The world outside the cave was eerily silent. The air was thick, heavy with an unnatural stillness that seemed to press against my skin. I had expected the night to offer some reprieve, but the moment I stepped beyond the cave’s threshold, I felt it — the weight of what I’d done. What we’d done.
Ash trailed behind me, his presence a constant hum against my senses. Every glance he cast my way felt charged, a mix of emotions I couldn’t unravel. His crimson eyes, once filled with mocking amusement, now held something I couldn’t name — a depth that both intrigued and terrified me.
“You’re quiet,” he said, his voice low and smooth, breaking the silence between us.
“What is there to say?” I replied, my tone sharper than I intended. I stopped walking, turning to face him. “You… we…” My words f
