Welcome to Redwaters - 3. Chapter 3

Like a fleeting fragment of thought, Zain felt nothing. He floated in a state of weightlessness, devoid of any tangible consequences. His doubts had dissipated, his anxiety was now a distant memory, abandoned in an inaccessible corner of his consciousness. He had lost all sense of his identity, his place in space and time. He was simply there, immersed in nothingness, experiencing a paradoxical sense of peace. However, he knew he needed assistance, but the reason for it still eluded him.

Suddenly, an extreme feeling of dizziness invaded his body. His physical form seemed to abruptly reassemble, and he found himself propelled into the void, in a fall that seemed to last for an eternity. Then, with extreme violence, he was ejected from a portal similar to the one that had just sucked him.

Zain finally crashed to the ground, his face coming into contact with the damp grass of Redwaters. His fall had been precipitated from several meters high. At the very moment of his brutal landing, a violet shockwave emanated from his body, spreading in all directions for hundreds of meters, like the blast of a supernatural bomb.

In a laborious effort, Zain lifted his scraped face, his disheveled hair partially obscuring his features.

Before him stood Fleur, Ouray, and Hadrian, who were struggling to get back on their feet after being thrown to the ground by the magical explosion emanating from Zain. The trio watched him with apprhension, captivated by what they had just experienced.

Their gazes met, filled with questions.

"What was that?" Fleur asked, her face marked by confusion and dizziness.

Ouray replied with an intrigued voice"Some kind of magical wave..."

Pointing her finger at Zain, Fleur continued : "And it came from him?" Her tone was uncertain.

Ouray, still attempting to unravel the mystery, responded, "I believe so, yes…"

A faint smile appeared on Fleur's lips as she joked to aleviate the tension : "At least, he's not a giant spider…" before quickly adding, uncertain : "Right?!"

Eyes fixed on the young boy, Ouray, who remained on guard, replied :

"I don't think so, indeed." his facial expressions revealing growing suspicion.

Zain watched their conversation, perplexed and utterly bewildered.

Their clothing looked strangely foreign to him, and even the color of their eyes appeared different, but different from what? Despite being aware that he had laded in an unfamiliar place, Zain was unable to make any comparisons between these strangers standing before him and people from his own world. His mind was locked, preventing any possible analysis of the potential differences that might exist between them.

Ouray and Fleur’s words, spoken in a language he didn't understand, suddenly seemed to float in the air, gradually taking various shapes, materializing before him then penetrating his mind, assembling within him like the pieces of a puzzle. It was at that very moment that Hadrian chose to break his silence, addressing him in a gentle voice :

"Hello."

That word was the first he understood.

Zain looked at Hadrian, feeling a different vibration radiating from him than ones he had sensed from his two companions, which immediately piqued his curiosity.

"I... I think I'm lost," Zain finally managed to say, suprising himself at the fact that he could suddenly now communicate in their language.

Hadrian responded in a calm tone :

"That's a start…Where do you come from?"

The young boy, caught in a troubling confusion, replied uncertainly :

"I don't remember anymore… I forgot."

Ouray, remaining cautious, exclaimed firmly :

"Finding out if he's dangerous would be the more urgent matter, in my opinion..." He said, keeping his eyes fixed on the boy, who still seemed dazed.

Fleur, gently placing her hand on the stone pendant hanging around her neck, responded reassuringly :

"He's not."She then proceeded to explaine the origin of the green glow emanating from her necklace, adding :

"This necklace is a detector of waves and energies. The fact that it shines green in his presence, especially after the magical explosion he produced, shows that he's not dangerous."

Zain, his eyes lost in the void, finally confessed in a trembling voice, as if he just had a realization : "I think I need help." He attempted to push his hair away from his face, completely disoriented, while taking in the surroundings of this strange place where destiny had brought him.

