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Seraphina Sterling
"my life was never about living, it was always about surviving"
━━━━༻❁༺━━━━
Winston chuckles but doesn't push. "Alright, suit yourself," he says, stretching his arms out before shoving his hands back in his pockets. "But if you change your mind, you know where to find me."
With that, he strolls off toward the dining hall, leaving just me and Kenji in the now-empty hallway.
Kenji sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "So... what do you think?"
I hesitate, my gaze flickering around. The place is bigger than I imagined, more structured than I ever would've expected from a hidden underground rebellion. The people seem normal, comfortable even, like this is home to them. I don't know what I was expecting—something harsher, maybe. Something colder.
"It's... a lot," I admit.
Kenji nods like he understands. "Yeah, it is. But you'll get used to it."
I don't know if that's a promise or a warning.
We start walking again, retracing our steps back toward the hallways I'm beginning to recognize. The further we go, the quieter it gets, the distant murmur of voices fading away until it's just the sound of our footsteps echoing off the concrete.
Kenji stops in front of the door to my room and turns to face me. "Listen, I know today's been... a lot. You've had to deal with some crazy shit, and I don't blame you if your head's all over the place."
I cross my arms. "Is this the part where you tell me I should trust you?"
Kenji snorts. "I mean, yeah, that'd be great, but I'm not that pushy. I just—" He exhales sharply, glancing away before meeting my eyes again. "You're not a prisoner here, Seraphina. No one's going to hurt you. I just need you to understand that."
I swallow hard. I want to believe him. I really do. But there's still a weight pressing down on my chest, something clawing at the edges of my mind, whispering that places like this—places that offer safety—are the ones that always come with a cost.
Kenji studies me for a moment before sighing again. "Alright, I won't push." He steps back, nodding toward the door. "Get some rest. I'll check in on you later."
I nod slowly, stepping toward the door and gripping the handle. I pause.
"...Kenji?"
He stops mid-turn. "Yeah?"
I don't know what I want to say. Maybe thank you. Maybe don't leave me alone with my own thoughts. But the words get caught in my throat, and I just shake my head.
"Nothing," I murmur, stepping inside and closing the door behind me.
The room is silent again. Too silent. I press my back against the door, exhaling a slow, shaky breath.
I don't know how long I stay like that, stuck in my own head, staring at the empty walls. But eventually, exhaustion wins out, dragging me down into a restless, uneasy sleep.
· · ────── · ❈ · ────── · ·
A sharp knock at the door jolts me awake.
I sit up too fast, my heart slamming against my ribs as my eyes dart around the dimly lit room. It takes a second for the fog of sleep to clear, for me to remember where I am, that I'm not in danger—at least, not immediately.
Another knock, more patient this time.
"Seraphina?" Kenji's voice. "You decent?"
I swallow hard, trying to steady my breathing. "Yeah."
The door opens, and Kenji steps inside, Castle right behind him.
Castle studies me for a moment, his dark eyes calm but observant, like he's assessing every inch of me in mere seconds.
"Good evening," he says, his voice smooth, measured. "I trust you were able to rest?"
I nod, though it doesn't feel entirely true. I might've slept, but rest? That's something else entirely.
Castle doesn't push. "I imagine you still have many questions."
I do. More than I can even begin to voice.
"You've met some of our people now," Castle continues. "You've seen a glimpse of what we do here. But I want to make something clear to you, Seraphina—we are not your enemies."
I tense slightly at his words. It's the kind of thing someone would say if they were the enemy. But there's something in the way he says it, in the way he carries himself, that makes me pause.
Kenji leans against the doorframe, arms crossed. "Castle wants to talk to you about what happens next."
My fingers curl into the blanket still draped over my lap. "What happens next?" I echo.
Castle nods. "We want you to stay here with us. You're free to go if you wish, but I believe you will find that Omega Point offers more than just safety."
I hesitate. "You mean training."
Castle's lips twitch, almost like he's pleased I caught on so quickly. "Yes. You have a gift, Seraphina. One that I suspect you have struggled with your entire life. We can help you learn to control it, to understand it. But the choice is yours."
A choice.
It's been so long since I've had one.
I glance at Kenji, who's watching me carefully, then back at Castle. "And if I say no?"
Castle inclines his head. "Then we will ensure you are safely escorted elsewhere. We do not force anyone to stay."
