Timeline - November 25th | ( 6 Days later)

The storm raged with a malevolent fury, winds howling like a beast unleashed, tearing at the very fabric of the world. But it was Madison's voice—sharp, venomous, and unrelenting—that sliced through the chaos like a serrated blade. "You have to choose!" Madison's face twisted with rage and despair, her eyes blazing with an unnatural fury that made Eko's blood freeze in her veins. "It's him or me, Sera!" Her words struck like daggers, relentless, unforgiving. "Him or me!"

Eko's breath hitched painfully, her chest heaving as the weight of the moment crushed her, her body trembling violently. "Please," she whispered, her voice barely audible, choked with fear. "Don't make me do this... don't ask me to choose."

Madison's eyes flared wide, deranged and vicious, her once-familiar face now distorted into something monstrous. Her nails dug deep into Eko's arm, drawing blood, sharp and merciless like talons. "It's not an impossible decision," she snarled, her lips curling in disgust. "It's simple, and you know it!" The venom in her words burned like acid, eroding the last fragments of Eko's resolve.

Eko's tears fell freely, sobs breaking from her chest in jagged, breathless cries. "I can't lose you, Maddy... but I can't lose him either." Her heart felt like it was being ripped in two, torn apart by the impossible choice between the two people she loved most.

Madison's face twisted further, her eyes now black, hollow voids filled with hatred. "Why are you hesitating?!" she screamed, her grip tightening, nails sinking deeper into Eko's flesh, the pain searing. "He's not family! He's not even worth it!"

Eko tried to speak, but her words stuck in her throat, strangled by the overwhelming fear. "Yes, he is, Maddy," she cried, shaking her head frantically. "He is! I fell in love with him! He's the only thing keeping me from losing my mind in all this chaos." Her desperate plea hung in the air, but Madison's cold silence cut through it like a blade.

Suddenly, the sky exploded with a deafening roar of thunder, and Eko's gaze was wrenched toward the battlefield. Matthew and Xero clashed with savage ferocity, their powers tearing through the atmosphere with such intensity that the ground beneath them shook violently. The sky was now a dark, swirling mass of ash and smoke, the air thick with the scent of blood, death, and raw destruction. Each strike from Xero hit Matthew with devastating force, and with each blow, it felt like a piece of Eko's soul was being ripped from her.

Her legs buckled, giving way beneath her, as the earth beneath her cracked open. She gasped for air, her lungs constricting as her heart thundered in her chest. And then, amidst the maelstrom of chaos, she saw it—Matthew stumbling, his body crashing into the ground with a sickening thud. The force was so brutal, so catastrophic, it felt as though her own bones had shattered on impact. Her heart screamed, her mouth opening in a silent cry, but no sound came.

Eko couldn't move, even if she wanted to. Madison's claws dug deep into her arm, anchoring her in place, the sharp pain echoing the helplessness that coursed through her veins. But how could she move anyway? She was paralyzed—paralyzed by the terror that had taken root in her body, freezing her in place as her mind screamed in horror.

She watched as Xero loomed over Matthew's broken form, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure, like a predator savoring his kill. Each breath Matthew took was shallow, ragged, his body heaving with the effort of simply staying alive.

Xero lowered himself to one knee, his presence looming larger as he trapped Matthew's body between his legs. His hands, monstrous and powerful, wrapped around Matthew's throat, squeezing with such brutal force that it sent shockwaves of dread through Eko's very soul. She could do nothing but watch—helpless—as Matthew tried to fight back, his hands clawing at Xero's, desperately trying to pry them off. His feet kicked frantically, scrambling for purchase in the dirt, but it was all futile. Every attempt was met with more resistance, Xero's grip tightening mercilessly with each passing second.

And then she saw it—Matthew's movements, once frantic and full of fight, began to weaken. His kicks slowed, his fingers stopped clawing, and the fight was slipping out of him, inch by inch. He was losing. She could see it. He was fighting less and less, his body sagging under the weight of Xero's unrelenting strength.

Eko's heart screamed in her chest, every nerve in her body on fire, her muscles locking in place. Her entire world had narrowed to this one horrific moment, where all she could do was watch. Watch as the man she loved was strangled before her eyes.