The three friends watched Zain, closely observing his reactions. The young man seemed genuinely distressed, and despite his dark appearance with black clothes and goth-like eye makeup, there was nothing about him that felt threatening. Although, They were still perplexed about his sudden arrival…Were they facing a lost potential ally or the dreaded enemy they had come to fight?

"I'm Hadrian" the immortal finally introduced himself, drawn to something in Zain, though he couldn't put it into words. The magical wave that had struck him, shaked his entire being, but he couldn't articulate the depths of his feelings.

Ouray, remaining on guard, asked the burning question on all their minds :

"What's your name?"

Zain was very confused. He had lost all memory of his identity, his origins, and even of the danger that awaited him. The boy was aware that he needed to earn the trust of this odd group of people in order to get their help. However, he was feeling distressed in their presence, alarmed by their weapons, unsure of their intentions, leaving him far from reassured.

Suddenly, Hadrian exclaimed as he read aloud the inscription on the gold chain attached around Zain's neck :

"Zaïn? That must be your name. It's written on your pendant. It means 'beautiful' in Arabic."

Zain touched the necklace with his fingertips, hoping it would jog his memory, but in vain. Total darkness persisted. However, hearing his name pronounced by Hadrian brought him a semblance of calm, as if a piece of his lost identity was being returned to him.

Hadrian then asked :

"What do you remember exactly?" in the hope of making it a bit easier for Zain. Questions from the others only added to his confusion, instead of simply aking him to share the informations he did, in fact, still remembered.

"Danger... I'm here to escape from danger," Zain replied, attempting to recall his memories.

"What kind of danger?" Ouray inquired, eager to learn more.

Zain did his best to remember, but in vain. Something clouded his mind, and though he felt the answers were not lost but merely hidden, he didn't know how to access them.

Suddenly, Fleur's necklace’s stone abruptly changed color, shifting from green to red.

"Look!" the witch exclaimed, showing her magical pendant to her friends. Their faces tensed, and their eyes widened at the alarming change in the stone's coloring.

Hadrian, his sight fixated on Zain, hastily grabbed his crossbow, pointing it at the young man. Ouray, his features taut, did the same with his sword, picked up from the ground.

The three friends now regarded Zain with caution, their careful steps distancing them from him. The magical necklace seemed to reveal that he was dangerous after all.

Zain was completely stunned by their reaction. Despite his fragmented memories, he was certain that he posed no threat to them.

"I am not the one causing this." He tried to convince them, his words filled with sincerity.

"How do you explain what's happening, then?" Ouray asked in a stern tone, his brows furrowed.

Suddenly, the sky above them began to deform, victim to strange distortions. A portal with a sinister black vortex appeared, vibrating with unsettling power, reminding the trio of acolytes their mission to stop the scourge against which Fleur's nightmare had warned them.

Zain turned abruptly to face the vortex, his heart pounding with apprehension. The trio stood behind him, anxious at this new threat. Their hair stood on end, stirred by invisible currents, while the grass and earth swirled around them, obscuring their vision.

"Does that answer your question?" Zain said sarcastically, a mix of frustration and fear in his voice, as massive spider legs began to emerge from the portal, triggering a sense of terror within the group, who watched in silent horror.

The giant spider, with only half of its body emerging from the portal, emitted shrill screams that blended with the surrounding tumult. The piercing noises echoed in the clearing, amplifying the feeling of fear that gripped their hearts. With a cunning move, the creature projected a viscous web towards Zain, which quickly wrapped around his neck. The sticky substance trapped him, tightening around his throat with disconcerting force. The thread pulled harshly on his neck, lifting him into the air, steadily approaching the spider, still clawing her way to emerge completely from the portal.

Zain felt his breath being cut off, his lungs constricted under the pressure of the suffocating web. In a desperate struggle, he tried to undo the grip on his breath, clutching the web coiled around his neck with his clenched hands. But the more he fought, the more the grip seemed to tighten, relentless and tenacious. As panic rose within him, a spark of recognition lit up in his mind: a Tracker. He vaguely remembered that creature, a hunter able of tracking beings across dimensions. Someone must be pursuing him, searching for him across the worlds.

