into the fray.

Toni met Matthew's eyes, understanding instantly. There was a plan in motion, and now, his role was to keep Eko safe. As she struggled, trying to move back toward the chaos where her cousin was still trapped, Toni's hold tightened. "Stay with me," he urged, his voice low but steady, anchoring her even as her heart screamed to be by Madison's side.

Matthew, feeling the weight of the escalating danger, knew they were teetering on the edge of catastrophe. The tension crackled between his warriors and their enemies, as palpable as the storm itself. Taking a steadying breath, he strode forward through the rain-soaked ground, positioning himself between his friends and the looming threat, acting as a shield. His heart pounded with the urgency of averting disaster, but his hands remained raised, palms outward in a gesture of peace.

"We just want Madison. Take the crystal," Matthew declared, his voice steady as his eyes locked on Xero. "And fuck off."

The storm howled around them, and the group stood on edge, drenched from the relentless downpour, weapons at the ready. The gravity of the moment weighed on them all, knowing that one wrong move could unleash chaos far beyond what they had already endured.

Behind him, Eko struggled fiercely against Toni's firm grip, her panic rising with each second. "Let me go!" she shouted, her voice breaking with desperation. "Toni, let me go right now!" Her eyes were wild, her emotions a torrent of fear and determination as she strained to break free, her focus solely on Madison, caught in Xero's tightening grasp.

Toni, sensing her desperation, held her back with everything he had. "You need to trust him," he said, his voice strained but calm, trying to keep Eko grounded. He knew how much was at stake, and Matthew needed space to try and deescalate the volatile situation.

Eko's eyes locked onto Matthew's form as he stood at the forefront, the rain drenching him, lightning illuminating the battlefield as if it were a scene from a nightmare. But her cousin's life was on the line, and for her, standing back and waiting felt like an impossible ask.

Madison's anguished screams pulled Eko's attention from Toni, her heart shattering as another searing jolt of electricity wracked her cousin's body. The dark spots clouding Eko's vision mirrored the horror she felt, watching helplessly as Madison seemed to suffocate under the unbearable torment. Fear gripped her, twisting her insides, and her body began to numb, her instincts screaming to break free, to save her. But Toni's firm grip held her, keeping her anchored despite her rising panic.

"YOU FUCKING LET HER GO NOW! YOU. LET. HER. GO!" Eko's voice exploded, her powers surging in tandem with her fury, reaching the point of no return. The storm seemed to respond to her, the wind whipping with her rage.

"EKO, ENOUGH!" Matthew's command cut through the chaos like a sharp blade. His voice, firm and authoritative, brought her back from the brink. He turned slightly, locking eyes with her, silently pleading for trust in that fleeting moment. A subtle shake of his head was all he gave before refocusing on the enemies before him.

"Take the crystal from her and leave," Matthew's voice rang out clear and resolute, aimed at Xero and Isis. His face remained calm, but his posture radiated power, his control over the situation absolute. "Give me Madison, take the crystal." He extended his hand, an energy ball materializing in his palm, the crackling light a clear signal of his intention. "This can be nice and easy."

Isis leaned in closer to Madison, who was held firmly by Xero, her head tilted upward. "It's pulsating," Isis whispered with malicious glee. "So loud. Can't you hear it?" She reveled in the sensation, attuned to a frequency no one else could sense.

"Take her," Isis ordered coldly to Xero.

"No! No fucking way!" Matthew's voice boomed through the chaos, his eyes blazing with fury as he locked onto Xero. "You've got me right here, Xero! This is your only shot!" He knew Xero couldn't resist the challenge, and sure enough, a dark gleam flickered in Xero's eyes. With a twisted grin, Xero shoved Madison roughly toward Isis, momentarily perplexing her, before turning his full attention to Matthew.

"Matthew?" Richie half-stepped forward, his voice edged with uncertainty and fear. He didn't like where this was going. Jasmine and Mya were only a few paces behind him, their eyes wide with concern, sensing the rising tension.

Toni, however, kept his grip firm on Eko, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist as she struggled to break free. "Stay back," he muttered, his voice low but filled with determination, knowing full well what Eko was capable of when pushed to her breaking point.

Eko's eyes flicked wildly between Matthew and Xero.

