the gun shot

Austin walked away, his mind still reeling from everything he had just learned. His thoughts were like a whirlwind, each moment from the past days coming at him in flashes—Xander’s kiss, the words spoken, and the intense emotions that had followed. It felt like he was standing on the edge of something dangerous, something uncertain, and he wasn’t sure whether to take a step forward or retreat.

As he made his way back to his room, he could still feel the weight of Xander’s gaze on him, but he tried to push it aside. I need to be alone, he thought. I need to think, to breathe.

He entered his room and closed the door softly behind him, locking it for the moment. His reflection in the mirror was a stranger—his face pale, his eyes tired, his body still feeling the effects of everything that had happened. The pregnancy test he had taken earlier still lay in the bathroom, a reminder of how impossible everything seemed.

He moved over to the bed and sat down, his head in his hands. What am I doing? What do I even want? His heart was torn between wanting to find some semblance of normalcy and the overwhelming pull he felt toward Xander. He didn’t understand why he couldn’t shake off the feeling that there was something more—something deeper—between them.

There was a knock at the door, and Austin’s heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t expected anyone to come in, especially after everything that had just transpired. But when the door opened slightly, his heart sank as Xander appeared in the doorway, standing there hesitantly.

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay," Xander said, his voice low, filled with concern.

Austin didn’t look up, but he could feel Xander’s presence in the room. "I’m fine," he replied, though it was clear from his tone that he was anything but.

Xander took a few steps inside, closing the door gently behind him. "I know you’re not fine, Austin. You don’t have to pretend," he said softly, his voice carrying an edge of sadness.

Austin finally lifted his head, looking at Xander with a mixture of exhaustion and frustration. "I don’t even know what to say to you right now," he admitted, his voice shaky. "This... this isn’t how things were supposed to happen."

Xander walked closer, his eyes filled with a mix of longing and regret. "I never wanted things to be this complicated," he said quietly. "But sometimes, the way we feel is stronger than the path we thought we’d follow. I can’t undo what’s happened, but I can tell you this... I never meant to hurt you."

Austin stood up, his emotions surging. "Then why did you push me like that? Why did you kiss me and... and say all of those things?" He took a shaky breath, trying to steady himself. "Why can’t you just go along with the story? Why did you have to change everything?"

Xander looked at him, his expression softening. "Because the story wasn’t real. I know that now. I can’t live by a script anymore, Austin. What I feel for you is real, and I’m sorry if that’s confusing. But I can’t pretend that what’s happening isn’t happening. I can’t pretend that I don’t want you."

Austin swallowed hard, trying to find his words. "You can’t just—" He broke off, rubbing his forehead in frustration. "You can’t just say these things and expect everything to be okay. My life has been flipped upside down, Xander. I don’t even know who I am anymore, let alone who you are in all of this."

Xander’s gaze softened even more, and he took a slow step toward Austin. "I know," he said gently. "And I’m sorry for making things worse. But I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll give you the time you need to figure things out. But just know that I’m not going to give up on us. Not on you."

Austin closed his eyes, feeling overwhelmed by everything. I don’t know what to do, he thought. I don’t know if I can handle all of this... But I can’t push him away either. There’s something about him that’s pulling me in...

When he opened his eyes again, Xander was standing in front of him, patiently waiting for him to speak. Austin took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "I need time. Time to think, time to breathe," he said softly, his voice quiet but firm.

Xander nodded slowly, his face unreadable for a moment. "Take all the time you need," he replied. "But I’ll be here, Austin. When you’re ready."

With that, Xander turned and left the room, leaving Austin standing there, more uncertain than ever about the future. The one thing he was sure of, though, was that things were never going to be the same again. And somehow, he didn’t know whether that was a good thing or not.

As the door clicked shut, Austin sat back down on the bed, his thoughts swirling. The story he had once known seemed so far away now, and all that remained was the messy reality of what was unfolding before him. I don’t know what’s going to happen, he thought. But I’ll have to face it, one way or another.

As Austin sat there, still trying to process everything that had happened, a sudden gunshot echoed through the air, sharp and jarring. It was a sound that sliced through the silence of the palace, rattling the calm atmosphere.

Austin froze, his heart pounding in his chest as the sharp report of the shot reverberated in his ears. His thoughts were instantly drawn to Xander, knowing that the sound had triggered something deep within him. He could see it in Xander’s eyes—the flicker of something dark, something painful that had been buried for far too long.

Without warning, Xander’s face shifted, his posture rigid as if an invisible weight had slammed down on him. His eyes went wide, and Austin could see the flash of terror and pain reflected in them. It was clear that the shot had brought back memories of the war, memories that Xander had never fully healed from. His body tensed, as if preparing for battle, and his hands shook at his sides.

Austin watched, his breath catching as Xander began to pace, his eyes wild, his breathing shallow. "Xander," Austin said softly, reaching out, but Xander didn’t hear him. He was lost in the chaos of his own mind, his PTSD taking over with every memory of bloodshed and violence.

Austin felt a tightness in his chest, helplessness creeping in. He stood slowly, his hand instinctively going to his stomach, rubbing it gently. He hadn’t fully processed the gravity of the situation—his body was carrying something he hadn’t expected, something that was entirely out of his control—but in that moment, he found himself trying to calm himself, and in turn, calm the baby growing inside of him. He knew it was a strange thing to do, but it was a comfort, a small act of control in a world that felt increasingly chaotic.

As he rubbed his belly, he couldn’t help but wonder what kind of world he was bringing this child into. He thought about how everything had changed so drastically since he’d woken up as Seraphina. His life, his body, and even the relationships around him had been twisted into something unrecognizable.

He looked over at Xander again, whose face was contorted in pain as he gripped his head, trying to hold himself together. This isn’t the Xander I thought I knew, Austin thought. The war changed him... and now it’s changing everything between us.

Austin took a deep breath, his mind racing with conflicting emotions. He couldn’t ignore the pull he felt toward Xander, even if everything seemed so wrong, so complicated. But at that moment, Xander was lost in his own battle, and Austin could only stand there, wishing he could help.

The sound of Xander’s ragged breathing and the distant memory of the gunshot filled the room, and Austin’s heart broke for the man standing before him. He didn’t know how to fix the damage that had been done, but one thing was certain—he couldn’t just walk away from Xander. No matter how much he wanted to run, he knew there was a part of him that couldn’t. Not now.

As Xander collapsed onto the floor, shaking, Austin approached cautiously. His instinct was to help, to pull him close, but he hesitated, unsure of how to reach him in this fragile state. He simply stood by, gently rubbing his belly, and whispered softly to himself, "I’ll figure this out. I have to. For me... for the baby."

But as he looked at Xander, a feeling of dread washed over him. The man who had kissed him, who had promised things would be different—he was breaking down in front of him. Will I be able to help him? Austin wondered, his voice barely audible. Or am I just a part of the chaos?

Xander’s voice cracked, breaking through the fog of his PTSD. "I’m sorry," he whispered, barely audible.

Austin knelt beside him, his heart heavy with emotion. "You don’t have to apologize," he said softly. "I’m here, Xander. I’m here."

To be continued

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***