It's not the answer I expected. Not that I know what I expected.
I exhale slowly, my mind racing with possibilities, doubts, fears.
Castle doesn't push. He just nods. "Take your time to think it over. But know this—whatever you decide, you are not alone."
With that, he turns, giving Kenji a short nod before stepping out of the room.
Kenji lingers for a moment, watching me with an unreadable expression.
"You okay?" he finally asks.
I don't know how to answer that. So I just nod.
Kenji doesn't leave.
He stays leaning against the doorframe, arms still crossed, watching me carefully. I don't know what he's looking for—maybe some sign that I'm about to break, or run, or do something reckless.
Instead, I glance down at his uniform, at the small emblem stitched onto the fabric near his chest. A symbol I've seen before but never really thought about until now.
"What does that mean?" I ask, nodding toward it.
Kenji follows my gaze before letting out a small breath. "It's the last letter of the Greek alphabet," he says. "It represents the end. The final stage of something. The last in a sequence."
I frown, rolling the words over in my mind. "The last of what?"
Kenji shrugs slightly. "Depends on who you ask. For us, it means survival. It means we're the last line of defense against the people who want to wipe us out."
Something about that makes my chest feel tight. The end. The last step before there's nothing left.
Kenji must see the shift in my expression because he sighs and pushes off the doorframe. "Look, I know this is a lot. I know you probably don't trust me—hell, I wouldn't trust me either if I were you. But I meant what I said before. You're safe here."
I want to believe him. I really do. But safe is such a foreign concept to me that I don't even know how to let it settle.
Still, I nod. Because that's all I can do.
Kenji studies me for another second, then finally steps back toward the door. "I'll be around if you need anything."
Then he's gone.
And I'm alone again.
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The next morning comes too soon.
I don't remember falling asleep, only that exhaustion must have won out at some point because I wake up to a sharp knock on my door.
It's early—too early. The air is still cool, the underground halls dimly lit, and my mind is groggy, weighed down by restless sleep.
Kenji doesn't wait for me to answer before pushing the door open. "Morning, sunshine," he says, way too energetic for this hour. Behind him, Winston stands with his arms crossed, looking only slightly more awake than I feel.
I sit up slowly, rubbing my eyes. "What?" My voice is hoarse from sleep.
"You're coming with us," Kenji says simply.
"Where?"
"You'll see," he smirks, stepping back into the hallway. "Come on, get up. We don't have all day."
I hesitate, but there's no point in arguing. Wherever they're taking me, I'll find out soon enough. So I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and stand, stretching out the stiffness in my muscles before following them out the door.
The hallways are quieter than usual, most people still asleep or just waking up. The soft hum of distant conversations, the occasional clatter of movement, echoes around us as we walk.
No one explains anything.
Winston walks a step ahead, his hands tucked into his pockets, while Kenji stays beside me, glancing at me every so often as if checking to make sure I'm still there.
I don't ask any more questions.
But my pulse kicks up a notch.
Because I have no idea where they're taking me.
Seraphina hesitates for a moment before speaking, her voice steadier than before. "So... I know what Kenji's powers are, and you guys mentioned that a lot of people here have abilities—"
Kenji cuts in smoothly, hands tucked into his pockets. "Fifty-six people to be exact."
That makes her pause. Fifty-six. The number is bigger than she expected, bigger than she can fully wrap her head around.
Still, she pushes forward. She glances at Winston. "Do you have any?"
Winston raises an eyebrow at me, then glances at Kenji, who gives him a knowing smirk.
"Oh, go on then," Kenji says, waving a hand. "Show her."
Winston sighs, but without another word, he lifts his right arm—and it stretches.
Not in the way muscles extend when you reach for something, not in the way joints pop from overuse. His entire arm elongates, the skin stretching, his fingers extending until his hand is dangling a good three feet away from his body.
I take a sharp step back. "What the hell—"
Kenji laughs. "Oh, yeah. Should've warned you. Winston's basically a human rubber band."
Winston flexes his fingers before snapping his arm back into place, as if it had never moved at all. "Not just that," he corrects. "My whole body can stretch, twist, bend in ways that defy normal anatomy."
Kenji waggles his eyebrows. "He can fold himself into a suitcase."
Winston groans. "That was one time—"
"And fit through spaces no human should logically fit through," Kenji continues. "Which makes him great for sneaking into places. Or out of them."