"Let's go, boy," Xero taunted, his voice dripping with malice. "I'm going to enjoy ripping you apart, limb by limb, and when I'm done, I'll sell whatever's left of you to the highest bidder on the black market. Your body parts will fetch a fortune." His eyes gleamed with sadistic hunger. "They'll fight over your bones, your organs—hell, I'll even sell that beating heart of yours, if it's still ticking by the time I'm finished."

He leaned in, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "And maybe, just maybe, I'll make sure your little friends watch as I drag your mangled corpse through the dirt. I'll break them, piece by piece, just like I'll break you. Imagine them watching while I tear you apart for profit."

In a flash of dark power, Xero lunged at Matthew, and within seconds, they both vanished, leaving behind an eerie silence broken only by the crackling energy in the air. Xero's maniacal laughter lingered like a ghost, echoing through the storm as if mocking their helplessness.

Seizing the moment, Eko broke free from Toni's grip, her body moving with instinctual urgency. She sprinted through the downpour, her heart pounding with desperation as she slammed into Isis with all her force, knocking her off balance. Isis's grip on Madison faltered just long enough for Eko to regain control, pulling her cousin away from the imminent danger.

Madison staggered, struggling to stay upright, her body weakened from the surge of power that had wracked through her. Eko didn't hesitate. With swift precision, she struck Isis again, sending her reeling backward. But the brief victory was short-lived. A crackling energy erupted from the ground, and in an instant, youmas and monsters materialized around them, their guttural roars reverberating through the battlefield.

The chaos intensified. Toni, Jasmine, Richie, and Mya found themselves battling for their lives as the newly summoned creatures surged toward them, claws and fangs gleaming in the storm. Rain mixed with blood, turning the ground into a treacherous, muddy wasteland.

Madison collapsed to her knees, her hands clawing at the drenched earth as she gasped for air, still reeling from the attack. Around her, shadows of monstrous figures loomed, their eyes glowing with malevolence. Their roars mixed with the sound of the rain.

Suddenly, a body slammed into the ground in front of her, splattering mud across her face. She looked up, her heart seizing in her chest as she saw Matthew lying there, his face twisted with pain, blood mixing with rain as it streamed down his torn clothes. Their eyes locked in that brief, desperate moment amid the chaos.

And then, just as quickly as he had appeared, Matthew vanished again, leaving Madison frozen, staring at the spot where he'd been, her mind reeling.

But in the next breath, Xero materialized in his place. His cruel eyes glinted with sadistic amusement, and a wicked smile curled his lips. Madison's heart thundered in her chest, terror flooding her veins. Xero's presence felt suffocating, like a dark force pressing down on her. As quickly as he appeared, Xero vanished again, his relentless pursuit of Matthew continuing.

Fueled by a desperate resolve, Madison staggered to her feet, forcing her body into motion. She sprinted forward, driven by the need to escape the chaos that surrounded them.

Weaving through the storm of monsters and chaos, Madison stumbled, barely managing to find herself staring at Eko and Isis locked in a vicious duel. Her powers crackled, fueled by terror and raw determination. Without a second thought, Madison unleashed her energy, sending a direct hit at Isis. The sorceress shrieked, momentarily stunned by the blow.

Seizing the moment, Eko moved with precision. Separating her Catania staffs into twin swords, she plunged one into Isis's abdomen. The impact was savage, and Isis crumpled to her knees, dark magic flickering around her before she vanished, leaving the battlefield eerily silent for a breath.

Panting, Eko rushed to Madison, her heart hammering in her chest. She reached out, desperate to ensure her cousin was safe, but Madison's eyes were wild with fear. She grabbed Eko's arms with a fierce grip, nearly crushing her with desperation. Madison's crystal powers surged, trying to pull them away from the chaos.

Eko's eyes widened as Madison's powers fizzled, her mind racing.

"W-what are you doing?" Eko stuttered, disbelief and panic in her voice.

"Get us out of here, now!" Madison's demand cut through the storm, her tone sharp with anger. Lightning flashed, illuminating their faces. Eko's expression shifted, a reflection of the fear and confusion consuming them both.

"No," Eko stammered, but her voice gained strength as she steadied herself. "We're not running!"

"Look, they're busy with the monsters. This is our chance to escape!" Madison's voice was frantic as she gestured toward the warriors locked in fierce battle. Eko's eyes flicked toward the chaos where Matthew and Xero fought, and dread gnawed at her as she saw Matthew struggling, barely holding his ground.