"LET HIM GO!" Eko's voice broke, her scream ripping from her chest with such force it felt like her very being was unraveling. Her desperation and terror bled into the storm, carried on the winds that whipped around them. "GOD, PLEASE! NO!" Her words were a plea—a primal, guttural cry for mercy that went unanswered.

But it was too late.

With one swift, brutal motion, Xero twisted Matthew's neck. The sickening crack echoed through the battlefield like a death knell, so final, so absolute, that it ripped through the air, reverberating through Eko's soul and shattering her entire existence in that instant.

The world collapsed around her. The storm, once deafening, now seemed to inhale everything—every sound, every emotion, every shred of hope she had clung to. The wind, the sky, the very ground beneath her feet disappeared into a void of unnatural silence, leaving her frozen, staring at the nightmare before her as if it were a grotesque picture, burned into her mind.

It was as if time had stopped, the chaos of the storm vanishing into nothingness, leaving only the crushing weight of her loss. Eko's mind reeled, trying to make sense of it, trying to breathe, but the air refused to come. All she could do was watch, paralyzed, as Matthew's lifeless body lay twisted on the ground, his last breath gone, stolen by the very monster who now stood towering above him.

And then she felt it—a hot, rancid breath against her ear, sending a shiver of pure terror down her spine. The darkness seemed to thicken around her as a voice, dripping with malice and cruelty, slithered through the void. Its presence was suffocating, twisting like a knife in her chest.

"You've been lying to yourself, Sera," the voice whispered, so close it felt like the words were being etched into her skin.

Her breath caught in her throat, her body trembling uncontrollably as tears poured down her face. Helplessness washed over her in waves, her knees buckling beneath the crushing weight of her despair. She watched, eyes wide with horror, as Xero released Matthew's limp body, letting it crumble back to the earth with a dull, final thud. The sound reverberated in her bones, a hollow echo that made the nightmare feel even more real. 

Xero rose to his full height, the satisfaction in his movements chilling, as though the act of snuffing out Matthew's life was nothing more than sport. He turned on his heel, his gaze locking onto Eko's, his lips curling into a twisted, cruel smile. The storm might have faded, but the malice in his eyes burned brighter than ever.

The voice returned, this time louder, sharper—Madison's voice, but more venomous, more insidious. It coiled around her, suffocating her with its cruelty.

"He was never family," it hissed, each word striking her like a lash. "And he would've left you. They all leave, Sera. You can't hold onto anyone. I saved you the heartache. I saved you the misery."

Eko's body shook violently as the words sank in, twisting deeper and deeper, each one cutting away at the last frayed pieces of her sanity. The voice mocked her, ridiculed her, until it felt like she couldn't breathe, couldn't move—could do nothing but drown in its relentless assault.

"You should be grateful," the voice continued, taunting her with a sickening glee. "You should be on your knees, thanking me for sparing you the pain of watching him abandon you. I've done you a favor."

The agony was unbearable, slicing through her like a blade, ripping her open, raw and exposed. She had nothing left, nothing but the overwhelming, suffocating grief that consumed her whole. It was endless, bottomless, a chasm of pain that pulled her deeper into its abyss, suffocating her, drowning her in despair.

And then, through her anguish, through the raw, primal scream that tore from her throat, her powers erupted. They surged outward like a tidal wave, wild and uncontrollable, blasting through the darkness with a force so catastrophic it shattered the very air around her. The storm disintegrated in a blinding flash of light, the world collapsing into that searing, unbearable brightness.

And then... nothing.

Nothing but the echo of her own scream, lingering in the silence, as the world faded to white.

***** ****

Eko jolted awake, gasping for air, her chest heaving as beads of sweat clung to her brow. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, the remnants of the nightmare gripping her like cold iron. She blinked, disoriented, the horrific images still flickering in her mind like shadows in the dark. It was just a dream. She repeated the words in her mind, but the intensity of it lingered, as if the nightmare had left a permanent mark on her soul.

Her breathing came in shallow, ragged breaths as she forced herself to steady, her trembling hands instinctively rising to cover her face. She wiped away the cold sweat, trying to shake off the oppressive weight that clung to her like a shroud. The familiar surroundings of Matthew's bedroom slowly swam into focus—the darkened room, the faint scent of him still in the air, the distant sound of rain tapping against the windows. But none of it calmed her. None of it felt real.

