Out Of The Shadows Ch 544
Posted on October 03, 2025 ยท 0 mins read
Listen to this chapter:

Chapter 544 A Call

Rain and Tilda sat shoulder to shoulder on the couch, their eyes locked on the flashing TV screen as they waged war on the PS5. The bluish light lit up their faces in quick bursts, while their fingers flew over the controllers with frantic precision.

In the bedroom next door, Dane and Liam had sealed themselves in. They spoke in hushed tones, their focus fixed on Daneโ€™s strange illness. Careful hands checked his body, while bottles and packets of medicine lay on the nightstand, waiting to be used.

The plan was simple. Once Dane swallowed the first round of pills, they would all head out together. They would wander the streets, breathe in the holiday air, and let the festive cheer of the holiday carry them.

Mystro stayed behind in the game room. A sketchpad balanced across his knees, and his pencil glided with sure strokes. The wide windows poured sunlight over the hardwood floor, and the air felt warm and easy. He kept drawing, capturing the two players caught in their laughter and competition.

For a moment, the world itself seemed quiet and tender.

When he finally lifted the pencil from the page, Mystro stretched until his spine popped, then let a tired smile curve across his lips. โ€œItโ€™s finished.โ€

โ€œLet me see it!โ€

Rain and Tilda tossed their controllers onto the couch and hurried over. One look at the paper made their eyes go wide. Rain let out a breathless laugh. โ€œThis is unreal. Darell, you really are the best painter alive. It looks like something out of a dream.โ€

Mystro chuckled, the sound low and warm. โ€œIf you both like it, Iโ€™ll make copies when I get the time. One each. No arguments.โ€

โ€œThat would be amazing!โ€

Before they could go on, a sharp buzz rattled across the table. Tildaโ€™s phone lit up with the word Security.

She swiped to answer. โ€œHello? Whatโ€™s happening?โ€

โ€œMs. Tilda?โ€ The guardโ€™s voice faltered, then steadied. โ€œHereโ€™s the situationโ€ฆโ€

In the security office, the guard cast a glance toward Russell and Wade. Then, word for word, he repeated what Russell had told him.

Tildaโ€™s response came fast and cold. โ€œTell him no.โ€

โ€œMs. Tildaโ€ฆ please forgive me, but he really seems serious about this."

Her voice snapped, hard enough to sting. โ€œBro, listen carefully. That man is not my father. I cut ties with the Jensons. Weโ€™re nothing to each other now.

โ€œWhether he lives or dies has nothing to do with me. And I mean it. Donโ€™t let him come near me again.โ€

She ended the call before the guard could say another word.

The empty dial tone hummed in his ear, then faded.

He let out a tired sigh and turned back to Russell and Wade. His voice was careful as he explained that Tilda refused to see them.

Wadeโ€™s face barely shifted. His eyes fell to the floor, and pain hung there, muted but clear. โ€œDad, I told you this would happen. Letโ€™s just go back to the hospital and be with Mom.โ€

Russellโ€™s hands balled tight at his sides. โ€œYou go if you want, Wade. Iโ€™m not leaving. Iโ€™ll wait here until Tilda comes out.โ€

โ€œWhat? Dad, why are you doing this to yourself?โ€ Wadeโ€™s voice cracked under the weight of it. โ€œItโ€™s an impossible task! Even if this is what Mom wanted, weโ€™ve already tried everything. Isnโ€™t that enough?โ€

โ€œIt isnโ€™t enough. Not when I know sheโ€™s right there. If sheโ€™s inside, she has to step out sometime. And when she does, Iโ€™ll look her in the eyes and beg her myself.โ€

โ€œDad.โ€

Wadeโ€™s throat tightened. He knew nothing he said would change Russellโ€™s mind.

โ€œFine,โ€ Wade muttered. โ€œIf youโ€™re staying, then Iโ€™ll stay too.โ€

He could only stand with him. For Blair. He had no choice.

The guard rubbed his temples, the start of a headache pressing down. โ€œMr. Jenson, pleaseโ€ฆ donโ€™t make this harder on us.โ€

Russellโ€™s voice stayed firm. โ€œWe wonโ€™t cause trouble. Letโ€™s go, Wade. Weโ€™ll wait outside.โ€

โ€œAlright.โ€

Together, father and son walked away from the office. Their figures stretched thin under the sun as they moved down the path.

The guard stood still, watching until they disappeared, and a long sigh left him.

What curse had fallen over the Jensons, that a family once whole now lay cracked apart, bitter and broken?

Inside the apartment, silence pressed in.

Rain and Mystro had caught enough of Tildaโ€™s phone call to piece things together.

Mystroโ€™s lips thinned. โ€œTilda, are you sure you donโ€™t want to talk to them?โ€

โ€œI told you,โ€ Tilda said flatly. โ€œI cut ties with the Jensons. Why bother meeting them again? Itโ€™s the holiday. Iโ€™d rather spend it with you. Why should I waste a single moment on them?

โ€œThey threw me away first. And now Russell thinks Iโ€™m some obedient little dog, just waiting for him to call me back. He thinks Iโ€™ll come running, tail wagging, begging for scraps.

โ€œMystro, you promised to stand by me. Donโ€™t think Iโ€™m cruel. Donโ€™t think Iโ€™m cold. This is the right choice. Itโ€™s the only choice I can make.โ€

Mystro spoke. โ€œI know. I only worry youโ€™ll regret it later. But I told you before, Iโ€™ll stand with you no matter what.

โ€œIf this feels right to you, if youโ€™re sure you wonโ€™t regret it, then Iโ€™ll accept that.โ€

His hand came down gently on her shoulder.

He already knew about the Sunlight Plaza incident.

He knew the Jensons had been swept into it.

And he knew Blair, Tildaโ€™s mother, was in the hospital now, her life hanging by a thread.

Russell had almost certainly come for Blairโ€™s sake.

And Blair was still Tildaโ€™s mother, no matter how much hatred filled the space between them. If Tilda turned her back now, if she refused to see her even once more, then she would never be able to undo it.

Mystro wasnโ€™t afraid of the Jensons. He was afraid of what this choice might do to Tilda.

He feared she would carry the weight of it for the rest of her life.


Please let us know if you find any errors, so we can fix them.