Now I stood in a tunnel, long and cavernous, stretching endlessly in both directions. The walls were shrouded in an impenetrable darkness, their edges melting into the black void. No light flickered here, no sound stirred the air. The silence was so intense it felt alive, wrapping around me like a thick blanket, squeezing the breath from my lungs.And then I heard it—a hiccup.The sound, small and fragile, broke the suffocating silence like a crack in glass. I spun toward it, my eyes straining to see through the dark. Someone was there, curled up on the ground, his body trembling as he shielded his head with his hands.I squinted, my steps slow and cautious as I approached. The closer I got, the more I could make out—the tousled hair, and the quivering shoulders. And then I saw him. Blonde hair, his face hidden against his curled-up knees, as though he were trying to vanish into himself.My steps quickened, driven by an urgency I couldn’t suppress, and I closed the distance between us
I dropped my gaze to the floor, my fingers tightening around the edge of the book. I couldn’t find the words to respond. How could I? The pain in my chest swelled, too big, too raw. “You know,” he continued, his voice softer now, “I’m still new to all of this, but… I don’t think what you two had was a spell.” Those words jolted me, forcing my eyes to meet his. There was something steady and earnest in his expression, something that held me there even as my throat tightened and my vision blurred with tears. He gave a small shrug, a gesture almost awkward but kind. “Consider me your friend. Or… a brother, if that’s easier—” Before he could finish, I couldn’t hold it back anymore. I lunged forward, clinging to him as the dam broke. Silent sobs wracked my body, spilling out all the pain I’d tried so desperately to suppress. “It’s okay,” he murmured, his arms circling me hesitantly at first, then more firmly. He rubbed slow circles on my back, his voice low and soothing. “It’s ok
“Really?” he said, his voice dripping with disbelief as he spun around to face me. His eyes narrowed, and his expression twisted into something unrecognizable, something that tore at my chest. “You really think I’m mad at you because you—what?” He threw his hands in the air, his laugh bitter and hollow. “Because you *used* me?” “Of course!” I snapped, my hands flying to my hips as I tried to stand my ground, though my knees felt weak. “What other reason could there be?” His gaze darkened, and he took a step closer, pointing a finger at me like he was driving a dagger straight to my soul. “Because you’re lying to me!” he shouted, his voice breaking the stillness of the night. He raked his fingers through his hair, pacing back and forth, his movements restless and erratic. “I don’t know what changed,” he continued, his voice rising and falling with emotion. “Ever since the bond broke, I can’t read your thoughts anymore. But I can still *see* it, Julia! I’m not dumb!” His words s
Her voice cracked as she continued, her vulnerability laid bare. “But then, that night...” She paused, her breath hitching, unable to say more. “That night made me realize something. It’s a burden to be you—a burden that no one would willingly carry.”Her hand trembled as she placed the mug down on the table, unable to hold it any longer. “You deserve love, Julia,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Because you’re the kind of person who’s so rare in this world. You’ve been nothing but kind, even when I didn’t deserve it.”Tears began to roll down her cheeks, unchecked and unapologetic. “I broke your trust,” she continued. “I broke your heart. And yet... when I needed you, you were there. Every time I was slipping away, every time I thought I was beyond saving, you pulled me back. And how did I repay you?” She swallowed hard, her voice thick with emotion. “I stabbed you in the back.”She pressed her lips together, as if trying to hold back more words, but the tears continued
Afterward, Jade decided we all needed a brief moment of warmth and comfort. She prepared hot chocolate for us, the rich aroma of cocoa and spices filling the air.“There’s a chill tonight,” she remarked as she set the tray down on the coffee table. The steam from the mugs swirled lazily upward, offering a small relief from the tension that had lingered in the house.One by one, we each picked up our mugs, the warmth of the ceramic seeping into our hands.“Let’s take a moment,” Jade said with a soft smile. “A small slice of peace before we dive back into the chaos that awaits us. We could use it.” She took a sip, her expression briefly relaxing.Her words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken truths.After a brief silence, Jade, seated beside me, looked at me, her voice soft and unassuming. “What is it, Julia?” Her tone carried a warmth, humble and free of judgment.“I miss Mom!” The words escaped me like a broken dam. My gaze dropped to the floor as my shoulders sagged under the weight
It wasn’t just the sound of the name. It was *how* he said it—soft, deliberate, laced with an accent so painfully familiar it twisted my heart in ways I couldn’t explain. The voice was calm, measured, and hauntingly perfect. He had studied Evan well, perhaps too well. I clenched my jaw, my nails digging into my palm as I forced a weak smile. “Don’t try to manipulate me,” I said, my voice steady despite the tears threatening to escape. There was a pause, brief but heavy, and then his tone shifted—still calm, but now laced with something darker, something that crawled under my skin. “Then why did you call me?” he asked, his words striking a nerve I didn’t want to acknowledge. “I…” My voice caught in my throat for a moment before I forced myself to continue, my throat tight with emotion. “I just wanted to hear his voice… one last time.” The admission slipped out, each word carrying the weight of unshed tears. He didn’t hesitate, his tone smooth and infuriatingly controlled. “And