"No—"

"You have to choose!" Madison's cry cut through the storm, yanking Eko's attention back to her cousin. The desperation in Madison's eyes was unmistakable as she pointed toward the distance, pleading. "It's him or me!" Her words were sharp, echoing like a dagger twisting in Eko's chest. "Him or me!"

Eko froze, her breath catching as the ultimatum hit her like a punch to the gut. The storm seemed to roar louder around them, yet the weight of Madison's words hung heavier than the downpour.

"Please, don't make me do this," Eko's voice trembled, barely a whisper as she met Madison's gaze. Her heart ached, torn in two. "Don't ask me to choose." The raw emotion in her eyes mirrored the impossible choice she was being forced to make.

"Don't act like this is some impossible decision—it's not!" Madison spat, her voice cold, the words dripping with venom.

Eko's chest tightened, her heart pounding as she looked between Madison's tear-streaked face and the chaos unfolding behind her. The weight of it all was suffocating, the rain barely registering as it soaked through her clothes. It wasn't just rain, but the icy chill of betrayal creeping into her bones.

"I can't lose you," Eko whispered, her voice breaking as her tears blended with the relentless downpour. "But I can't lose him either." The weight of Madison's ultimatum pressed down like a crushing weight, suffocating her. The choice between the man she loved and her family felt like an impossible torment, ripping her apart.

Her breath hitched as she glanced over at Matthew. The battle between him and Xero was escalating to dangerous heights, both men engulfed in swirling, crackling energy. They fought with a lethal intensity that sent shockwaves rippling through the air. Magic boomed around them, fire and lightning entwining in their furious clash, for domination.

"Why are you hesitating?" Madison's voice cut through the storm, sharp with disbelief and pain. She gripped Eko's arm, her fingers digging in, finality laced in her words. "Sera, he's not family."

Eko's voice wavered, but her conviction was undeniable. "Yes, he is, Maddy. I know you can't see it, but he is. Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with him—truly, really, all consumingly, fell in love. He is the the one thing that's made sense in all this madness."

Her hands trembled as she continued, trying to make her cousin understand. "And ... He makes my world stop, Maddy. All the chaos, all the pain—it just fades when I'm with him. He makes loving me feel so easy, like it's the most natural thing in the world. There's no struggle, no fear—just love. He gives me peace, Maddy, something I didn't even know I needed."

"No."

Eko's voice broke with emotion, her plea filled with raw vulnerability. "Listen to me when I tell you that I'm not choosing him over you, Maddy. I'm choosing love, real love. I need you to believe that. I need you to believe in me."

A deafening explosion of magic reverberated across the battlefield, and Eko's eyes snapped toward the confrontation between Matthew and Xero. The two men clashed violently, their power lighting up the stormy sky. Each collision seemed to amplify the gravity of the situation they were still in.

Eko's knees nearly buckled as she watched Matthew fall back under Xero's latest attack, his body slamming into the ground with bone-jarring force. Her heart screamed for him, and that's when she felt Madison's voice pulling her back to her.

"Sera!" Madison shouted, shaking her, her voice desperate.

Yet, in that decisive moment, Eko's resolve crystallized. She couldn't have both in her life, Madison simply wouldn't allow it. And with agonizing clarity, she understood that she could bear the loss of one over the other.

"It's him," Eko said, staring Madison down, her voice breaking yet firm. In that moment, their paths diverged, two souls standing in the relentless downpour, forever altered. She closed her eyes tightly as another scream of agony echoed through the storm, her heart breaking at what she was about to lose. "Maddy... you need to know that it's always going to be him."

Madison's hand slipped from Eko's arm, their bond severed in that moment. "He will know after tonight that you're the Crowned future Queen, and I assure you, he's going to toss you aside," Madison hissed, her voice sharp with bitterness. "Mark me, Sera. You'll be crawling back, begging me to leave this godforsaken world!"

"He loves me," Eko said, her voice unwavering. There was no doubt in her heart, nothing more certain in her bones. "So take your threat and do it. But know this—YOU tore us apart. End of story, and this will be the end of us if you do it."

Without another glance, Eko turned and sprinted toward the raging battle between Matthew and Xero. Her heart pounded, her mind raced, but she pushed aside the pain, the guilt, the fear. All that mattered now was reaching Matthew. As she closed the distance, she saw Matthew land a powerful strike, sending Xero crashing into the ground. But Matthew was weakening, his movements slower, his body betraying the toll the fight had taken.