Eko slid off the bed and moved to sit on the edge, her legs curling into her chest. She wrapped her arms tightly around her knees, drawing them close as if trying to physically hold herself together. Her head rested against them, her breathing still shaky as she stared blankly toward the windows. Dawn's light barely crept through the thick, grey clouds, offering only a dim, muted glow that failed to chase away the shadows still clinging to her.

The rain had been relentless for days, an unceasing deluge that mirrored her own internal storm. The steady downpour was a cruel reminder of the emotional weight she carried—there was no escape, no reprieve. Just the constant, dull thrum of the rain, echoing her turmoil, as if the heavens themselves mourned with her.

And then, Madison's voice. It lingered, like a cruel specter haunting the edges of her mind, whispering the same venomous ultimatum she had heard over and over again. Every time Eko closed her eyes, the voice returned, taunting her, demanding she choose. It replayed itself endlessly in her nightmares, each time more vicious than the last. The cruel truth was that Eko feared if she had stayed with Madison, she would have lost Matthew instead. The guilt gnawed at her like a festering wound, twisting her insides with every passing moment.

Eko pressed her forehead harder against her knees, closing her eyes tightly, as if willing the relentless thoughts to disappear. But they wouldn't. They never did. Every time she tried to silence the guilt, it crept back in, gnawing at her heart. And it was in these suffocating moments that Eko would force herself to remember why she had made the choice she did—why she had chosen Matthew. The thought of a life without him was unbearable, a void so deep that it swallowed her whole if she let herself think about it for too long.

Matthew was her anchor. His love, his strength, his unwavering presence kept her from disintegrating entirely. Without him, there would be nothing left to hold her together. But the cost of that choice—the price she paid in losing Madison—cut her deeply, as if prioritizing one love had meant forsaking another. It was a wound that never fully healed, one that festered in the quiet, creeping moments of her mind.

Tears welled in her eyes, and she managed to look upwards, her gaze rifted toward the balcony, drawn by the faint motion outside, and there he was—Matthew, the man she loved with every fiber of her being. He stood there, framed against the dim, stormy morning sky, his silhouette tense and full of agitation.

He was pacing, restless, his frustration palpable even from behind the soundproof glass. A wrinkled white collared shirt clung to his body, hastily thrown on, while the rest of his attire was an afterthought—briefs and bare feet padding back and forth across the rain-soaked balcony. The wind tousled his hair, the stormy sky above mirroring the turbulence within him. Eko watched him, her heart twisting as she saw the strain etched into his face, the way his shoulders tensed with the weight of whatever battle he was fighting.

His phone was pressed tightly to his ear, his hand gripping it like a lifeline, but whatever conversation was happening on the other end was clearly unraveling. His frustration bled into every movement, his pacing growing more erratic. Even through the thick glass, she could see his lips moving, his voice rising—yelling now, though the words were lost to her.

His free hand shot up toward the sky in exasperation, his body twisting with the force of the emotion that coursed through him. Eko's stomach clenched at the sight. She could feel the strain in his every gesture, could see the burden he was carrying—whatever it was, it was pulling him apart. They were both burdened by the choices that had been made for them.

She studied the way his eyes closed briefly, his animated gestures, the way he shook his head, and the anger with which he tapped the phone against his forehead all showed how much he was struggling to reign in his temper.

She couldn't tear her gaze away, and after one last, weary shake of his head, he walked along the balcony, disappearing from her view. She sensed he had retreated to his office, leaving her with a tightening knot of concern in her stomach.

He was likely on the phone with the Allegiant boards, the royal elite advisors, or perhaps one of the headmasters under his command. Over the past week, the academies had been relentless in their efforts to reclaim the eastern border, systematically clearing out the youmas entrenched there. While the soldiers swept the lands, their allies had been dispersed across various districts and planets, chasing leads and desperately trying to pinpoint their enemies' whereabouts.

While half the group pursued one set of leads, he took the other path, focused on tracking down anything associated with Isis and Xero. He tore through their ranks of minions and creatures aligned with them, dispatching Allegiant soldiers to dismantle Xero's established system.

He had promised her he would bring them to their knees, and that was precisely what he was doing. With the umbrella of academies under his reign, every headmaster followed suit in the pursuit of domination.

