NecroSync

Minutes passed, and although both of them had agreed they needed to act, neither knew where to start or what to do. They had never faced anything remotely like this before, and that lack of experience left them frozen, unable to form a coherent plan.

Uncertainty was like a poison, slowly spreading through their minds. Both of them were trapped in a kind of void, where the anxiety to solve the problem clashed with the inability to find a convincing solution. It was a feeling that was eating away at them, minute by minute.

Without warning, Jake turned off the TV with a sharp motion and threw the remote onto the couch.

"Damn it!" he yelled, running his hands through his hair and tugging at it in frustration. His movements were quick and tense, a reflection of the emotional storm consuming him.

Nathan watched him silently, his lips slightly parted but unable to find the words to speak. Despite Jake's outburst, his frustration seemed to have had an unexpected effect—it pulled Nathan out of the mental spiral he was falling into. It was as though his friend's anger had momentarily brought him back to reality.

"We can't just sit here forever. I need to know if Cassie's okay or not," Jake said, his voice almost a shout. His chest rose and fell heavily as he struggled to steady his breathing. His eyes were full of anguish, and his voice trembled under the weight of his emotions.

Nathan took a deep breath before responding, trying to maintain his composure. His hands were slightly shaky, but his tone was firm.

"She'll be fine, Jake. She was with her family," he said slowly and deliberately, as though carefully choosing each word.

Jake glared at him, his eyes blazing with a mix of fury and desperation.

"You don't know that! We have no idea if she's okay or not because we don't know what the hell is going on out there!"

Nathan felt the pressure that had been building inside him finally boil over. His own fear and frustration rose to the surface.

"I don't know, damn it, and neither do you!" he shouted back, pointing an accusatory finger at Jake. "Running out there like nothing's happening, chasing after someone, could get you killed. And instead of helping, you'd just make things worse!"

Nathan's words echoed through the room. Jake clenched his teeth, dropping his gaze to the floor as his fists tightened so hard that his knuckles turned white. There was pain in his eyes, a pain he couldn't hide.

"That's why I have to find her…" he finally said, his voice quieter, almost breaking. "You don't understand—I promised her I'd always protect her."

The tremble in Jake's voice softened Nathan's tone. The intensity of his own anger began to fade, replaced by a sense of understanding. He took a step toward his friend, trying to calm him down.

"I know, I know. But you have to trust that she'll be okay. Remember, her dad's ex-military. He'll do whatever it takes to keep his family safe," Nathan said, his voice steady, trying to appeal to Jake's rational side.

Jake looked away, his eyes fixed on the floor, his lips pressed tightly together as if trying to process Nathan's words. Nathan took the pause as an opportunity to drive his point home.

"And her brother's a cop, right? Believe me, she's in a safer place than we are right now. She's going to be fine. So take a breath, man," Nathan added, a small, reassuring smile creeping onto his face, attempting to ease the tension in the room.

Jake stayed silent for a few moments. His shoulders, which had been rigid with stress, slowly began to relax. Finally, he let out a long, heavy sigh before speaking.

"You're right… I'm sorry. It's just… all of this is driving me insane." His voice dropped even lower, almost to a whisper. "Not knowing what's happening out there… and thinking that something might happen to her… that would destroy me."

Jake's words, filled with genuine worry, made it clear just how much Cassie meant to him. Nathan listened intently, nodding slowly as he searched for the right words to respond.

"I know, brother. I know." He stepped closer and placed a firm hand on Jake's shoulder. "You'll see her again, I promise. But first, we need to figure out what the hell is going on. After that, we can decide what to do. Are you with me?"

Jake looked up. There was still a flicker of doubt in his eyes, but there was also a spark of determination. He nodded firmly.

"Yeah, man. And I'm sorr—"

A loud, abrupt sound cut him off. A thud.

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The sound echoed clearly through the apartment, shattering the fragile moment of calm they had managed to build. Both of them tensed instantly, their bodies reacting instinctively to the unexpected noise.

Nathan turned his head toward the front door, his senses now on high alert. The silence that followed the thud felt heavier than ever, thick with unsettling possibilities.

Jake, still standing, frowned and took a step forward, but Nathan raised a hand to stop him. His expression was serious, his lips curling slightly in a gesture that urged caution.

The air in the room grew even heavier. Both of them knew that whatever was on the other side of the door might not be something good.

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Nathan held up his hand firmly, signaling Jake to stay quiet.

"Shhh," Nathan murmured, bringing a finger to his lips as he slowly advanced toward the door. His eyes remained fixed on it, as though staring at it long enough could reveal what was waiting on the other side.

The sound had been so sudden that the room was now wrapped in an unsettling silence, broken only by the faint echo of the alarm still blaring in the streets. Everything else seemed to have stopped. Neither of them knew what—or who—had caused the noise, but the uncertainty was enough to keep them on edge, caught in a mix of fear and anticipation.

Nathan moved with caution. His steps were so light they barely made a sound against the apartment floor, but in his mind, each movement echoed like a drumbeat. His breathing was uneven, shallow, and the pounding of his heart was so loud he feared Jake could hear it from where he stood.

He was only two steps away from the door. Just two steps. But the distance felt infinite, as if every inch between him and the threshold was weighed down by some invisible force.

As he drew closer, his mind raced with questions he couldn't suppress.

"What's on the other side? Could it be someone asking for help? Or something trying to get in? If I open the door, can we handle it? Will we survive whatever's waiting out there?"

The uncertainty was a poison spreading through his body. He swallowed hard, trying to moisten his dry throat, but the knot in his stomach only tightened. His hands trembled, despite his efforts to steady them. His entire body felt frozen by a mix of fear and adrenaline.

Nathan paused, taking a deep breath as he closed his eyes for a moment. There was no turning back. He knew that. If he didn't face this now, the fear would consume him completely.

He glanced back and met Jake's eyes. Jake hadn't moved from where he stood, watching Nathan intently. His expression was tense, a mixture of worry and resolve. His fists were still clenched, as if ready to spring into action at a moment's notice, but he also seemed to be holding himself back, trusting that Nathan would take the lead.

Nathan gave Jake a slight nod, as if to reassure him, though he wasn't sure who he was trying to convince more—Jake or himself. Jake didn't speak, but he dipped his head in a subtle gesture of approval, offering silent support.

At last, Nathan reached out a hand toward the peephole. His arm trembled slightly as his fingers approached the cold edge of the metal. He could feel the sweat on his palms, making his grip feel slippery.

He didn't want to do it, but he knew he had no choice. He had to find out what was happening. He had to look. It was the only way to get answers, even if those answers might not be what he wanted… or what he was ready for.

With one final, shaky breath, he pressed his eye to the peephole.