The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 116: Ch : Paranoia- Part 1

’It hurts! What happened! Ugh! My head! What did Miss Shadow...no, Selene do? How did she figure out that I was there!’

Rose Grayson jolted awake, his breath hitching in his throat as if he had been drowning and only just broken through to the surface.

His sheets clung to his damp skin, and cold sweat trickled down his temples.

His chest heaved, each inhale sharp and ragged, and for a moment, he could see nothing but darkness—an abyss swallowing him whole.

Beside him, Lyra stirred, her long hair splayed across the pillow.

She propped herself up on an elbow, her eyes half-lidded with sleep but sharp enough to notice the distress on Rose’s face.

"What’s wrong? Did something happen? You went pale all of a sudden before you jolted awake in your bed. Is there anything I can do to help you out?"

She asked, her voice a raspy murmur. She sounded half-asleep as well, but she somehow pulled herself awake.

Rose couldn’t answer immediately.

His mind was reeling, his thoughts tangled and frayed.

’Selene managed to push me out. Did the system...betray me?’

Rose had reached out, extending his ability as he always did, weaving illusions and slipping into the minds of others. It was a simple task, one he had performed countless times before.

But this time, something had reached back.

When he finally found his voice, it was thin and strained.

"I almost got... devoured."

Lyra’s brows knitted together, but instead of offering sympathy, a smirk curled on her lips.

"Is that so? Well, that’s what you get for poking around in other people’s heads. Maybe this time you’ll learn."

She leaned back against the headboard, arms crossed over her chest.

Her words, dripping with amusement, sent a spark of anger through him.

He sat up, clutching his forehead as a sharp pain lanced through his skull. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

It felt as if claws were scraping against the inside of his mind, a residual ache from whatever had nearly ensnared him.

"Shut up, Lyra. I am not in a mood for your sass!

His voice came out harsher than intended, but he didn’t care. His head was pounding, and his pride was stinging.

’Wow! So the situation is bad enough for Rose to even drop his act? I better be careful as well.’

Lyra only chuckled, completely unfazed by his anger.

"I’m just saying, Rose. Your luck’s going to run out eventually. All those little games you play... it’s going to bite you back."

He glared at her, but the look only made her laugh harder.

She swung her legs over the side of the bed, stretching languidly before throwing a glance over her shoulder.

"If you want my advice—"

"I don’t."

She ignored him.

"If you want my advice, you should cut your losses. Break all your ties, disappear for a while. Stop trying to scam people. It’s not worth your life."

Rose’s lips pressed into a thin line. His hands gripped the blanket, knuckles white.

"I know what I’m doing."

Lyra sighed, a mix of exasperation and amusement.

"If you say so."

She wandered off, leaving Rose alone in the dim light of early morning.

Once she was gone, his bravado crumbled. He buried his face in his hands, trying to smother the lingering fear.

His ability had never failed him before—he was always the predator, the one who pulled the strings. But now, he felt like prey, and the sensation was suffocating.

He had no intention of running away. But Lyra’s words lingered, an irritating whisper at the back of his mind.

______

Meanwhile, back at Selene’s house, the atmosphere was entirely different.

Selene had fallen back asleep not long after assuring Ethan that she had things under control.

Whatever had tried to infiltrate her mind, she had fended it off, and for now, that was enough.

When morning came, she felt refreshed.

She joined the others in the kitchen, where the smell of coffee and toast filled the air. Zara, Ethan, and Orion sat around the table, the remnants of breakfast spread between them.

Selene poured herself a cup of coffee, taking a long sip before speaking.

"I found out who’s been snooping around in my head."

Three sets of eyes turned to her, each with a different mix of curiosity and concern.

Zara leaned forward, elbows on the table.

"When are we going to take care of them?"

Ethan, sitting beside her, looked more guarded. His fingers drummed lightly against his mug, a steady, rhythmic tap. Orion’s expression was harder to read—quiet but focused.

Selene set her cup down, the ceramic making a soft clink against the wood.

"Not yet."

Zara blinked.

"Why not?"

A sly smile curved Selene’s lips.

"Because I want them to suffer first. Whoever it was—they need to understand what it feels like to be hunted. To feel paranoid, unsure of when the hammer will drop."

Ethan’s drumming stopped.

"So, you want to play with them?"

"Exactly. They tried to manipulate me. It’s only fair I return the favor."

Selene’s voice was light, but there was a dangerous edge to it.

Orion finally spoke, his voice a low rumble.

"How long do you plan on waiting?"

"As long as it takes. The more paranoid they get, the more mistakes they’ll make. And when they do, we’ll be there to catch them."

She shrugged.

Zara grinned, the idea clearly appealing to her.

"Sounds like fun."

Ethan, however, remained quiet. His eyes remained on Selene, thoughtful and perhaps a bit wary.

Selene noticed but didn’t comment. She stood, brushing crumbs from her hands.

"For now, let’s focus on our own work. When the time comes, I’ll let you know."

With that, she left the kitchen, the others exchanging glances in her wake.

Ethan finally exhaled, a low sigh that no one else seemed to hear.

He understood Selene’s plan, but a part of him couldn’t shake the feeling that this game of cat and mouse could spiral into something far more dangerous than any of them expected.

But, for now, all he could do was wait—and watch.