In the days when she felt dead on her feet, he ordered her back home, and she remained at Allegiant, where one of the girls usually stayed to keep her company. Eko spent her time moving between the bedroom and the office, distracting herself with small tasks. More often than not, the girls would bring her food—an act of care she suspected Matthew had orchestrated, ensuring she was looked after even when he wasn't there.

Eko couldn't complain—she was genuinely grateful for him. Matthew had gone above and beyond what she ever expected from him in the past few days.

With the soft patter of feet, Eko lifted her attention to the sound just in time to see him entering the bedroom. He didn't say much—just placed his phone on the bedside table, then casually slipped off his shirt, letting it fall to the floor. His familiar, comforting presence enveloped her as he pulled her into his arms, guiding them both down onto the bed. Her head found its place on his solid warm chest, where the steady rhythm of his heartbeat echoed in her ear. Once they were nestled under the duvet, his fingers began to weave gently through her hair, offering the quiet comfort she craved.

The silence between them felt soothing, but it didn't last long before Eko's curiosity broke through. "Who was that?" she asked softly, her voice barely more than a whisper.

"No one," Matthew murmured, his lie painfully obvious.

"So you were losing your shit at no one?" she teased, raising an eyebrow.

He sighed, adjusting his head on the pillow. "I was losing my shit at idiots," he smirked, though the frustration still lingered in his tone. "Just some board members demanding things I won't cave to. There's a backlog, meetings piling up, and questions being thrown around about the eastern border."

"Which means?" She shifted to look up at him, her concern etched across her features. She studied the way exhaustion had settled into the lines of his face, the deep shadows under his eyes betraying the sleepless nights that had piled up one after another.

"Which means long, tedious meetings that are going to keep me busy once we're done with the investigation work. Strategies and logistics—all the stuff you hate." He grinned as he rubbed his nose playfully against hers. "You know, the things you always bitch and moan about."

Despite the weight still pressing on her heart, Eko couldn't help but smile softly at his humor. But then, her expression shifted, and she let out a small groan. "I'm sorry for not doing more," she said, her voice quieter now. She propped herself up to look at him, sincerity etched in her gaze. "Just... sorry."

Matthew's eyes darkened, his tone firm. "Don't. Don't you dare apologize," he interrupted, his voice slicing through her guilt. "I chose to be here, Eko. I chose to help you heal, to stay by your side. You come first, and you needed me here. So don't apologize, because I'm not sorry for any of it."

Her heart swelled at his words, warmth flooding her chest as she gazed at him with a soft smile. "I love you so much, you know that?" It was the first time in days that she felt genuine warmth reaching her heart again.

Matthew held her gaze, his steel-blue eyes studying her intently. Then, he reached up, tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. "There's that smile I've missed," he teased, his lips curving into a playful smirk before he leaned in, kissing her softly.

When he pulled back, his voice was tender, the gravity of their situation hanging between them. "I'll get you through this, Eko. I promise."

She smiled against his lips, her own sky-blue eyes now meeting his. "I know you will." Then she trailed her fingers gently over his cheeks, tracing the lines of his face as if committing every curve to memory.

"Are you going to be okay while I'm off and on this week? There are things I need to handle at the eastern border. They've set up campsites and perimeters, and I'm needed there with some of our Delta teams."

Eko nodded, though uncertainty flickered in her eyes. "No... yes? I don't know."

Matthew's voice softened, thoughtful as ever. "You could always find a spot in the graveyard we keep on-site for Maddy. Pick an area, write her a letter, put some mementos in it, and bury it. It's a way to give yourself permission to grieve, to let go—even just a little. It's something they recommend to kids who lose their parents young, a tangible way to process loss. It won't erase the pain, but it might help you manage it, bit by bit."

Eko raised an eyebrow, a playful curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "Is that what you did? Because that sounds an awful lot like Teddy's advice—the same advice he gave me before."

Matthew chuckled, shaking his head with a playful grin as he deflected her probing question. "Maybe I'm just a natural when it comes to giving advice."

"Or maybe you've got a brilliant therapist," she teased, a small smile playing on her lips. "Did it help you, you know, back then?"

He didn't respond verbally, but Eko sensed his reluctance to discuss his family. Instead, he offered a slight nod, providing her with reassurance without his usual sarcastic retort. "If it helps," he said, flashing a wink, "the quack has had a few decent ideas over the years, that being one."

