Nothing.
The light sparks and flickers within the darkness, but it’s like they don’t even flinch.
“Fuck.”
Reese tilts his head, and I swear there’s a flash of amusement in his eyes. “You can’t electrocute shadows, Cason.”
“Noted.”
So, instead, I redirect, and the current snaps outward like a live wire. Not into the shadows, but into the space between us. Right to him. Reese’s body jerks, the shadows around me stuttering as the jolt lands. They don’t disappear, but they lose some of their hold on reality, turning into something like mist and allowing me to break free, passing right through them.
I drop to the ground and roll forward as the shadows lash back at me. Scrambling to my feet, I jump backward just as one attempts to snatch me by the ankle like a vine.
The electricity hums louder now, stronger, like it’s feeding off the adrenaline.
Reese recovers fast. His shadows surge again, larger this time, more aggressive. I dodge one, barely, feeling it brush past my arm like ice. With each move of my body, I approach closerin his direction. Before the next strike, I send another pulse of electricity toward him.
He blocks it with shadows.
No. Not blocks.
Hediffusesit.
The current disperses, light crackling as the sparks crawl uselessly across the darkness before fading.
“Well, that’s not fucking fair!”
A breeze blows through the trees, rippling through the grass and bringing the shadows closer with it. They gather, readying to strike, but I don’t give them the chance. I move first, closing the distance.
If I can’t hit the shadows…
Then I’ll hit him.
My hand darts out, and I grab onto his wrist. There’s contact, connection. Power surges through my veins and across my skin, barely contained. The jolt tears through him, stronger than before, enough to make his entire body seize. He grunts, his nostrils flared, his eyes narrowing dangerously on me. But I can see the pain in them.
It’s really fucking satisfying.
I push harder.
Leaning forward until my face is inches from his, I glare right back. “You fucking feel that, don’t you?”
That’s what I felt for seven fucking years.
I almost say it.
There’s another surge, and he makes another pained sound, his face screwing up in a grimace. The shadows collapse back, recoiling like they’re tied to him.
Then his knees hit the ground.
And…
Everything stops.
Not the wind or the swaying of the trees or the faint cracklestill buzzing under my skin. Just…everything that matters.
Because I’ve seen this before.
I let go of him and stumble back several steps. My breath catches. The woods vanish, and it’s only concrete, cold and dark. The basement. Reese on his knees.