"Help !" he gasped, his voice muffled by the spider web constricting his throat, hoisting him toward the voracious beast awaiting.

A revelation struck Ouray when he heard Zain's cry for help, recalling the distant echoes of Zain's voice he had heard the previous day during his immersion into Fleur's mind, without fully understanding their meaning then.

"It's him I heard calling for help in your subconscious! We must save him!"

Reacting swiftly, Hadrian fired an arrow from his crossbow toward the giant spider. The arrow sliced through the air, striking the creature's hairy head where its enormous purple eyes gleamed malevolently. The shaft, like a splinter, seemed minuscule in comparison to the immense size of the creature. The spider continued its relentless march, hungry to seize its prey, ignoring the young man's desperate attempts to resist.

Time was running short, and the massive demonic beast had nearly succeeded in raising the young man to the level of its dreadful maw, threatening to pull him through the portal to a terrifying fate. Their anxious stares barely making out the chaotic scene below, obscured by the frantic whirl of the vortex. The three companions were powerless against the unleashed forces surrounding them.

Suddenly, Zain's desperate voice tore through the swirling air: "Hadrian!"

The boy's intense gaze locked with Hadrian's, and, instinctively, the immortal seized the sword that rested in Ouray's hand and leaped into the air, being propelled by a magical energy summoned by Zain himself. The young boy's hands traced a movement in the air, enhancing Hadrian's momentum, giving him an epic thrust that projected him onto the creature's back.

Hadrian now stood between the massive spider and the portal, riding atop the head of the infernal creature, which writhed frantically in an attempt to dislodge him. His balance was precarious, his hands gripping the creature's sticky tufts as it twisted in every direction.

In this desperate struggle, Hadrian displayed extraordinary agility, evading the spider's hook-like limbs, which were prepared to do anything to unseat him. Each movement was calculated with precision as he swung to the rhythm of the creature's jerks. Meanwhile, he had to keep a vigilant eye on the interdimensional portal, whose swirling lights threatened to suck him in at any moment. Distorted echoes of strange voices and distant cries escaped from the magical passage, bearing an ominous omen.

Hadrian finally drove his sharp blade into the monster's head, eliciting a shrill cry of pain that reverberated throughout the clearing. The iridescent purple liquid gushed with each blow, splattering the immortal's face. Relentlessly, he continued his merciless assault, piercing the creature from all sides, like a deadly dancer performing a macabre choreography. Each puncture was accompanied by an explosion of violet blood, creating a rain of translucent droplets that spattered Hadrian, casting an eerie glow upon his figure.

Drenched in the beast's phosphorescent fluid, Hadrian then made a daring leap to the ground, severing the spider's web threads in the process. The monster's hold on Zain was broken, and the young man fell into the abyss. Hadrian, like a living shield, partly cushioned Zain's fall as he crashed violently to the ground moments before him. Their bodies collided with a deafening force, both emitting breaths of pain and exhaustion.

Hadrian and Zaïn, marked by their fierce battle, watched as the monstrous creature was emitting its final agonizing cries. The piercing screams merged with the air, creating a macabre symphony that seemed to defy reality. Then, in a tumultuous whirlwind, the voracious portal swallowed the mutilated spider, sucking in its body before abruptly sealing shut. The crash accompanying its disappearance was instantly replaced by a profound silence, as if nature itself held its breath in the face of this supernatural spectacle. The night sky was finally revealed, adorned with twinkling stars that appeared to watch over the two exhausted men.

Zain quickly got to his feet, extending his hand to Hadrian to help him up. The immortal grasped his hand, sensing an odd connection between them, then released his grip once on his feet.

"How did you do that?" he asked the boy, referring to the magical gesture he made to propel him above the creature.

"I don't know; it was instinctive." Zain replied to the immortal while Hadrian wiped the spider's violet blood off his face with disgust.