I blink, still processing what I just saw. "That's... honestly kind of disturbing."
Winston shrugs. "I get that a lot."
Kenji grins. "Fifty-six people here with powers, and trust me, Winston's not even the weirdest one."
Winston grins. "I'll take that as a compliment."
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We continue walking, winding through more corridors, the underground hallways stretching endlessly. The air is cool, the lights overhead buzzing softly. It feels quieter down here, the hum of voices from the main halls fading into the background.
Eventually, we stop in front of a door. It's not much different from the others they've passed. Kenji glances at me.
"This is where we wanted to take you."
I look between them, hesitating for a moment. "What is this place?"
Kenji shrugs. "You'll see"
Winston raps his knuckles twice against the door, making sure none is inside before pushing it open and stepping aside. He gestures for me to go in first, and I hesitate only a moment before crossing the threshold.
The air inside is cool and sterile, the walls blindingly white. There's a small bed in the corner, neatly made with stiff sheets. No windows. No decorations. Just another empty space designed to hold someone.
I try not to let that thought sink in too deep.
Kenji steps in behind me while Winston moves toward the far wall, running his fingers along the smooth surface before pressing a barely visible button.
A soft click. A section of the wall shifts forward.
I tense slightly as a hidden panel slides open, revealing what looks like a wardrobe, seamlessly built into the structure.
My eyes flick to Winston. "That's... unexpected."
He grins. "Pretty cool, huh?"
I don't answer.
"Hey, relax," Kenji says, stepping up behind me. His voice is softer now, reassuring. "It's nothing bad, I promise."
I glance at him, searching his face for any trace of deception, but there's none. He's being honest.
"Yeah," Winston adds, rummaging through the wardrobe. "I just figured you'd want to get out of those clothes—" He shoots me a pointed look. "Which, by the way, are way too big for you."
He pulls out a hanger, revealing a black long-sleeved top, the fabric sleek and fitted. A second hanger holds a pair of black cargo pants, durable but comfortable-looking. He doesn't stop there. Reaching into the bottom compartment, he picks up a pair of sturdy black boots, their soles thick and practical.
"These should fit better," he says, walking over to the bed and setting everything down with a careful precision. "There are socks inside the boots, too."
I don't move.
The clothes look simple, unassuming—but there's something about this that still feels too planned, too intentional. Like it isn't just about comfort. Like it means something.
Kenji must notice my hesitation because he tilts his head slightly. "It's just clothes," he says. "Nothing more. No strings attached."
Winston claps his hands together. "You can change in here. Take your time." He's already moving toward the door, Kenji following close behind.
"Just knock when you're ready, no rush," Winston says before slipping out into the hallway.
Kenji lingers for a second longer, giving me a small nod before he pulls the door shut behind him.
I take a deep breath, running my hands over the fabric of the shirt. It fits perfectly, hugging my frame in a way that feels unfamiliar yet strangely comfortable. The cargo pants sit snugly at my hips, the material firm but flexible, the extra space around my legs allowing for easy movement. I shift my weight from one foot to the other, adjusting to the feel of the boots. They fit like they were made for me—sturdy, supportive, with just the right amount of weight to them.
For the first time in a long while, I feel... put together. Like I belong in these clothes. Like they weren't just handed to me as an afterthought.
I flex my fingers at my sides, staring at my reflection in the faintly reflective wall. The dark colors, the way the fabric molds to my body—it's practical, it's efficient, it's nothing like what I've worn before, and yet it suits me in a way I can't quite explain.
I take another steadying breath before stepping toward the door, hesitating only for a second before knocking lightly.
Almost instantly, I hear movement on the other side, the door creaking open as Kenji's face appears, his eyes scanning me quickly before nodding in approval.
"See?" he says, smirking. "Told you it wasn't anything bad."
Winston, standing beside him, grins. "Looks good on you. Better than the oversized mess you had before."
I glance down at myself once more, still adjusting to the way everything fits. "Yeah... it's definitely better."
Kenji claps his hands together. "Alright, now that you're dressed for the occasion, let's keep moving."
I don't ask what occasion he's talking about. I just follow.
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A/N - super short chapter because we are at the end of shatter me??? (holy shit) one book down guys — this means the next chapter will be starting from the beginning of unravel me so yeah get ready !!
(sorry for the late publish ive been a bit busy — and when I say busy I mean ive had no motivation to write anything 😅)