Seri paled. “I…”
He winced. “It’s…still hard?”
“Yes…I…” Seri cleared his throat, eyes avoiding his. “I can’t sleep when she’s in there.”
Severo grimaced. “I wish you had told me that.”
“I mean, what would telling you change… You are right. She needs to be in darkness sometimes. She likely—” Seri cut off on a frustrated huff. “No, sheisa Shadow Dweller too. I’d be willingly hurting her by keeping her out of the darkness. I promised her before she was even born that I’d protect her. I promised after, as I held her in her arms, I would keep her safe. Purposely causing her harm because of my issues isn’t right.”
“To get into the Shadow Realm inside the apartment, Preston would have to come here. And he’d have to walk through the door. Did you know that a locked door on this side is still a locked door on the other side. And that it can’t be broken into in the Shadow Realm. He’d have to open a hole and break the lock to enter here.”
“Which he could easily do.”
“Yes. But I have a way to make the apartment a shadow dead zone. I suppose I should have done it sooner, but the likelihood of Preston coming here…”
“I know it’s slim to none…but knowing that…”
“I get it. Knowing it doesn’t take away your fears.”
“So, a dead zone?”
“Basically, I can block entry to every Shadow Realm but mine. The thing is…any Shadow Dweller nearby will know it’s been done if they are close enough. But they won’t be able to enter their own realms inside the apartment.
“Now, just because it will alert other nearby Shadow Dwellers, doesn’t mean it will raise flags. Even now I can tell there is another Dweller in this apartment building that has his space blocked. Felt them the first day we were here.
“It’s not Preston, by the way. I checked the guy out. He's not related at all. But it’s a common practice. I didn’t do it because I was being overly cautious. The less we're noticed, the better, you know? But if it will make you feel safer, I can?—”
“Yes! Yes…do it,” Seri gasped. “Please…do it. So, he won’t be able to enter that way.”
Severo nodded. “Okay, then I will?—”
The lights went out, Seri screamed.
Seri curled in on himself,eyes tearing up as he tried to draw in air. Neither his lungs or gills seemed to be gathering the oxygen he needed. Darkness… he was drowning in darkness. He was drowning.
Seri let out a soundless scream, thrashing when hands grabbed both his arms. He clawed at the large hands, desperately trying to get them off of him. A vocal cry of fear made its way out of his mouth, when whoever it was, wrapped around him and fully restricted his movements.
“NO! NO!” he sobbed as he felt himself being lifted up, his legs dragging on the floor while he kicked. Suddenly there was a small patch of light. He tried to lunge towards it.
“No!” a voice yelled out, the arms around him tightening. “I know you want light, but you can’t be near the window. They aren’t protected, and there are cameras on the building beside us.”
He realized he recognized the voice. “S-Severo…” he whimpered, his struggles slowing.
“Yes. Yes, it’s me, Severo. I’m here. You are safe. The power went out. That’s all.” The man rocked him gently and he started to sob harder, clinging to the arms around him now instead of pushing them away.
“I got you,” Severo rasped, the man's voice sounded off.“Would you feel safer in the Shadow Realm?”
“N-no, n-no shadow. No shadow,” he begged. “Please…I’ll be good. I’ll be good.”
“Oh, Seri…” Severo’s voice broke, and the man began to run his hand over Seri’s head. “You are good. No Shadow Realm, I promise. I won’t let anything hurt you. I won’t.”
No Shadow Realm… Seri took a shuddered breath. Focused on the small bit of sunlight on his face, even as another sob left his mouth, he tried to pull back from the fear.
“I got you,” the man whispered. “I’ll protect you from the darkness.”
Seri turned his head to the side, resting his cheek on the Dweller’s chest while he tried to snuggle closer. Severo pulled him fully onto his lap. It was then he realized they were on the floor, and still in the bathroom.
Through the cloud of sheer terror, a thought came. Skya was crying… But she wasn’t in the room… Her cries were distant.
