CHAPTER 114: FRACTURES

Vincent’s POV

Theo lowered his arms, palms lifted like he was showing empty hands. "Hey, man," he said quietly. "We were just—"

"Don’t."

The word tore out of my throat sharp as glass.

He shifted his weight, glancing away.

My chest squeezed so tight.

Zaara took a tiny step toward me. I felt her presence like heat, like gravity.

But I flinched back. Half a step. Just enough for her eyes to widen in pain.

It wasn’t because I didn’t want to touch her. God, my body ached to close the distance, to drag her into my arms and bury my face in her hair.

It was because I didn’t know if I was allowed.

Because right now, all I could see was her in someone else’s arms.

Even if it was just Theo. Even if it meant nothing.

"Vincent..." Her voice cracked, trembling. "It’s not what you think."

I stared at her, swallowing hard, my pulse roaring in my ears.

"I know," I rasped. "But that doesn’t make it hurt less."

My own words seemed to echo back at me, bouncing off the metal walls.

I squeezed my eyes shut, pressing my fingertips into my temples.

God, what the hell was wrong with me?

Zaara was here. She was alive. She was safe.

That should be all that mattered.

But the sight of her leaning into Theo’s chest felt like someone had peeled my skin off and scraped at the muscle underneath.

And worse than the jealousy was the guilt.

Because I’d been the one who left her standing there like nothing.

I’d been the one who ran to Nomi.

Nomi, trembling and pale, clutching her belly.

My child.

I’d looked into Nomi’s eyes and felt something claw up my throat... fear, protectiveness, shame.

And when I turned back... Zaara was gone.

I opened my eyes and found her still watching me.

Her eyes were red-rimmed. Her cheeks blotchy from crying.

I wanted to kiss those tears away.

But I felt stuck. Like there was a glass wall between us.

Theo cleared his throat. "Look, man... she needed someone to talk to. That’s all."

I shot him a look sharp enough to cut.

Theo held up his palms again. "Okay. I’m shutting up." He backed a few steps away, lingering near the lockers like he was trying to melt into the shadows.

Zaara took another step closer.

"Vincent..." Her voice dropped. "You didn’t even look at me back there."

A knife twisted in my chest.

"I’m terrified of losing that baby. Like how I keep wondering if the Aetherions will use the baby against us."

She moved forward again, her voice trembling. "But you promised we’d stay together. No matter what."

God.

Those words.

"I know," I said, my voice breaking. "I know I promised. And I want to keep that promise. But Zaara... Nomi’s carrying my child. I can’t just..."

"Abandon her," Zaara finished for me. Her voice was hollow.

A tear slid down her cheek. I watched it fall, helpless to do a goddamn thing.

Theo shifted in the background, clearing his throat again. "Look... maybe I should give you two a minute."

Neither of us answered him.

Zaara stepped closer still, until I could feel the warmth radiating off her body.

"Do you love her?" she asked quietly.

I recoiled like she’d slapped me. "Zaara..."

"Just tell me the truth," she said. "Do you love Nomi?"

My chest heaved. My entire body felt like it was vibrating apart.

"I... care about her," I said finally. "She’s carrying my future. But love? Not the way I love you."

Zaara blinked rapidly, as if the words stung worse than if I’d said yes.

I wanted to touch her so badly my hands shook. But they stayed clenched at my sides.

"And what if the baby ties you to her forever?" she whispered. "What then, Vincent?"

My vision blurred.

"I don’t know," I croaked. "I don’t know what happens then."

She stared at me.

"Do you want me to wait for you to figure it out?"

I staggered a half-step back, shaking my head.

"I don’t want to hurt you," I whispered. "But I can’t promise you I won’t."

She lifted her chin, a silent tear sliding down her cheek.

"Well... that’s honest, at least."

And in her voice, I heard something break.

Something fragile.

Something irreplaceable.

Theo shifted again. "Vincent... man... you can’t just leave it like this."

But I didn’t know what else to say.