Madison stood alone in the rain, hollow. Her chest tightened, her limbs felt heavy. She wanted to scream, to cry, to lash out, but she was frozen. Her mind reeled, struggling to accept what had just happened.

And then, something in the distance caught her eye. Far beyond the battlefield, a monstrous wall of water rose from the ocean, towering over the landscape. A tsunami—massive, merciless, and racing toward them with terrifying speed. The sky darkened further, the storm's fury intensifying as the wave loomed closer, threatening to consume everything in its path.

Fear gripped Madison's heart like a vice, her breath catching in her throat.

For the first time, the war, the power struggle, all of it—it didn't matter. The real danger was coming, and it was unstoppable.

****** *******

With a final surge of energy, Eko lunged at Xero like a mother bear protecting her cub, a dagger flashing in her hand as she relentlessly slashed at him. Some strikes missed, but others landed with deadly precision, the blade sinking into his tough, reptilian skin with a sickening sound. Blood sprayed from the wounds, staining the air with each successful cut, and the once-confident Xero began to falter, his body now a canvas of fresh gashes.

Eko's strikes grew more ruthless, her focus narrowing to a razor's edge, each slash aiming for the vital points she knew would weaken him. Beside her, Matthew mirrored her intensity, his eyes never leaving Xero's as they moved in tandem, their attacks synchronized, each one landing with brutal efficiency. Xero's blood coated Eko's hands, but she didn't falter. Instead, it spurred her on, her fury fueling the precision of each blow.

As Matthew moved in between her bursts of attacks, he saw something flicker in Xero's eyes—fear. It was small at first, but with each strike, that fear grew, and they fed off it. Their strikes became faster, more desperate, their shared determination overpowering the once-formidable creature before them.

Xero, once a towering figure of dominance, was reduced to a pitiful state, his body bloodied and broken from the relentless assault. He tried to summon his magic to escape, but the couple's ferocity left him stumbling, unable to focus. With a last, desperate effort, he fired an energy bolt to distract them, and in that split second, his magic whisked him away, his body vanishing from their sight.

Eko and Matthew stood there, chests heaving, their weapons dripping with Xero's blood. The battlefield, once filled with the sound of their brutal struggle, had gone eerily quiet. For a moment, they simply stared at the empty space where Xero had been, the storm still raging around them.

But it was the sound of Matthew's sword hitting the ground with a heavy thud that pulled Eko's attention back to him. She turned just in time to see him stagger, barely able to stand. His weapon had slipped from his grasp, and the exhaustion finally caught up with him, his body trembling from the effort it had taken to keep fighting.

"Matthew..." Eko whispered urgently, her voice trembling as she drove her Catania sword into the ground for balance. "Hey!" she gasped, rushing to his side just as he dropped to his knees, his hands outstretched in a futile attempt to stop himself from falling face-first into the mud.

Kneeling beside him, Eko grabbed his shoulders and gently pushed him back, helping him stay upright. Her hand instinctively moved to his chest, feeling the rapid, chaotic beat of his heart beneath her palm. "Shit, shit," she muttered, panic flooding her as she realized just how dangerously fast his pulse was racing.

"It's... fine," Matthew gasped, struggling to catch his breath. "Just... lost m-my breath." He exhaled shakily, trying to force the air out of his lungs, to reassure her, though the effort clearly took a toll on him. His face was pale, and his body shook with exhaustion.

"You're not fine," Eko snapped, her voice trembling as her eyes locked onto his pale face. "Your heart... it's racing." Desperation filled her gaze as she scanned him for any sign of improvement. "That energy bolt, or the lightning—whatever the fuck that was—it's set something off, hasn't it?" Her voice cracked, fear creeping into every word.

Matthew gave a faint nod, his breathing labored, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Eko's hand stayed firmly on his chest, feeling the erratic rhythm of his heart beneath her fingers. She focused on her own breath, guiding him to breathe with her. Slowly, she felt his heart rate begin to stabilize, the frantic pounding easing ever so slightly as they knelt there in the mud, surrounded by the remnants of battle.

"W-where are the oth...ers?" Matthew asked, his voice weak as he struggled to keep his breathing steady. Eko glanced around the battlefield, her gaze sweeping across the remnants of chaos.

