Chapter Eight: Blame and Breaking Points
469 Words
The survivors gathered in a cold, empty room deep within Blackthorn Castle. No one spoke. The air felt heavier than ever, like the castle itself was pressing down on them.
Lila sat on the floor, knees pulled to her chest, her face buried in her arms. Beside her, Milo stared blankly at the ground, his jaw tight.
Across the room, Finn sat alone, his back against the wall, breathing unevenly. Leo leaned against a pillar, arms crossed, while Eli paced restlessly. Ken stood near the doorway, glancing nervously into the hallway every few seconds.
The silence stretched… until it finally snapped.
“This is all your fault.”
Finn’s voice cut through the room like a blade.
Lila slowly lifted her head, her eyes red and swollen. “W-what?”
Finn stood up, anger boiling over. “You heard me! This was your idea! The castle, the stupid Halloween plan—all of it! If it wasn’t for you, Kai, Aria, Sophie, Nova… they’d still be alive!”
Leo nodded grimly. “He’s right.”
Ken looked away but muttered, “We shouldn’t have come…”
Lila’s breathing became shaky as tears streamed down her face. “I… I didn’t know…”
“You didn’t think!” Finn snapped.
Milo shot to his feet. “Hey! Back off!”
Finn turned on him. “Of course you’d defend her.”
“Because you’re being unfair!” Milo fired back.
Eli suddenly let out a bitter laugh. “Unfair? Nah, man… it’s because you’re dating her, right?”
Milo froze for a second, then clenched his fists. “We broke up a week ago.”
The room went quiet again, the tension shifting.
“Doesn’t matter,” Finn said coldly. “You’re still taking her side.”
Milo shook his head in frustration. “I’m taking the side of someone who’s not a monster! None of us knew this would happen!”
“People are dead, Milo!” Finn shouted.
“Yeah, and blaming her won’t bring them back!”
The argument burned hotter for a moment… then Milo suddenly turned away.
“I’m done with this,” he muttered, storming out of the room.
Finn hesitated, then followed after him.
The door creaked as it shut behind them, leaving the others in silence once more.
Lila sat there, trembling. Her voice was barely a whisper.
“They’re right…”
No one responded.
“I did this…” she continued, tears falling freely. “I should’ve listened… Candice told me… she told me it was a death trap…”
Her voice broke completely.
“I wish I listened to my sister…”
No one had the words to comfort her.
And in the distance, the castle groaned softly—like it was listening… and enjoying every second of their pain.
- Writer
