Chapter Two — The Distance Between Us
1082 Words
Ethan didn’t let go.
Even after the thing disappeared. Even after the silence settled back into the park like nothing had happened.
His fingers were still gripping Lucien’s jacket.
And Lucien… hadn’t pulled away.
⸻
“You’re shaking.”
Ethan blinked, like he’d just remembered how to breathe. “I’m not—”
“You are.”
Lucien’s voice was calm, but his eyes were fixed on Ethan’s hands. Slowly, deliberately, Ethan loosened his grip—but didn’t fully let go.
“I just saw something that shouldn’t exist,” Ethan muttered. “I think shaking is a normal reaction.”
“That wasn’t normal,” Lucien said quietly.
Ethan let out a dry laugh. “Yeah, no kidding.”
⸻
The wind picked up again, colder now.
Or maybe it was just him.
Ethan wrapped his arms around himself, finally stepping back—putting a small, necessary distance between them.
It felt wrong immediately.
Too empty.
“Start talking,” Ethan said. “What are those things? And why are they after me?”
Lucien didn’t answer right away.
Instead, he turned his gaze toward the trees again, like he was listening to something far away.
“They’re called Seekers,” he said at last. “They don’t belong in your world.”
Ethan frowned. “My world?”
A pause.
Then Lucien looked back at him—and something in his expression made Ethan’s chest tighten.
“You really don’t know, do you?”
“Know what?”
“That you were never supposed to exist like this.”
⸻
The words hit harder than they should have.
Ethan scoffed, but it came out weaker than he intended. “Okay, that’s not funny.”
“I’m not joking.”
“Then explain it.”
Lucien took a step closer again.
Not as close as before.
But close enough.
“They’re not hunting you because of something you did,” he said. “They’re hunting you because of what you are.”
Ethan’s heartbeat quickened. “Which is?”
Lucien hesitated.
And that hesitation said more than any answer could.
⸻
“Say it,” Ethan pressed.
Lucien’s jaw tightened. “If I tell you… you don’t get to pretend this isn’t real anymore.”
Ethan swallowed. “It already feels real enough.”
A long silence stretched between them.
Then—
“You’re a bridge.”
Ethan blinked. “A… what?”
“A connection between two worlds. Human… and something else.” Lucien’s voice dropped slightly. “Something they don’t want crossing over.”
Ethan shook his head, stepping back again. “No. No, that doesn’t make any sense. I’m just—”
“Just what?” Lucien cut in softly.
The question hung there.
Unanswered.
Because Ethan didn’t know.
⸻
The streetlamp above them flickered violently.
For a second, everything went dark.
And when the light came back—
Lucien was closer.
Too close.
Again.
⸻
“You feel it, don’t you?” Lucien murmured.
Ethan’s breath caught. “Feel what?”
“This.”
His hand lifted—slow, careful—hovering just inches from Ethan’s wrist.
Not touching.
Not yet.
“But you know it’s there.”
Ethan couldn’t look away.
There was something.
A pull.
A strange, quiet connection that made no sense but felt impossible to ignore.
“Ever since I started texting you…” Lucien continued, his voice softer now, “you’ve felt less alone.”
Ethan’s chest tightened.
“…Yeah.”
Lucien’s fingers brushed his wrist.
And everything stopped.
⸻
It wasn’t just a touch.
It was a spark.
Not painful. Not even physical, exactly.
But something deeper—like something inside Ethan had just… recognized him.
Ethan inhaled sharply. “What was that?”
Lucien pulled his hand back instantly, like he’d crossed a line.
“Something that shouldn’t happen,” he said.
“That didn’t feel wrong.”
“It is.”
⸻
Ethan frowned. “You keep saying that.”
“Because it’s true.”
“Then stop doing things that don’t feel wrong.”
Lucien looked at him then—really looked at him.
And for the first time, there was something clear in his expression.
Conflict.
“You don’t understand what I am,” he said.
“Then tell me.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because if you know…” Lucien’s voice dropped, almost breaking, “you won’t be safe around me anymore.”
⸻
Ethan took a step forward.
Closing the distance again.
“Too late,” he said quietly.
Lucien’s breath stilled.
⸻
Another sound echoed through the park.
Closer than before.
More of them.
Ethan turned slightly, panic rising again. “They’re back, aren’t they?”
“Yes.”
“Then we should leave.”
Lucien didn’t move.
“Why aren’t we leaving?”
“Because they’re not the only ones looking for you tonight.”
Ethan’s stomach dropped. “What does that mean?”
Lucien’s gaze darkened.
“It means…” he said slowly, “…if I take you with me, I might be saving you from them—”
His eyes met Ethan’s.
“—but I’ll be putting you in something worse.”
⸻
Ethan’s heart pounded.
“Worse than that thing?”
Lucien didn’t answer.
And somehow—
That was the answer.
⸻
The wind howled suddenly, louder than before.
The trees shook.
Shadows stretched unnaturally across the ground.
They were coming.
Fast.
⸻
Ethan didn’t think.
Didn’t hesitate.
He reached for Lucien’s hand again—and held it tightly.
“I don’t care,” he said.
Lucien froze.
“You should.”
“I don’t.”
“Ethan—”
“I don’t care what you are,” Ethan cut in, voice shaking but firm. “Or what this is. I just—”
He stopped.
The words caught in his throat.
But the feeling didn’t.
⸻
Lucien’s hand tightened around his.
Not pulling away.
Not this time.
“That’s exactly what you should be afraid of,” Lucien whispered.
⸻
The shadows broke through the trees.
Closer.
Closer.
⸻
Ethan’s heart raced—but his grip didn’t loosen.
“Then I’ll be afraid later,” he said softly.
Lucien stared at him like he was something fragile.
Or something dangerous.
Maybe both.
⸻
And then—
Without another word—
Lucien pulled him forward.
Straight into the darkness.
⸻
Because some choices don’t feel like mistakes…
Until it’s too late to turn back.
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