Whispers of Shadows

The warm sunlight of early afternoon streamed through the windows of the Baxter Building, casting soft patterns on the walls. Franklin bounced with energy, racing through the halls as Sue struggled to keep up.

“Mom, Uncle Ben said he’ll take me to the park! Can I go? Can I, can I?” Franklin tugged on her arm with an excited grin.

Sue chuckled, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. “Only if you promise not to turn the sandbox into a moon crater again.”

“I promise!” Franklin said, his small fingers crossed behind his back.

Ben Grimm appeared in the doorway, his massive frame leaning casually against the wall. “Don’t worry, Susie, I’ll keep the kid in line.”

“Thanks, Ben,” Sue said, her voice tinged with relief. “I could use a break.”

As the front door closed behind them, the apartment fell into a rare stillness. The quiet was a blessing, but it also made her keenly aware of her exhaustion. The restless night before had left her running on fumes. She hadn’t been able to shake the strange, vivid dream of espionage and an intimate brush with Namor that had woken her in the early hours.

She set the laundry basket aside, deciding that a nap might help her recharge before dinner. She closed the blinds slightly, allowing the room to darken just enough to feel restful, and lay down

******************

Sue found herself in a vast, dimly lit chamber, its walls a smooth obsidian that seemed to absorb the faint flickering light of unseen flames. Her bare feet brushed against the cold stone floor as she became aware of her appearance—a flowing white gown, soft and weightless, clinging to her as though it had been made for her alone.

Her long hair fell freely down her back, untamed and golden, contrasting sharply with the shadowy surroundings. The air carried a subtle chill, but it wasn’t the cold that made her shiver. It was the unmistakable presence of someone else in the room.

From the shadows, a figure emerged—tall, commanding, and impossibly elegant. His deep-set crimson eyes caught hers, sending a ripple of unease through her body. She knew this man.

Her breath caught as recognition flared in her mind. It was him—the same man who had invaded her dreams before. But why? Who was he, and why did she feel as though she’d known him for longer than just these fleeting encounters?

“We meet again,” he said, his voice as smooth as velvet, with a faint, almost teasing edge.

Sue’s pulse quickened. “Who are you?” she asked, her voice trembling but steady enough to mask her unease.

The man tilted his head, a subtle smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Names have power,” he said softly, his tone cryptic. “And you… are not yet ready to wield it.”

His words sent a strange thrill through her, both unsettling and oddly compelling. She stood her ground, determined not to let fear take hold, though the weight of his presence was suffocating.

“You’ve been haunting my dreams,” she said, trying to sound firm, though her voice betrayed a slight tremor. “Why?”

“Haunting?” He chuckled, a low, resonant sound that seemed to echo off the chamber walls. “If that’s how you wish to see it.”

She took a cautious step back, but he closed the distance between them effortlessly. He didn’t touch her, yet his nearness felt as though he had.

“You know me,” he said, his crimson eyes boring into hers. “Even if you don’t yet understand why.”

Sue’s brow furrowed. There was something about his face—something she couldn’t quite place. A sense of familiarity that shouldn’t have been there, yet was undeniable.

“I don’t even know your name,” she whispered, as much to herself as to him.

“Names…” he murmured again, his voice a caress against her senses. “You’ll find mine when you’re ready. For now, Susan, let us simply talk.”

The sound of her name on his lips sent a chill through her, her instincts screaming for her to pull away. But her feet refused to move. Her body betrayed her, drawn to the magnetic pull of his gaze.

“What do you want?” she managed to ask, her voice thin but unbroken.

He smiled then—a slow, deliberate smile that promised both answers and secrets she wasn’t ready to hear. “What I want,” he said, leaning in closer, “is nothing you aren’t willing to give.”

******************

Sue bolted upright in bed, her heart pounding as her lungs pulled in sharp, uneven breaths. Afternoon sunlight spilled through the curtains, warming her skin and grounding her in the present. But her mind remained locked on the vivid images of the dream, the sound of the man’s voice echoing in her ears.

She brushed her damp hair back from her face, her fingers trembling slightly as they tangled in the strands.

“Just a dream,” she murmured to herself, her voice shaky. “It’s just a dream.”

But even as she said the words, she knew they weren’t enough to quiet the unease coiling in her stomach. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, her bare feet meeting the cool floor as she tried to steady herself.

A soft knock at the door made her jump.

“Suzie?” Johnny’s voice called, lighthearted but tinged with concern. “You alive in there? You’ve been napping forever. Ben’s back, and Franklin’s been asking for you.”

Sue took a deep breath, forcing calm into her voice. “I’m up,” she called back, standing and smoothing out the blanket on her bed.

Johnny didn’t wait, pushing the door open and leaning against the frame with his signature smirk. “You good? You’ve been out of it all day.”

“I’m fine,” she replied, a touch more curtly than intended.

Johnny raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. “You sure? You’ve got that ‘woke-up-dreaming-about-Namor’ look again.”

Sue shot him a sharp glare, her patience with his teasing already at its limit. “Johnny, don’t start.”

“Hey, I’m just saying—if you’ve got unresolved feelings for a certain fish guy, maybe you should—”

“Johnny!”

He held his hands up in mock surrender, laughing as he backed out of the room. “Fine, fine. I’m going, I’m going. Don’t kill the messenger.”

When the door clicked shut, Sue sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping. She turned toward the mirror on the dresser, catching her own reflection.

Her brow furrowed as she studied herself—her flushed cheeks, her tired eyes, and the faint unease that lingered just beneath the surface. The man’s face from her dream flashed in her mind, unbidden and vivid.

“Who are you?” she whispered aloud, as though the reflection could answer.

But no answers came, only the hollow echo of her own voice in the quiet room.