The weight of choices I didn’t know how to make.

And the terrifying thought that no matter which way I turned...

...I’d lose someone I loved.

Zaara stared at me for a few seconds, like she was searching my face for a sign.

Then she blinked, and something shuttered behind her eyes.

She stepped back.

And turned.

And walked away.

She didn’t run. Didn’t slam the door. Didn’t sob or scream.

She just... left.

I stood there frozen, listening to the soft echo of her footsteps fading down the hall.

Theo shifted awkwardly beside me.

"Vincent..." he started.

I shook my head, staring at the floor.

"Just... go, Theo."

He hesitated, eyes darting down the hallway after Zaara, then back to me. His mouth opened like he might say something else....

but finally he just sighed, squeezed my shoulder once, and left.

The silence that swallowed the room felt endless.

I sank onto the locker room bench, elbows on my knees, burying my face in my hands.

The metal was cold against my forearms.

Everything felt cold.

All I could see was Zaara’s eyes when she asked me if I wanted her to wait for me.

And I hadn’t even given her an answer.

Because I didn’t have one.

I pressed the heels of my palms into my eyes so hard that white sparks danced behind my eyelids.

I couldn’t breathe.

It felt like my chest was caving in. Like the weight of the games, of the Aetherions, of my own guilt was grinding me into dust.

I thought I was strong enough to protect everyone.

But maybe I wasn’t even strong enough to hold on to the girl I loved.

I stayed like that for I-didn’t-know-how-long, just trying to remember how to breathe.

And then I heard the soft shuffle of footsteps approaching.

I didn’t even look up.

"Go away, Theo." My voice came out hoarse, cracking.

"It’s not Theo."

I froze.

I slowly lifted my head.

Nomi stood in the doorway, hugging herself, hair limp around her face. She looked pale, like she hadn’t fully come back from the tunnel either.

Her eyes widened when she saw my expression.

"Vincent... what happened? Are you okay?"

I let out a bitter laugh.

"Definitely ’okay.’"

She hesitated, then stepped closer, moving slowly like she was afraid I might shatter if she came too fast.

"Was that... Zaara I just passed in the hallway?" she asked softly.

I swallowed hard.

"Yeah."

"And...?"

I dropped my head back into my hands.

"And I think I just lost her."

Nomi was quiet for a moment. I felt the bench dip as she sat down beside me.

I didn’t look at her. I couldn’t.

"I’m sorry," she said. "I didn’t mean... for any of this to happen."

I let out a deep exhale, scrubbing my hands over my face.

"None of us meant for any of this to happen," I muttered. "But here we are."

Nomi shifted closer, just enough that her shoulder brushed mine.

"She’s probably giving up on you, Vincent," she murmured. "It’s a lot, you know?"

A painful laugh escaped me. "Yeah. And I’m ruining her life."

Nomi’s brow creased. "You’re not ruining anything. You’re trying to survive. All of us are."

I shook my head. "It’s not enough. Trying isn’t enough anymore."

Silence fell again.

Then Nomi’s voice came even softer.

"Do you...do you wish it was just you and Zaara?"

I flinched. My gut twisted.

"I don’t wish you weren’t here," I said. "I don’t wish the baby wasn’t here. I just... wish it didn’t feel like I’m tearing two worlds apart every time I breathe."

Nomi lowered her eyes. Her hand drifted to her belly, fingers splaying protectively.

I stared at the floor, feeling the sting of tears all over again.

"I don’t know how to fix this, Nomi," I croaked. "I don’t know how to keep everyone safe. I don’t know how to make this right."

She reached over and curled her hand around mine.

"You’re not a monster, Vincent," she said. "You’re a man who’s been forced to make impossible choices. And I wish... God, I wish I could take some of that weight off you."

Her fingers tightened gently around mine.

"And I know Zaara wishes the same."

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breathing.

But the truth was.... it didn’t feel like there was enough of me left to keep carrying all of this.

And I had no idea which pieces I’d have left when the games were finally over.