The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 93: Ch : The start of a Nightmare - Part 1

’Finally, this meeting is over! I thought it would never finish. Just how incompetent can these people be? Why do I need to spell out everything for these officials before they understand what I am telling them?’

The meeting left Selene drained and she felt her head ache even worse now.

Selene leaned back against the chair, letting the cool leather press against her tense muscles.

She closed her eyes, rubbing her forehead to stave off the headache.

The meeting had gone as well as expected, but the lingering unease gnawed at her.

She decided to focus on something productive and activated her Insight skill.

Immediately, the familiar hum of energy signatures filled her senses, the world around her painted in hues of auras and pulses.

She sifted through the layers, seeking out those she recognized.

Ethan’s signature stood out—steady, strong, and close. He was already here to pick her up.

Feeling that made Selene relax instantly and some of her tension left her frame as she waited for Ethan to come to her.

The door opened, and there he stood. His appearance was as immaculate as ever, not a hair out of place.

It was almost unsettling how composed he looked, considering he’d just come back from a dungeon.

"It’s time to go."

He said, his voice calm and composed. He sounded better than he did during the morning.

Selene gathered her things, slipping papers into her bag and closing her notebook with a soft thud.

As they moved through the quiet halls of the government building, she decided to address the elephant in the room.

"Are you over whatever was bugging you this morning?"

She asked, keeping her tone light.

Ethan’s stride faltered, just for a second. His expression remained distant, the warmth that usually lingered in his eyes absent.

"Yeah. I’m fine. I’ve moved past it."

He said to reassure her but it sounded almost like a lie.

Selene didn’t buy it. His words were too crisp, too practiced.

But she decided not to push. If Ethan needed time, she’d give it to him.

They stepped outside, where the car was waiting.

Zara and Orion sat inside, Zara tapping away on her phone while Orion stared out the window.

As soon as Selene slid into the back seat, Orion turned to her, his expression easing into a small smile.

"Everything good? Did you manage to talk these people into following the plan?"

He asked in an almost innocent voice.

"Yeah,"

Selene replied, but her voice sounded tired.

The drive home was quiet. Selene rested her head against the window, the cool glass grounding her.

Despite everything, the unsettling feeling from earlier still lingered, threading its way through her thoughts.

Dinner was a quiet affair.

Plates clinked, and utensils scraped, but conversation remained sparse. Ethan maintained his silence, his focus on his meal.

Zara and Orion exchanged a few words, but even their usual banter was subdued.

Selene excused herself early, claiming she was tired. She could feel the eyes of her team on her as she ascended the stairs, but no one stopped her.

Her room was a sanctuary.

Soft lighting, a neatly made bed, and the faint scent of lavender from the diffuser she kept by the window. She slipped into bed, pulling the covers over her.

But as soon as she closed her eyes, the world tilted.

It felt as if her consciousness was being pulled away, dragged through a tunnel of shadows.

She tried to fight it, her instincts screaming at her to hold on, but it was like clutching at smoke.

Her breath quickened. The room around her faded, and in its place came a void—endless, cold, and echoing.

"Selene..."

The voice was soft, a whisper threading through the dark. She couldn’t tell where it came from. Her senses, so keen with Insight, failed her.

Her body wouldn’t respond. She couldn’t move, couldn’t break free.

Panic gripped her.

A touch—warm, firm—landed on her shoulder. She spun around, every muscle coiling to defend herself—

And then, she woke.

Her body jerked upright, the sheets tangled around her limbs. Her breathing was ragged, her skin damp with cold sweat.

"Selene."

The voice was real this time.

Ethan knelt by her bed, his hand still on her shoulder. His expression was a mix of concern and confusion, the usual mask of calm he wore completely shattered.

"What happened?"

He asked, his voice low but edged with urgency.

Selene opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She swallowed, forcing down the tremors.

"I... I think someone tried to pull me into a vision. Or a dream. I don’t know."

Ethan’s grip tightened, not enough to hurt but enough to ground her.

"You were thrashing. I heard something and came in. You wouldn’t wake up."

Her mind raced. She tried to recall every detail, every shadow of that dream-like state, but it slipped through her grasp.

"I don’t think it was just a dream. It felt... Unnatural!"

She said finally.

Ethan’s jaw tightened.

"Do you think it was the system? Or a side-effect of your abilities?"

"Maybe. But I’ve never heard of anything like this before. It might be the system, or someone else. But whoever it was, they were strong."

She rubbed her temple, the headache from earlier now a full-blown ache.

Ethan stood, his presence taking up the room.

"I’ll get Zara and Orion. We need to figure this out."

"No. Let them rest. We’ll deal with this tomorrow."

Selene reached for him, her fingers brushing his wrist.

He didn’t look convinced.

"And what if they try again?"

"I’ll stay awake. Or at least try to."

Selene assured Ethan but he swatted her head lightly in a mocking manner.

"Just go to sleep. I will wake you up if anything like this happens again. You can trust me to spend the night beside you."

Ethan confirmed in a firm voice and Selene felt a laugh bubble its way out of her throat.

"I see. If that’s the case, then I will depend on you for tonight."