The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 197: Ch : Come, find me

Selene knew she was dreaming. It was obvious from the way her body felt detached from her brain. It was as if she was in a different space but she could not do anything about it.

Usually, her dreams were something she did not remember much. They passed by so fast that all she was left with were some of her feelings.

But this dream felt different.

’It feels so real. It makes my heart feel afraid. It’s as if I am actually in another space.’

She floated in a space that was neither dark nor light, surrounded by swirling colors that bled into each other—pools of red, ribbons of silver, waves of deep indigo.

Shapes twisted and shifted around her, flickering in and out of existence like mirages.

Some of them were familiar. Others were alien, unnatural—things that did not belong to any world she knew.

She tried to speak, but when she parted her lips, no words came out.

Instead—

A hum.

A low, vibrating sound that reverberated through her bones, filling her ears, shaking the very air around her.

Selene’s breath hitched.

’I can hear noises as well now? This experience is getting weirder and weirder by the second.’

The hum grew louder. More insistent.

It pulsed like a heartbeat, echoing in her skull, pressing against her senses until she could hear nothing else.

Selene winced. She tried to close her eyes, willing the sound to stop.

But it didn’t.

It only grew.

Louder. Deeper.

The vibration traveled down her spine, wrapping around her limbs like invisible chains. She could feel it inside her chest—beneath her skin.

Selene gritted her teeth and clamped her hands over her ears.

But it did not help.

The hum burrowed deeper, twisting into something almost whisper-like, the distorted voice of something not quite human.

She forced her eyes open—

And froze.

Before her, suspended in the endless void—

Was a glowing core.

It was round and pulsating, like a living thing.

An eye.

A massive, prismatic eye with a luminous pupil that swirled with color, shifting between shades of violet, emerald, and gold.

And it was looking right at her.

Selene’s pulse skyrocketed.

A chill ran through her body, but before she could react—

The core spoke.

[Find me. You must find me before it is too late.]

Its voice was not a voice.

It was a feeling.

A command that reverberated through her very soul.

Selene’s body moved on its own.

She gasped as her hand lifted—against her will—toward the glowing core.

Her fingers stretched forward, reaching.

No!

Panic flooded her veins.

[Remember, I am the origin of all and the end of all. If you find me, you will find all the answers you seek. Sacrifice what you have to, but find me and swallow me whole]

She tried to pull back, tried to resist—

But her body ignored her.

It was as if something had wrapped itself around her mind, overriding her control.

She felt like a puppet.

A prisoner in her own skin.

[Become one with me.]

The core’s voice was a whisper woven into the air itself, wrapping around her like invisible threads.

Selene struggled.

She willed herself to stop, to retreat—

But it was useless.

Her hand touched the core.

A sharp, electric pain shot through her palm.

She gasped.

A searing sensation exploded up her arm, scorching through her veins. It wasn’t just pain—it was something else.

Something awakening.

Something being forced into her.

Selene barely had time to process it before the world around her shattered.

The last thing she saw—

Was that prismatic eye staring at her.

And then, she fell.

______

Selene’s body jolted.

Her eyes snapped open, and she sucked in a sharp breath.

The first thing she noticed was the cool sensation on her forehead.

Her fingers twitched as she reached up, feeling the damp cloth resting against her heated skin.

Her head felt foggy, like she had just woken from a fever dream.

She blinked.

The dim glow of the bedside lamp cast a warm light over the room, and for a moment, everything felt... strangely quiet.

Then, she noticed her surroundings.

She was home.

The soft comfort of her bed grounded her, but she still felt strange.

Like something inside her had shifted. Changed.

Selene swallowed, her throat parched.

As she tried to move, her gaze landed on the curled-up figure beside her bed.

Zara.

She was sitting on the chair, her head resting against the mattress. Asleep.

Her expression was peaceful, but even in sleep, there was a slight furrow in her brow—a sign of exhaustion, of worry.

Selene exhaled softly.

How long had Zara been watching over her?

A faint warmth spread through Selene’s chest.

She didn’t want to wake her.

But as she shifted slightly, the mattress creaked.

Zara stirred.

Her eyelids fluttered before she snapped awake, blinking rapidly.

The moment her gaze landed on Selene, her face lit up with relief.

"Selene!"

Her voice was hoarse, but her concern was clear.

Zara immediately leaned forward, pressing a hand to Selene’s forehead to check her temperature.

"You’re awake! How do you feel? Are you still feverish? Do you need water?"

Selene parted her lips to answer, but before she could—

Zara was already getting up, about to rush out of the room.

Selene’s hand shot out, catching Zara’s wrist before she could leave.

Zara froze.

Her eyes widened slightly as she looked down at their hands.

Selene’s grip was weak, shaky.

But firm.

"It’s alright."

Selene murmured, her voice still raspy from sleep.

Zara hesitated.

Then, with a sigh, she slowly sank back into the chair.

Her expression softened as she squeezed Selene’s hand gently.

"You scared me, you know."

Selene blinked.

Zara gave her a small, tired smile.

"Don’t do that again."

Selene let out a soft chuckle, despite how exhausted she felt.

"No promises."

Zara rolled her eyes but didn’t let go of her hand.

And for the first time since she woke up—

Selene felt safe.