The air was thick. Unnatural. Every breath felt heavier than the last.
Cody stood still, facing Tim, the wind brushing against both their figures, stirring the blood-stained grass around their boots. A haunting silence filled the space between them.
Tim's chest rose and fell with unnatural fury. His once-warm eyes—now glowing red and blue—burned with betrayal.
Cody's voice was low, steady. "I see it in your eyes," he said softly. "You're not just angry. You're hurt."
Tim flinched, but didn't speak.
"You hate this side of you, Tim. I know you do," Cody continued, stepping closer.
"Shut up," Tim growled.
"I won't," Cody said calmly. "Because it's true."
Tim's jaw tightened. "You think you understand me? You don't. You never did."
Cody sat on a branch nearby, watching him. "Then help me understand."
"You're weak compared to me," Tim snapped, his voice rising. "So don't stand in my way."
Cody's dark eyes sharpened. "Then prove it."
Tim didn't wait. He turned.
And vanished.
A rush of wind blew past Cody as he screamed, "ALVA!"
But Tim was already there.
He appeared beside her like lightning, his hand snapping forward with supernatural force. Alva's eyes barely widened before she was struck—flung backwards into the air.
CRASH!
She hit the earth hard and didn't move.
"No!" Cody exploded into action, launching himself forward. He met Tim mid-air—two shadows colliding above the trees.
Their fists met—BOOM!—a shockwave rippling outward, flattening the grass below.
Cody twisted mid-flight and slammed his elbow into Tim's jaw.
Tim spat blood, twisted his body like a snake, and delivered a brutal roundhouse kick that sent Cody flying into a tree trunk. Bark exploded around him.
Cody caught himself mid-air, boots skimming the ground like a feather.
"You're holding back," Tim snarled, lunging again.
Cody met him with fire. "I don't need to go full strength for you."
The fight became a blur—two bodies moving like bladed shadows in a dance of fury. Each strike sounded like thunder, echoing through the woods. They hovered, floated, dashed across the air as if the earth couldn't hold them anymore.
Cody's eyes flickered black—no shine, no glow, just endless darkness. More terrifying than Tim's twisted dual glow.
They clashed again above the trees. Fist met bone. Knee met gut. Their battle was fast, fierce, unrelenting—lightning slicing the air, wind howling like it feared what they were becoming.
Then—
A small voice.
"Mama?"
Everything stopped.
Cody and Tim froze mid-air. The world seemed to go still.
Alice.
She stood there, barely awake, her eyes wide. She ran toward the still figure on the ground.
Alva.
Alice dropped to her knees beside her.
"Mama…" she whimpered, tugging her mother's hand.
No response.
Tim lowered to the ground, breathing hard. Cody hovered just above, watching with clenched fists.
Then Alice stood.
Her little face turned to them.
"STOP!!" she screamed.
The word wasn't loud.
But the world responded.
Time froze.
The leaves in the air hung still. The sound vanished. Even Cody and Tim stumbled backward, thrown by a sudden invisible wave of pure, ancient power.
Alice glowed faintly—silver, warm, unnatural.
She walked slowly between them, her tiny figure trembling. She touched Tim's chest.
He fell to his knees.
She turned to Cody, her hand reaching for his arm.
He dropped beside Tim, panting.
The power around them shattered like glass.
And Alice collapsed.
"Alice!!" Alva jolted awake, gasping, her eyes flying open. She saw her daughter on the ground.
"No. No, no, no," she cried, crawling to her. "My baby—my sweet girl, please—wake up!"
She scooped Alice into her arms, cradling her tightly, rocking her back and forth.
Cody approached, slowly, hands bloodied and shaking.
"Alva…" he said gently.
She looked up, her body shielding Alice. "Don't. Touch. Her."
"I just want to see if she's okay," he pleaded.
"I said don't!" she snapped, her voice raw and furious.
Cody stopped.
He knelt beside them, a few inches away, his hands open in surrender.
"Let me hold her," he whispered again. "Please."
Alva glared, tears streaming down her face.
Cody stared at her—not with power, not with rage—but with heartbreaking tenderness. His voice was a whisper, full of emotion.
"She's mine too, Alva… even if you don't forgive me. Just let me…"
He reached slowly.
Alva watched him—her heart pounding, torn. Her hand still rested on Alice's head.
Then Cody leaned in closer, his voice nearly breaking.
"Everything's going to be okay now."
He stared deeply into Alva's eyes.
Something passed between them.
Something old.
Something real.
Her eyes softened.
Then, suddenly, she slumped forward—still holding Alice—but asleep.
Gently, Cody caught both of them in his arms, resting them down safely.
A few steps away, Tim stood still, his red-blue eyes dimmed. He looked at Sam, who lay against the broken tree trunk, staring up at him with empty eyes.
He didn't say anything.
He just dropped to the ground beside her and placed a hand over hers.
And finally, silence returned.
All that remained were the trees swaying again, the soft hum of nature returning, and a night that would never be forgotten.
No one else witnessed it.
Except the one who stopped time.
And she now lay peacefully asleep…
...still glowing.