"And rather impressive…" Fleur interjected as she positioned herself between the two men before adding : " Sorry for not being more welcoming with all this apocalyptic commotion. I'm Fleur, and this is Ouray, but you can call him Ray."

The Native American finally smiled warmly, sensing the boy's obvious overwhelm in the evening's events.

"Thank you for your help. I wouldn't have escaped that Tracker without you" Zain told them, expressing his gratitude.

"A Tracker?" Ouray asked, curious to learn more.

"That spider has the power to track beings across dimensions. I don't understand how I can remember that, while the simplest things like my own name seem to elude me," Zain admitted, crestfallen.

"Selective amnesia spells are often used to protect their target" explained the shaman.

"What does that mean?" Zain asked, intrigued by his insight.

"It suggests that those responsible for your memory losses might have acted to protect you in some way…" Ouray clarified.

"Which would explain why you were able to identify this creature, as it posed a direct threat to you." Hadrian added, following the conversation closely.

A light rain began to fall on the clearing, gradually intensifying, heralding an imminent downpour. Zain's carefully tailored black shirt was now torn in places, revealing his scraped arms. The boy, in a precarious state, shivered with cold. Whether he remembered his own world or not, the climate there must have been much milder than here, he thought trembling.

"Do you know of a nearby shelter, a place where I could take cover for the night, until daybreak?" he asked anxiously.

"The enchanted forest..." Fleur began to say.

"No," Hadrian cut her off abruptly, the conversation he had had with Garth that morning still fresh in his mind. "You're coming with us." He stated firmly. Leaving a supernatural being in distress to fend for themselves was out of the question, not if he could offer assistance.

"What about letting HIM decide what he wants to do ? Free will, do you still remember that precept?" Fleur protested at Hadrian's authoritative response.

"Hadrian is right; it would be too dangerous. He could be at risk of further attacks," Ouray intervened to support the immortal's statement. Then he turned to Zain before adding :

"It's evident we were meant to find you tonight. We'll help you, discover who you are, understand the reasons for your appearance and the origin of your powers." He declared, more fascinated than ever by the mysteries surrounding his arrival.

"Well Zain, welcome to Redwaters!" Fleur finally said, offering him a warm smile.

Zain was very confused. Despite the assistance these three strangers had just provided, he was unsure he could trust them. The boy, deprived of any reference point to rely on, decided to lean on his cruel lack of options. He had no choice but to follow them.

Hadrian removed his brown suede jacket, stained in various places with the spider's purple blood, and handed it to the shivering boy before setting off determinedly, followed closely by Ouray and Fleur. Zain hesitated for a moment before putting on the dirty jacket, two sizes too big for him, but couldn't help but smile at Hadrian's sweet gesture, before finally joining the trio already walking in the pouring rain.

Tucker was lurking in the shadows, concealed behind bushes only a few meters away. Through his binoculars, he had been a partial witness to the insane events that had unfolded before his eyes. His breath was shallow, and he felt a deep shock at the terrifying spectacle he was entirely unprepared for. The sheriff could never have predicted that his decision to follow Hadrian Archer that night, thanks to the GPS he had discreetly placed under his car earlier that day, would confront him to such horror.

Tucker shivered under the pouring rain as his heart filled with burning hatred. Up to this point, he had dedicated his efforts to rid the town of what he saw as vermin, these magical beings who, in his opinion, corrupted Redwaters' respectable society. He and his group had been working for years to eliminate this scourge. However, what he had just witnessed exceeded anything they had ever fought against. This threat was of an entirely different magnitude, of infinitely greater power, and Tucker couldn't help but connect the phenomenon to Hadrian Archer's return to town, fueling his consuming anger.

The time had come for him to take matters into his own hands, to rid the world of this abominable individual and his degenerate acolytes. It was time to eradicate the threat they posed to the common good once and for all. As the distant sound of Hadrian's jeep starting reached his ears, Tucker set out, determined to confront this situation with all the simmering fury that fueled his being.