"The warriors are finishing off the last of the youmas," Eko said softly. "They're retreating, and I think the Allegiant soldiers are securing the area." Her eyes landed on Madison, standing apart from everyone, her face a swirl of anger and shock. Eko's heart clenched at the sight but quickly turned her focus back to Matthew. Gently, she lifted his chin, forcing him to meet her eyes. "We gotta get you home," she murmured, worry clouding her voice. "Your ICD could be fried. We need to fix it."

Matthew took a deep, shuddering breath, steadying himself. His eyes searched hers, filled with a sudden urgency. "W-why didn't you just l-leave?" His voice cracked. "I told you to take Maddy and r-run."

"I-I?"

"Eko," Matthew's voice strained, rasping through shallow breaths. "Take her... go! You have the codes—my cards... there's enough money," he gasped, struggling to keep the words steady. His chest heaved, every breath labored, as if speaking was pushing him to the edge. "Find a ship... and run!" The weight of his plea hung heavy, each word fighting through the fear of losing her, the effort almost too much for him to bear.

Eko's expression hardened, her emotions surging to the surface. "No! How many times are we going to have this conversation?" Her voice rang out, full of conviction, her heart racing. "I'm not leaving you!"

Matthew's chest hitched as he sucked in another ragged breath. "You promised..." His voice cracked, barely holding together as he clutched at her wrist, pulling her closer, desperate for her to understand. His eyes, filled with anguish, locked onto hers, pleading. "You promised me, Eko! Y-you said... you'd protect your family!" His words came in broken gasps, his hand shaking from the strain. "We agreed... this is about... family!" He struggled for air, each word torn from him with effort. "I told you... protecting family... comes first."

Her fingers traced the lines of his face with a tenderness that belied the storm around them. "What do you think I'm doing?" she whispered, her voice trembling under the weight of her emotions. "What do you think it means if I'm here protecting my family?"

Matthew's brows furrowed, confusion mixing with the frustration he barely had the strength to express. The subtle quiver of his lips against hers betrayed his vulnerability. His eyes flickered between hers as their foreheads touched, the closeness grounding them both in the chaos.

"E-Eko?" His voice shook, struggling to grasp the enormity of what she was saying. His breath hitched, every word a monumental effort. "Are you... are you saying I'm... y-your family?" The realization crashed over him, hitting harder than any physical blow. His eyes searched hers, wide with disbelief, the tears falling freely now, mingling with the rain as he struggled to understand what she was truly telling him.

"Yeah, you are," Eko sobbed, her voice breaking with joy and pain. She clutched him tighter, her emotions flooding her as the gravity of their connection washed over her. "You are, baby."

Matthew's trembling fingers tightened around her, pulling her closer, the warmth of her body cutting through the icy downpour. He couldn't speak, overwhelmed by the realization that he was her family, something he'd never dared to believe possible.

"You're my family," she whispered again, her voice soft yet unwavering as she brushed his damp hair from his face. Her hands shook just like his, but her touch was steady, sure. "You're my family, Matthew. If you'll have me... if you want me to be yours?"

"If I want you?" Matthew breathed in disbelief, he was incredulous. "God, I fucking love you, Eko." A wide, genuine smile broke across his face as he kissed her once, twice, thrice, the intensity of his love pouring through each touch. "I will love you in this life and the next, a thousand times over. I will always want you."

Before Eko could respond, the ground rumbled beneath them, pulling them sharply back to the harsh reality they were still caught in. A piercing scream tore through the air, and their eyes met in suspicion and rising dread. Another tremor shook the earth, more powerful this time, and an ominous vibration filled the air, growing stronger by the second.

They turned in unison, and their eyes widened in horror. A colossal wave of water, a monstrous tsunami, surged toward them. The sheer size of it blotted out the sky, a towering wall of destruction racing forward with terrifying speed. The screams of those around them echoed their own terror, swallowed by the deafening roar of the wave as it hurtled closer, unstoppable.

"Matthew..." Eko whispered, her voice trembling with fear as the crushing realization hit them both. There was no escaping this. Their powers were spent, fried by the earlier battle.

The wave rose higher, obliterating the horizon, turning the world into a terrifying spectacle of raw, unstoppable power. What had been a peaceful place just minutes before was now consumed by chaos. The world seemed to tilt as the monstrous wall of churning water surged toward them, an unforgiving force of nature.

Time slowed to a crawl. Their hearts pounded in their chests, panic tightening its grip as they realized the tsunami was upon them. The ground beneath their feet trembled, and the deafening roar drowned out all other sounds. Then, with a violent rush, the wave crashed down, engulfing everything in its path.

