Apocalyse: Marked by Chaos
Chapter 109 - 108 Broken

Chapter 109: Chapter 108 Broken

Lucian’s body staggered, barely able to withstand the force radiating from Olivia. The heat that surged through the air wasn’t just fire—it was grief, rage, and something else entirely.

The flames lashed out like a wild storm, tearing into the trees and sky. His arms burned, his lungs stung, but still he pushed forward, step by painful step. He had to reach her. He had to bring her back before she completely lost herself.

"Olivia," he called again, his voice strained, swallowed by the crackling sound of fire.

He got no response.

She was at the center of it all—kneeling, trembling, unmoving. Her hair danced like embers, and her eyes were empty. Luke’s body rested before her, untouched by the flames, yet the world around him burned with rage.

Lucian’s foot slipped, the heat searing his boot, but he didn’t stop.

"Come back to me..." he whispered, he could feel his strength faltering like a candlestick in front of the wind, "Please."

The barrier of flame roared, resisting him. His clothes were soaked in sweat, his breath became uneven. He poured the last of his energy into a protective rune, wrapping it around himself like armor, just long enough to push through the final stretch.

And then, finally, he reached her.

He dropped to his knees beside her and pulled her into his arms.

Strangely she didn’t refuse him, rather she looked tired. Her burning eyes closed, releasing tears down her cheeks.

"Olivia..." his voice cracked. His arms wrapped around her tightly, enveloping her in his warmth. "You don’t have to be strong right now. It’s okay. Let it out. Just cry."

At first, there was nothing. Just silence. But then her shoulders began to tremble.

Her fists clutched his shirt as a raw, broken sound tore from her throat. Her body convulsed as the sobs overtook her, crashing like waves too heavy to carry. Her hot tears soaked into his chest, each drop carrying a piece of her shattered heart.

Lucian held her tighter, ignoring the pain in his body, ignoring the world around them. He just wanted her to feel okay, he wanted her to know that she wasn’t alone.

The fire slowly began to die down. Her power, which was once uncontrollable, began to recede like a tide retreating from shore.

.....

Outside the forest.

The students had gathered near the edge, drawn by the blinding heat and reddish glow pulsing from deep within the trees. They stood still, staring wide-eyed at the massive swirling tornado of fire rising in the distance. It twisted and moved like an angry storm, its core glowing brighter than the sun.

Some were afraid to speak. Others whispered anxiously.

"What is that?"

"Is someone fighting inside?"

"Shouldn’t the teachers be doing something?"

The heat brushed against their faces, even from this distance.

The teachers stood at the entrance, their expressions grim. None dared step forward yet. Not until they understood what they were dealing with.

Headmaster Micheal stood still as stone, his arms behind his back. "No one moves until I say so," he said, but his tone wasn’t cold, rather it was cautious.

They weren’t just witnessing fire. They were witnessing power.

Suddenly, Diana burst out from the dorm corridor, breathless, her hair sticking to her forehead. She stopped at the edge of the crowd, eyes fixed on the tornado of fire. Her legs shook.

"No..." she whispered.

Ellie caught up behind her, her eyes narrowing as she, too, stared at the blazing forest. "What’s wrong?"

"I feel it," Diana said, her voice barely audible. "Something happened..."

"Isn’t that Olivia’s energy?" Bella asked, her brows furrowing. "It feels—more powerful than before."

Diana didn’t answer, Instead, tears spilled down her cheeks. Everyone turned to her, startled.

"Diana?" Henrik stepped toward her, concerned. "Are you..."

"Something bad had happened," Diana choked. "I can feel it within my soul ." Her hands curled into fists. "Like we have lost someone close."

Liam swore under his breath, stepping beside them. "Luke had been missing for a couple of hours... don’t tell me something happened to him."

Tyler, who had been silent until now, narrowed his glowing eyes and turned to the teachers. "Whatever’s going on, someone needs to get in there."

Micheal didn’t react. "No one steps in until the flames recede. That is not natural fire. Anyone who enters might die."

"Then what? We wait until it’s over and only ashes are left?" Bella snapped, her voice shaking with fear and fury.

An unknown fear gripped their hearts, it squeezed so tight, that they found it hard to breathe. Why was Luke not here? Did something bad happen to him?

Diana didn’t heed to Micheal’s instructions, she took a step forward. But Ellie quickly caught her wrist. "Diana!"

But Diana’s voice broke the air. "I have to be there. I need to make sure that it isn’t Luke." They have been a squad for the past two years now, they were like family. Every instinct told her that he was in there, and something terrible had happened to him.

The crowd parted around them as if the gravity of her conviction was enough to demand it.

At the edge of the forest, Diana stared into the blaze and whispered, "It better not be you Luke... please."

Behind her, Ellie, Henrik, Bella, Liam, and Tyler stood like guardians at her back. All of them watched the fire in silence, each sensing that something irreversible had just happened.

.....

Inside the forest, the fire had quieted into a glow.

Lucian still held Olivia. Her body was limp now, her breathing shaky but no longer ragged. The forest around them was scorched black, the air heavy with ash and soot. A pure destruction, as nothing managed to live from its touch.

Lucian brushed his fingers over her soot-covered cheek.

"You’re not alone anymore," he whispered.

A sad smirk formed on Olivia’s lips, he was lying. She knew she was alone, the only person she had is now lying dead in front of her.

She pulled out from his embrace. Luke’s body still lay there cold. She had to bring his body out of this God forsaken place. It was the least she could do... after breaking her promise.

Right there she promised to take revenge for this loss.