Eko's smile deepened, appreciating his efforts to lighten her burden. He always had a knack for nudging her toward peace without pushing too hard, offering comfort in small, manageable steps.

"Seriously though," Matthew said, his tone shifting to earnestness. "I'll be in and out, but I'll check in as much as I can. And if you need anything, just call. Someone will always be here. Understood?"

She gave a slow nod. "I know. It's just... every time I feel like I'm making progress, something drags me right back down."

Matthew's gaze softened, and he gently cupped her face in his hands. "Healing isn't a straight line. It's messy, and painful, and it takes time. You know this, baby, don't rush the process."

She sighed, then smirked, her humor bubbling back to the surface. "Well, while I'm being a hot mess, I might pick up some classes. Get back to reality, keep myself busy. You know, like you said—bury a box, write letters, all that stuff." She rolled her eyes, but there was warmth in her tone.

Ah, there was her humor. He smiled, seeing a glimpse of the Eko he loved so deeply.

"Well, before we even think about leaving this bed..." His voice dropped to a sultry whisper, his lips brushing against hers. Eko melted into the moment, surrendering to the warmth of his embrace. He had told her once, early on: There is suffering in life, and there are defeats.

No one can avoid them.

Not even a warrior like her, with all her powers. And maybe, just maybe, it was better to lose some battles in pursuit of their dreams than to be defeated without ever knowing what they were fighting for.

With that thought lingering in the air, Eko lost herself in the kiss, feeling the weight of the world lift, his love wrapping around her like a warm cocoon, grounding her amidst the chaos. It was a sanctuary in the storm, a reminder that they could face whatever lay ahead together.

****** *****

Sorceress Isis's voice echoed through the chambers, an enraged cry that sent sparks of electricity flying. "I WANT HER FOUND!" she screeched, the intensity of her demand electrifying the air. "I WANT HER HEAD BEFORE ME NOW! FIND HER! FIND HER!"

Her magic roared in response to her command, creating a tempest of raw power that surged around her. The hapless servant, a mere messenger of the bad news, found himself lifted violently from the ground, his body suspended in the air by the invisible grip of her wrath. He had dared to report that the girl—the daughter of Ezra—had managed to escape with the crystals, disappearing into the confines of the magical grounds.

"YOU WILL ALL SUFFER FOR THIS FAILURE!" the sorceress thundered, her voice shaking the very foundations beneath her feet. Her dark magic flared, twisting and writhing around her like an electric storm as her fury crackled through the chamber. 

The servant gasped for breath, clawing at his throat as the sorceress's magic constricted him, his pleas for mercy drowned in the deafening roar of her anger. The youmas and other creatures that served her quivered in fear, their monstrous forms cowering in the shadows, unwilling to draw the ire of their vengeful mistress.

"YOU INSOLENT, DISOBEDIENT FOOLS!" she roared, her glowing eyes casting an eerie, sinister light in the chamber. The very walls trembled in response to her outburst, her magic sparking with uncontrolled violence. "YOU THINK YOU CAN FAIL ME AND LIVE?"

The servant's body convulsed as the sorceress's magic tightened its deadly hold. His bulging eyes stared down at her, wide with terror, but no words of pleading could reach her. She was beyond reason, consumed entirely by her thirst for vengeance.

"I WANT HER DEAD!" the sorceress bellowed, her rage amplifying with every word. "I WANT THOSE CRYSTALS BACK!" The final command hung heavy in the air, a menacing decree that promised no peace until her orders were fulfilled.

Sorcerer Cid watched the chaos from the throne seat, but his expression remained placid, as if unfazed by his wife's unrelenting fury. The violent explosion of the creature's body barely elicited a response from him. He sat in eerie calmness, observing the spectacle before him.

Isis, on the other hand, was far from calm. Her body crackled with uncontrolled energy, her skin glowing as waves of electric power coursed through her in brilliant shades of white. Her anger seemed to know no bounds as she screeched, her voice reverberating throughout the vast hall.

"WHERE IS EZRA?" The demand thundered from her lips, her impatience boiling over. "I WANT HER NOW! BRING HER TO ME!"