Matthew's grip on Eko had been ripped away by the force of the tsunami, the torrent swallowing him whole. In an instant, she was gone, lost to the chaotic churning waters. His world became a brutal maelstrom of black water and flying debris. His mind barely registered the terror as he fought to stay afloat, every breath a struggle against the suffocating weight of the water.

The water thrashed him relentlessly, pulling him in every direction. Jagged pieces of debris slammed into him like battering rams, the force sending fresh waves of pain tearing through his ribs and limbs. He could feel the sharp sting of something ripping across his skin, the cold shock of the water drowning out his cries of agony. His lungs burned with the need for air, but the storm didn't care—it dragged him under, a monstrous force, unforgiving and merciless.

For what felt like an eternity, Matthew battled the chaotic torrent. His mind screamed for survival, but his body was growing weaker. Then, for a brief moment, he broke through the surface, gasping desperately. The air burned his throat as he coughed and sputtered, clawing for life. His heart pounded in his chest, driven by raw instinct.

Through the swirling foam and darkness, he spotted her—Eko. She was fighting against the storm, her eyes wide with determination. For a fleeting second, their eyes met across the violent sea. They reached for each other, their fingers grazing before a massive wave smashed into them, ripping them apart once more.

Eko's scream cut through the chaos as Matthew was dragged under again, the cold water swallowing him in its relentless grip. His mind was drowning in panic as the current threw him violently against something solid. The impact knocked the air from his lungs, and his world exploded into a blur of pain and darkness.

When he came to, the world was still chaos, but now it felt distant. His limbs moved sluggishly as he tried to fight against the pull of the sea. His chest screamed for air, his body fighting to survive. He kicked weakly, trying to push through the weight of the water dragging him deeper into the abyss.

Then, finally, he broke the surface again, gasping for breath, but the sea wasn't done with him. The waves continued to pummel him, tossing him like a rag doll. His vision blurred as his body screamed in protest, muscles aching as he fought for every breath. He was barely conscious when something slammed into him again, the pain dulling as darkness took over.

When he eventually regained consciousness, the first thing he felt was Eko's desperate grip, her hands tugging at his soaked clothes, pulling him up from the merciless water. His senses slowly returned, the roar of the storm distant but relentless. His body ached with every motion as he realized how precarious the situation was—Eko clung to a partially submerged building, her knuckles white as she fought the current.

"God damn it!" her voice cracked, filled with fear and desperation. Her fingers dug into his clothes, refusing to let go despite the raging sea threatening to sweep them both away. Matthew, now aware of the full gravity of their predicament, reached out instinctively, wrapping one arm around her tightly while gripping the jagged edge of the building with the other.

"Matthew!" she cried, her voice hoarse from the strain. He pulled her closer, his body working on pure survival instinct, using what little strength remained to secure their position on the ledge. With a deep breath, Matthew braced himself against the current and, together with Eko, began the desperate climb upward.

Eko scrambled over the sharp, jagged concrete, her body fueled by adrenaline. The roar of the waves crashing around them was deafening, but she moved with purpose, driven by pure survival. Once she found stability, she knelt down, reaching out for Matthew's hand. "Come on, baby! Give me your hand!" she yelled over the sound of the storm.

With one final push, Eko pulled Matthew onto the platform, their bodies collapsing together on the rough surface, soaked and exhausted. Their chests heaved in unison, trying to catch their breath as they stared out at the destruction before them. The world had become a rushing torrent of water, debris, and dark skies—a nightmarish scene that seemed endless.

"God," Eko whispered, trembling, her wide eyes reflecting the sheer horror of what they had survived. The water continued to rush past them, an unstoppable force of nature, and for a moment, the only sound was the roar of the storm.

Matthew, barely managing to sit up, looked just as battered and broken as she was. His face was bruised, his clothes torn, and blood streaked down his arms. What had once been a simple afternoon had turned into a fight for survival that neither of them could have anticipated.

As the roar of the relentless water surrounded them, Eko and Matthew locked eyes, the weight of the moment sinking deep into their bones. Their bodies were battered, but the real battle wasn't over. The tsunami had ravaged the landscape, but the true danger—Isis and Xero—remained, lurking somewhere in the aftermath.

They had survived the wave, but their fight was far from finished.