Descendants of the fallen

im at the party, as if he'd stepped directly into the nightmare he'd seen earlier. The confrontation between Romeo and Liora, the presence of their friends, and the dark aura surro

ady. The shadows in his mind lingered, dark and foreboding, a reminder that the future he'd glimpsed wasn't set in stone-but it was dangerously close. --- **Later That Night:** Sleep didn't come easily to Vaxen. He tossed and turned, his thoughts looping back to the visions and the uneasy feeling that they were connected to something larger. When he finally drifted off, he found himself back in the dream that had before , but this time, it was different. He stood in a dimly lit alley, the cold air stinging his face. Shadows moved like liquid around his feet, swirling and shifting as if they had a life of their own. The scene was familiar-Romeo was there, standing at the far end, his back turned. But this time, Vaxen noticed the subtle changes. The alley walls were taller, darker, and seemed to close in on him. A soft hum vibrated through the air, resonating with a sense of urgency. Vaxen called out, but his voice was swallowed by the shadows. Romeo turned around, his face partially hidden by the shifting darkness. Instead of the angry, defiant look Vaxen had seen before, Romeo's expression was conflicted, as if he were wrestling with something inside. The shadows around him pulsed and flickered, mirroring the turmoil in his eyes. "Romeo!" Vaxen yelled, but Romeo didn't respond. He just watched Vaxen, his gaze piercing and intense. For a moment, the shadows seemed to recede, and Vaxen saw something in Romeo's eyes-fear? Regret? It was hard to tell, but it wasn't the look of someone with malicious intent. Suddenly, a figure appeared beside Romeo, a shadowy figure cloaked in white, its face obscured. Vaxen's heart pounded as he realized she was pointing directly at him, it's presence radiating an otherworldly light that cut through the darkness. Romeo stepped back, glancing between Vaxen and the shadowy figure , as if caught in a choice he wasn't ready to make. The figure's voice echoed through the alley, soft but commanding. "He doesn't know yet, but he will. Be ready." Vaxen tried to move closer, but the shadows surged forward, pulling him back as the woman and Romeo faded into the darkness. The alley began to dissolve, the walls melting away like smoke, leaving Vaxen alone in the void. --- **Morning:** Vaxen woke with a start, his heart racing. The dream was still vivid in his mind, the woman's words echoing in his ears. He had no idea who she was, but the message felt urgent. He grabbed his journal from the nightstand and quickly scribbled down the details, trying to capture every nuance before it slipped away. After a quick breakfast, Vaxen found himself outside Romeo's house. The house with the blue shutters, like Dionne said. He hesitated, he took a deep breath and knocked on the door. The sound of approaching footsteps on the other side made his heart race. The door creaked open, revealing Romeo, looking surprised but not displeased. "Vaxen? What are you doing here?" Vaxen offered a sheepish smile. "Sorry for dropping by. I meant to text, but I kinda forgot." Romeo stepped aside, motioning for him to come in. "It's fine, just... unexpected." As Vaxen entered, he was immediately struck by the decor. Crosses adorned the walls, accompanied by framed scriptures and softly glowing candles. The place felt overwhelmingly Christian, almost oppressive to Vaxen, who'd never been a fan of organized religion. He suppressed a grimace, forcing himself to focus on Romeo instead. Romeo led Vaxen to the living room, where they settled on the couch. Vaxen tried to shake off the unease the room's decor had stirred in him. They talked about the party briefly, the conversation comfortable but tinged with an undercurrent of tension. Romeo leaned forward, his gaze distant. "Liora... she makes me uneasy. I don't know what it is, but whenever she's around, I feel... off." Vaxen chuckled softly. "That's weird, she says the same thing about you." Romeo's expression tightened slightly, his fingers drumming nervously against his knee. Vaxen could tell that having him here, in his personal space, was throwing Romeo off balance. Usually, Romeo exuded a laid-back confidence at school, but here, he seemed almost fragile, his edges frayed. Vaxen, trying to lighten the mood, let his gaze linger on Romeo a beat longer than usual. "You know, you're kind of cute when you're all tense like this." Romeo's eyes flickered with a hint of a smile, but he quickly masked it. The tension in the room thickened, and before Vaxen could push any further, the sound of footsteps interrupted them. Romeo's mom enters the room. Shes shorter than Romeo, but it's clear where he gets his looks from-she has the same almond-shaped dark brown eyes, jet-black hair, and olive skin. Her high cheekbones and strong jawline gave her a refined appearance, and she carried herself with a commanding presence. She smiled warmly at Vaxen, though there was an air of authority in her demeanor. "And who's this?" Romeo quickly stood, responding with a practiced calmness. "This is Vaxen, a friend from school. He needs to borrow some books for a project." His mom nodded, giving Vaxen a polite smile. "Nice to meet you, Vaxen. Feel free to make yourself at home." With that, she left the room, her expression lingering with a hint of curiosity. Vaxen watched her leave, feeling slightly unnerved by the encounter but choosing not to dwell on it. Romeo's discomfort, however, was evident, and it mirrored Vaxen's own unease. After Romeo's mom left, an awkward silence settled between them, but before it could stretch too long, a firm knock echoed from the hallway. Mr. Li, Romeo's martial arts instructor, appeared at the doorway, his expression stern yet resp