The doors to the chamber burst open, and Ezra, weak and frail, was shoved roughly into the room. She crumpled to the ground, her body too broken to remain upright for long. Every movement seemed to take more effort than she could muster, but she forced her head up, her eyes meeting the sorceress's with a quiet defiance.

The sorceress's presence loomed over her, a storm waiting to be unleashed. "WHERE IS SHE?" she demanded again, her voice shaking the very ground. "YOUR DAUGHTER HASN'T COME TO SAVE YOU! WHERE HAVE YOU HIDDEN HER THIS TIME?"

Ezra coughed violently, her frail body wracked with pain, yet somehow, a smile tugged at her lips. "O-o-of... course... she won't come... for me," she rasped, her voice barely a whisper, but her defiance clear. "I saved... her... from... yo—"

The words were cut short as Isis sent another surge of electricity through Ezra's body. The old woman convulsed, her body arching with pain, but her defiance, though fragile, was still there in the fleeting moments of consciousness she had left.

Isis watched Ezra's trembling form with cold satisfaction, but beneath the surface, her fury only grew. She wouldn't rest until the crystals, and the girl who held them, were back in her grasp.

"DO YOU THINK YOU CAN DEFY ME AND LIVE?" Isis shrieked, her voice sharp and piercing, echoing violently through the chamber. "TELL ME WHERE SHE IS, OR I WILL MAKE YOUR END A HUNDRED TIMES MORE PAINFUL!"

Ezra's breaths came in strained, labored gasps. Her body trembled with exhaustion, yet she managed to lift her head, locking eyes with her tormentor. Defiance flickered in her gaze, despite the agony overwhelming her. "I... w-will never... t-tell... you," she rasped, her voice faint but resolute.

Isis leaned closer, her hatred palpable. "Your worthless daughter stole my crystals," she hissed, venom dripping from each word. "And you think you've won." With a malicious sneer, she sent another surge of electricity through Ezra's frail body, draining the last of her strength. "WHERE IS SHE?" she demanded.

For a moment, the onslaught stopped. Ezra, barely able to remain upright, slumped forward. She had feared that defying Isis would lead to worse punishment for her daughter. But now...

Now, her daughter was free.

A small, triumphant laugh bubbled up from Ezra's chest, infuriating the sorceress further. That laugh grew louder, more defiant, as it echoed through the chamber. It was a laugh that signified victory—the satisfaction of knowing her daughter had escaped, beyond the sorceress's reach.

"Y-you...should n-not have been...careless," Ezra tried to finish, but before she could, Isis resumed the torture. The excruciating pain surged through her body, unbearable, as the darkness began to claim her.

"I'll find her again, just like before!" Isis screeched, her fury palpable. "And this time, my creatures will bring her head to me!"

Ezra's eyes, though dimming, narrowed defiantly. "Y-you w-won't... find her..." With one final act of defiance, she spat at the Sorceress's feet. It was a small, courageous act, but one that sparked a wave of unbridled fury in Isis.

With a malicious smile, Isis leaned down, her hands slick with power, and wrapped them around Ezra's throat. "I'll find your daughter," she whispered maniacally. "And you'll watch from wherever you end up as I tear her apart."

Ezra's grin, weak but defiant, widened just a fraction as she mustered the last of her strength. "S-she's too... smart f-for you. She knows your every move. She w-won't come back... for me. She's g-gone for good this time. And she t-took your precious... crystals. So... s-scr-ew you... and your t-time... c-compres-sion!"

"Don't be so sure, Ezra," Isis's smile twisted with a dark amusement as she watched Ezra struggle to cling to life. "Rats always come out of hiding. Just gotta light them up."

With a final, maniacal laugh, Isis unleashed the full force of her magic, filling the air with electrified fury. The room crackled with raw energy as her powers surged, engulfing everything.

Ezra's body convulsed violently, wracked by unbearable pain. But as the last vestiges of life drained from her, a serene whiteness began to envelop her consciousness, a stark and peaceful contrast to the agony she had endured. In that light, she saw him—her husband—standing at the edge of the veil, his hand outstretched, waiting for her.

With a final, peaceful exhale, Ezra reached out, embracing the light. Her suffering ended as she found solace in the arms of the man she had loved and lost, her last thoughts filled with hope for the daughter she had saved.