The soaked sheriff struggled to reach his vehicle. His mind was still reeling from the dizziness caused by the abominable spectacle. As his being was more than ever consumed by anger and confusion, Tucker was suddenly startled, stumbling backward with all his weight, crashing heavily onto the wet grass. Indeed, to his great astonishment, he had just come face to face with the four white wolves he had coldly slain the night before. The wolves stood there, forming an impenetrable line between him and the road, blocking his way to access his car.

The wolves growled, their howls rising in the nighttime air, mingling with the moon's cries. A purple aura, similar to the magical wave that had left Zain's body upon his arrival to Redwaters, enveloped them. The boy's magic seemed to have brought them back from the dead. Tucker, stunned by this apparition, drew his pistol and opened fire on the wolves. However, the bullets, the very ones that had taken the lives of these creatures the night before, now passed through their bodies without harming them, as if the deceased animals had become immaterial beings.

In a unparalleled panic, the sheriff fell back even harder, crashing heavily to the ground again. Trembling with fear, he awkwardly got back up, his weapon almost slipping from his hands. With an unsteady step, he ran through the four ghostly wolves to reach the road in a hurry, continuing his escape to his car. He casted one last look back as he raced down the asphalt, catching a final glimpse of the specters of the wolves, howling relentlessly in his direction.

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Ouray was behind the wheel of the Jeep, driving towards the mansion. Hadrian sat beside him, while Zaîn and Fleur occupied the seats in the back. Through the window, Zaîn watched the passing landscapes, allowing his mind to wander in a desperate attempt to recover buried memories. His past was slipping away, piece by piece, and he hoped to find answers in the darkest corners of his memory. Despite Ouray's cautious driving on the clear road, Zaîn felt a certain unease, agitated by the bumps and turns of their journey. It wasn't just the novelty of traveling by car that disturbed him, but also the magnitude of the events that had unfolded since his arrival in this strange world. His mind wandered, even considering that flying might feel like a safer alternative to him than staying in this strange vehicle. Flying? Could he actually ?

Hadrian was fully aware that once they arrived at the mansion, he would have a crucial conversation with Fleur. He'll need to reveal to her the details of his conversation with Garth, the new lead on her mother's murder, as well as the existence of the hunters terrorizing the supernatural beings of the town. However, deep down, he feared more than anything the consequences this might have on his friend. He was afraid that their conversation might lead Fleur to impulsively seek out the armed group, putting herself at risk of facing a tragic fate similar to that of her late mother. He had to simultaneously investigate with Ouray on the origin of the strange anomaly that neutralized all magic within the area where Carolina's body was found. That was precisely where Garth had failed to transform, a mystery they had to solve at all costs. Understanding Zaïn’s connection to Fleur's enigmatic dream also held critical importance to him. He hoped to ease the constant turmoil in his mind caused by his earlier conversation with Garth, and learn more about the extraordinary powers Zaîn seemed to possess, as well as the bewildering effects of the mysterious wave that had struck him full force when it escaped from the boy's body, confusing him in the process.

Ouray was trying to connect the dots in his mind, revisiting the recent events that had unfolded since his return to Redwaters. He began with his brief passage into Fleur's nightmare the previous night, which allowed him to hear Zaïn’s cries of distress without understanding their meaning. Then came their encounter with the young boy that evening, as well as the turmoil that accompanied his appearance… It was clear that Zaîn was the target of a relentless pursuit, and Ouray understood that if such significant efforts had been deployed to find him, those on his trails would not stop before getting him, putting everyone around him at risk. That realization weighed heavily on the shaman, feeding his growing concern.

Fleur felt disoriented, lost in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Despite her relief at surviving unscathed the dreaded full moon episode at the clearing, and even being able to help an innocent along the way, many alarming questions persisted in her mind.

