Rhys’ eyes flickered open, his gaze unfocused and confused. He blinked slowly, his pupils constricting as he struggled to take in his surroundings. The girl’s face hovered above him, her expression a mix of relief and exhaustion. “Hey, you’re awake!” she exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion. “Thank the universe!”Rhys’ gaze slowly focused on the girl, his eyes narrowing as he tried to remember who she was and why she was hovering over him. His memories were hazy, fragmented, but he recalled the sensation of falling, of weightlessness and surprise. The girl’s face softened, her eyes filling with compassion. “You’re safe now that you’re here with .e,” she whispered. “I’ve got you. You’re going to be okay.”Rhys’ eyes narrowed as he tried to piece together why he was lying in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by dense foliage, with a young girl hovering over him. He stared at her warily, taking in her small frame, pigtail hairstyle, and scowl. “How old are you?” Rhys asked gruffly
Rhys had his mind set on breaking the barrier and leaving the island behind. He thought of his family , how worried they were after the had found out about his disappearance. He lets out a huge sigh and rubbed his forehead. “How long was I unconscious?” He inquired from Zephyr “A year and two days.” Zephyr sat down next to him as she responded.What? The response came as a shock to him, he found it hard to believe that he had been unconscious and away from his family for more than a year. This fueled his resolve to break the barrier and return home. Zephyr’s voice broke the silence, her words soft and gentle. “Don’t worry, human. I’ll help you. We’ll figure out a way to break the barrier together.”Rhys’ gaze snapped back to Zephyr, his eyes searching hers. He saw a determination there, a sense of purpose that mirrored his own. “Thank you,” Rhys said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.Zephyr smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “We’ll do it, Rhys. I promise.”“Rhys.”“Wh
As they meditated, Zephyr could feel her connection to the island beginning to weaken since the disappearance of the Starheart. She knew that she would have to find a way leave soon, to return to the human world and create an identity for herself. But for now, she was content to sit beside Rhys, to focus on her own energy, and to help him heal. Zephyr’s thoughts turned to her own journey, to the island that she had been on for as long as she could remember. She really could not fault her parents for abandoning her but she really wished that they had found a better place for her. As she meditated, Zephyr could feel her energy growing stronger, more vibrant. She knew that she would be able to leave the island soon, to return to a new world. Zephyr’s eyes opened, and she looked at Rhys. He was still meditating, his eyes closed, his face peaceful. She smiled, feeling a sense of connection to him, of friendship even though throughout the time that they spent together, he was unconscious.
Zephyr’s face lit up with joy, her eyes shining like stars. “Thank you, Rhys! I won’t let you down, I promise!”Rhys smiled, feeling a sense of trepidation mixed with excitement. What had he just gotten himself into? Only time would tell. As they prepared to leave the island, Rhys couldn’t help but wonder what lay ahead. He pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand.Rhys asked Rio, his mind still connected to his friend’s. “How are we going to leave the island?” he asked, his thoughts transmitted directly to Rio.“Break the barrier,” Rio replied, his voice clear and confident in Rhys’ mind. “It’s the only way off the island.”Rhys looked around, trying to locate the barrier. He saw a shimmering wall of light a few meters away, pulsing with a gentle blue energy. The barrier seemed to hum with power, its surface rippling like water.“That’s it?” Rhys asked, his doubts creeping in. “It looks so fragile.”“It’s not as easy as it looks,” Rio warned. “The barrier is powerful,
Rhys and Zephyr drifted off to sleep on the boat, the gentle rocking motion and the sound of the waves lulling them into a deep slumber. But as they slept, a warm light enveloped them, and they vanished from the ship. Rhys opened his eyes to find himself in a strange room. He was lying on a comfortable couch, and Zephyr was still asleep beside him. But as he looked around, he realized that they were no longer on the boat. They were in a study room, filled with books and strange artifacts.Rhys sat up, his mind racing with confusion. Where were they? How did they get there? He looked around the room, trying to find some answers. But there was no one there apart from him and Zephyr.“Rio, what’s going on?” Rhys asked, his voice shaking slightly.“I’m the one who teleported you here,” Rio replied, his voice calm and reassuring. “You’re safe, Rhys. You’re in a safe place.”Rhys’ eyes widened in shock. “But how did we get here? And where is here?”“You needed to get back to your family,” R
Rhys chuckled and shook his head. “I’m not a ghost, Jonathan. I’m alive.”But Jonathan refused to believe it. He took a step back, his eyes fixed on Rhys as if he was seeing a specter. “No, no, no,” Jonathan muttered to himself. “This can’t be real. You’re dead. I saw your dead body. Who the hell is trying to mess with me.” Jonathan hurriedly took out a gun from his jacket and pointed it at Rhys. “Who the fuck are you and why do you look like him?” His voice was cold and unfeeling Rhys stood up and took a step forward, his hands outstretched. “Jonathan, listen to me. I’m alive. I know it’s hard to believe, but I’m here. I’m flesh and blood.”Jonathan’s eyes welled up with tears as he looked at Rhys. He wanted to believe him, but his mind was struggling to accept the truth.Rhys took another step forward, his voice gentle and reassuring. “Jonathan, I know this is a lot to take in. But I’m here. I’m alive. And I’m not going anywhere.”A vast array of emotions swirled within Jonathan a
Rhys’ eyes widened in surprise, and he leaned forward, eager to hear more. “What? That’s not possible. I’m the rightful heir.”“I know,” Jonathan said, nodding. “But Harrison seemed convinced that Atlas was the better choice. And Christopher, your uncle, has been backing him up.”Rhys’ face darkened with anger, and he clenched his fists. “I’ll deal with them,” he growled.Jonathan placed a hand on Rhys’ shoulder. “I know you will, Rhys. But you need to be careful. They’re not going to give up easily.”Rhys nodded, his expression serious. “I know. But I’m not going to let them get away with this. I’m going to fight for what’s rightfully mine.”Jonathan smiled, feeling a sense of pride and admiration for his friend. “I know you will, Rhys. And I’ll be right there beside you.”As they sat there, Jonathan couldn’t help but think about how much Rhys had been through. He had lost his family, his home, and his identity. But he was still standing, still fighting. “Rhys, I’m sorry,” Jonathan s
The room seemed to darken, as if the shadows themselves were closing in around them, suffocating them with an unseen force. The air was thick with anticipation, heavy with the weight of unspoken words. “When did this happen?” Jonathan asked, his voice firm, but laced with a hint of desperation.Rhys’ eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. He could feel the tension building, like a storm about to break. “What’s going on?” Rhys mouthed to Jonathan, his voice barely audible over the pounding of his own heart.Jonathan held up a hand, signaling Rhys to wait, his eyes fixed on some unseen point, as if trying to will the answer into existence. The silence was oppressive, a physical force that pressed down upon them, making it hard to breathe. Rhys felt like he was drowning in a sea of uncertainty.“I’ll mobilize my men, Uncle. We’ll find them,” Jonathan said, his voice reassuring, but laced with a hint of doubt.Rhys’ eyes widened, his heart racing with fear. He knew that someth