The Weight of Secrets
986 Words
Morning came—
But peace didn’t.
I could feel it.
The shift.
Not in the air.
In them.
They were watching me.
Not all of them.
But enough.
Especially him.
Kael.
“…You’re staring again,” I muttered.
“I’m observing.”
“That’s just a fancy word for staring.”
“…If it makes you uncomfortable, then maybe there’s a reason.”
I clenched my jaw.
This guy is seriously getting on my nerves.
“Do you always interrogate people this early in the morning?” I shot back.
“…Only when something doesn’t add up.”
“…And what exactly doesn’t add up?”
Kael stepped closer.
Too close.
“You.”
My heart skipped.
“…Congratulations. You’ve discovered I exist.”
“…Deflection,” he said calmly.
“…Annoyance,” I corrected.
Silence.
Tense.
Unmoving.
Then—
“…Kael.”
Solren’s voice cut in again.
Sharp.
“…That’s enough.”
“…I’m just trying to understand our situation.”
“…And I’m telling you to stop.”
A pause.
Then Kael stepped back.
“…For now.”
He’s not done.
Not even close.
The rest of the morning passed—
Quietly.
Too quietly.
No one brought up last night.
But no one forgot it either.
I needed air.
Space.
Distance.
So I left again.
“…You really need to stop doing that.”
I didn’t even turn.
“…If you’re going to follow me, at least try to be subtle.”
“…I wasn’t trying to be subtle.”
Of course not.
“…What do you want, Kael?”
“…Answers.”
“…Then go ask someone else.”
“I am.”
I turned.
“…Excuse me?”
“You’re someone else.”
“…You’re unbelievable.”
“…And you’re hiding something.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
“…You’re reaching.”
“…Am I?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“…You’re exhausting.”
“…And you’re avoiding.”
“…I’m leaving.”
I turned—
But suddenly—
The ground beneath us shifted.
Just slightly.
But enough.
Kael noticed.
Of course he did.
“…There it is again.”
“…What?”
“That.”
“…You’re imagining things.”
“…Am I?”
I stepped back.
Control it.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“…Then stop doing it.”
“I’m not doing anything!”
The ground trembled again.
Stronger this time.
My breath hitched.
No—stop—
“…Luna.”
His voice changed.
Not teasing.
Not mocking.
Serious.
“…That’s not normal.”
“I KNOW!”
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
Silence.
We both froze.
“…So you do know.”
Damn it.
“…I mean—”
“—You just admitted it.”
“…No, I didn’t.”
“Yes, you did.”
“Stop twisting my words.”
“Then stop lying.”
The pressure inside me surged again.
Too fast.
Too strong.
“Stop pushing me!”
“I’m not pushing—you’re reacting!”
“I said STOP!”
CRACK—
The earth split between us.
Violent.
Uncontrolled.
We both stepped back.
Breathing uneven.
Silence.
“…That wasn’t me.”
“…Luna.”
“It wasn’t me.”
“…Then who was it?”
“I don’t know!”
But that wasn’t true.
We both knew it.
“…Interesting.”
A third voice.
Cold.
Unfamiliar.
We turned instantly.
A figure stood at the edge of the trees.
Watching.
“…You’ve finally started showing it,” he said.
My chest tightened.
“…Who are you?”
He smiled.
“…Someone who’s been looking for you.”
That’s not good.
“…Kael,” I muttered.
“…I see him.”
“…Stay behind me.”
“…That’s my line.”
The man stepped forward.
Calm.
Too calm.
“…The energy is unstable,” he continued.
“But it’s there.”
“…What are you talking about?” I snapped.
“…You don’t even understand what you are yet, do you?”
What… I am?
“…I’m leaving,” I said, stepping back.
“…No.”
The air shifted.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
“…You’re not.”
My body froze.
“…What—”
Gravity.
It pressed down on me.
Hard.
Relentless.
I couldn’t move.
“…What is this—?!”
“…Just a small demonstration,” he said calmly.
Kael moved instantly.
Fast.
But even he slowed slightly.
“…Wolf clan,” he muttered.
My eyes widened.
So it begins.
“…Smart,” the man said. “But not fast enough.”
The pressure increased.
My knees buckled.
“…Stop—”
“You’re coming with me.”
“No.”
A deep voice cut through everything.
Taika.
The ground erupted.
Violently.
Breaking the pressure just enough—
For me to breathe.
“…You’re not touching her.”
The man smiled.
“…Ah.”
“…So the tiger finally arrived.”
“…Back off,” Taika growled.
“…Or what?”
The ground trembled again.
But this time—
Not from me.
From him.
Controlled.
Powerful.
“…Or I bury you here.”
Silence.
Then—
The man chuckled.
“…Not today.”
The pressure vanished instantly.
My body dropped forward—
But Taika caught me.
“…Luna.”
“…I’m fine.”
“…You’re not.”
“…I said I am.”
The man stepped back into the shadows.
“…We’ll meet again,” he said
“…And next time—”
His eyes locked onto mine.
“…You won’t be this lucky.”
Then—
He disappeared.
Gone.
Just like that.
Silence returned.
But this time—
It wasn’t peaceful.
“…You want to explain?” Kael asked quietly.
I froze.
Taika’s grip tightened slightly.
“…Not now,” he said.
“…Then when?”
“…When she’s ready.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Unresolved.
And this time—
There was no denying it.
Everything had changed.
- Writer