The other fragments of her dream haunted her more intensely than ever. The promise that worst was yet to come resonated within her, while the sinister voice that accompanied her nightmare repeated endlessly :"At the full moon, it will begin." Her mother's mysterious words, gleaned from the depths of her subconscious, echoed in her mind as well : "Open your eyes, it's about to begin."

These thoughts intertwined, fueling her doubts and worries. What if their experience that evening was just the prelude to a series of much darker events? What if their current encounter was only a fraction of what awaited them? A cold shiver ran down Fleur's spine at the thought.

Ouray approached cautiously the last bend on the slippery road, descending toward the entrance of the mansion, when suddenly, his head was violently thrown back, his eyes abruptly rolling, reminiscent of the effects of the spell he had cast with Fleur the day before. It was happening again, as they feared it might. The shaman let go of the steering wheel, losing control of the vehicle.

Hadrian did his best to regain control of the car from his passenger seat, as the Jeep sped down dangerously toward the ditch on their right. In the back, Fleur seemed to undergo the same fate as Ouray, her mind appearing to leave her body, her eyes now tinted with a frightening white color. As for Zaîn, he was completely panicked, observing the scene, unable to understand what was happening, his face frozen with scare.

In a final effort, Hadrian managed to steer the vehicle back onto the road, avoiding disaster. However, the car now rushed at full speed directly toward the mansion's massive metal gate. With Ouray's foot still firmly anchored on the accelerator, Hadrian feared that pulling the handbrake at such speed might cause the vehicle to flip completely. As the car rushed toward the gate, Zaîn seemed to concentrate, his eyes closed, trying to draw from the depths of himself despite his overwhelming anxiety.

Hadrian was already preparing for the impact with the imposing metal gate, the Jeep's headlights illuminating their deadly path with a macabre intensity when he suddenly saw Zaîn appear in front of the iron gate, as if he had emerged from nowhere, his hands outstretched toward the vehicle about to hit him, using his magic to try to stop it remotely.

Perplexed, Hadrian glanced at the back of the vehicle where Zaîn was seated a few seconds ago. The young boy had simply disappeared from the back seat and reappeared in front of the gate. How was this possible? Wondered Hadrian, bewildered.

The vehicle was about to hit Zaïn as he was doing his best to stop it, his arms stretched and his face strained with effort.

Just as Hadrian was about to risk pulling the handbrake to avoid running over the boy, the car suddenly came to a halt a only a few inches from Zaîn.

Zaîn, exhausted, was panting, drained by the tremendous efforts he had just pulled without even knowing that he could. His nose began to bleed profusely, while the car's headlights, in the pouring rain, blinded him.

Hadrian turned off the engine, plunging the scene into darkness. He quickly got out of the vehicle to approach Zaîn. As the boy was about to lose his balance, Hadrian caught him just in time, making him lean on him. Together, they returned to the car, where Hadrian opened the rear door to gently help him back inside, next to the still unconscious Fleur.

Hadrian approached Zaîn, visibly concerned, standing near the car door.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his worry showing on his face, as Zaîn slowly regained his senses, wiping away the blood flowing from his nose.

"I feel like my head is about to explode," he replied painfully, as he gradually regained his faculties.

"How did you do that?" Hadrian asked, curious.

"I had nothing to do with what happened to your friends," Zaîn replied, defensively, thinking that Hadrian was accusing him of being responsible for Ouray and Fleur’s condition.

"I know... I was talking about how you went from the back seat to outside the car, in front of the gate, and managed to stop the vehicule ?" Hadrian clarified.

"I'm not sure... Since the vortex brought me here, I feel like I'm connected to two different places. I tried to channel my anxiety and draw from that sense of division to use it to project myself out of that deadly contraption…" Zaîn replied, analyzing the situation in his mind simultaneously.

"I've known a wizard with the gift of ubiquity... But you didn't duplicate yourself, so maybe teleportation? Quite hard to master with such ease, especially without any incantation. And If you add telekinesis on top... I really have no idea what you might be…" Hadrian admitted after his tirade, shaking his head, lost in thought.

"I don't know either…" Zaîn reluctantly responded as he gradually regained his composure. "I think my powers work in close tie my emotions, in a balance between my ability to focus and what I'm feeling at the moment."

"Well, whatever you did, it’s clearly thanks to you that we all managed to avoid the worst…" Hadrian acknowledged, showing gratitude.

"What happened to them?" Zaîn then inquired, casting a worried glance inside the car where Ouray and Fleur remained unconscious.

"It's a long story... They should be waking up soon. I shouldn't have let Ouray take the wheel with that whole random dive into Fleur's subconscious hanging over us," Hadrian explained with a hint of regret in his voice.

"What about you?" Zaîn proceeded to add, looking intently into the immortal's eyes. "What are YOU?"

Hadrian appeared uncomfortable, choosing his words carefully : "It's an even longer story, one we absolutely don't have time for..."

His frustration growing, Zaîn stepped out of the car and stood, facing Hadrian :

"Stop me if I'm wrong" he began, his voice filled with irritation : "Since I arrived tonight, you and your friends have bombarded me with questions, although it was clear that I've lost my memory. You threatened me with weapons, then asked me to follow you to who knows where, claiming it was for my own safety, only to have ME end up saving all of your lives. And when I dare seek some clarification about what's going on, about the strangers around me, that’s really all I get in return ?"

Zaîn shook his head disapprovingly, expressing his dissatisfaction with this confusing situation. Then, with determination, he walked away from the car and Hadrian, heading for the road.

Hadrian, intrigued by his audacity, quickly caught up to him :

"Where are you going?!"

"I heard your friend mention a magical forest earlier," Zaîn stated, his eyes glinting with an adventurous spark. "I'd rather take my chances over there; maybe I'll find the answers I'm looking for."

Hadrian grabbed Zaïn's arm to stop him in his tracks. However, the dark look the boy gave him made him release his grip immediately. Regaining his composure, Hadrian told him :

"It would be dangerous for you to wander around alone, with who knows what's already after you..."

"Not to offend you, but I don't exactly feel safer with you guys right now" Zaîn retorted abruptly. "Thanks for helping me earlier, but I think we're even now."

Determined to catch up with him, Hadrian quickened his pace to walk alongside Zaïn. Frustration grew within him as he asked, trying to understand : "Is this how you usually react, or am I just privileged enough to bring this delightful side out of you?"

Zaïn came to a sudden halt, staring intensely at Hadrian. "I don't know; I'm an amnesiac, remember? What about you? What's your excuse for refusing to answer any of my questions?"

Embarrassed, Hadrian lowered his gaze : "I... I'm not used to talking about all of this... About what I am, or about anything for that matter..."

With an arched eyebrow, the boy responded with a touch of sarcasm :

"And yet, you think it's perfectly fair for you and your squad to try to learn everything about me?" He left Hadrian puzzled by his reaction.

"I don't know how you usually operate, Hadrian, but let me give you some insight that might help for the future: trust goes both ways. Good luck with everything, and I'm keeping the jacket."

Zaîn resumed walking, distancing himself from the immortal, who watched him leave, torn between irritation at the boy's insolence and a hint of admiration for his self-assurance. He had to admit that Zaïn was right. He couldn't expect blind trust without revealing anything in return. On the other hand, letting him wander alone in this cursed town, with threats already looming over him, was clearly not an option.

"Wait!" Hadrian shouted in Zaïn’s direction, already walking away. The boy gave a fleeting smile before turning back to face Hadrian.

"Get back! I'll do my best to explain to you what I can... But first, I need to ensure Fleur and Ouray's safety inside the mansion." Hadrian caved in a loud enough voice for Zaïn to hear from a distance.

Zaïn turned around, marching back towards Hadrian with a victorious smile on his face.

"See, it wasn't that hard" he quipped.

Hadrian shot him an annoyed look, and the two men walked back towards the car, together.