Chapter 15

Eli’s phone vibrated in his hand.

He stared at it for a second.

Still not used to it.

“…Right,” he muttered. “I actually have one again.”

The screen lit up faintly under the shade of the trees. No new messages. No missed calls.

Just the quiet reminder that things outside the forest still existed.

Normal things.

Eli exhaled slowly and leaned back against a tree, taking a break from training.

Kieran stood a few steps away, watching him like always.

Silent.

Observing.

Eli ignored him—for now.

Instead, his mind drifted back.

(Flashback) ---- A Few Days Ago

“Eli, I tried calling you.”

Charlotte’s voice had been soft—but there was a hint of worry in it.

They had been standing near the edge of the village road, the late afternoon sun casting a warm glow around them.

Eli blinked.

“…Calling me?”

Charlotte nodded.

“And I sent messages too. You didn’t reply.”

Eli froze for a split second.

Then forced a small laugh.

“…Yeah, about that…”

He scratched the back of his neck.

“I kind of lost my phone.”

Charlotte frowned immediately.

“You lost it?”

“…Yeah.”

But in his mind—

That wasn’t the truth.

Not really.

It broke.

That night.

The night everything changed.

The night he ran into Kieran.

The night the forest stopped being just a forest.

Eli pushed the thought aside.

“…It’s gone anyway,” he added lightly. “I’ll just get a new one.”

Charlotte studied him for a moment.

Then nodded.

“Okay. Just… don’t disappear like that again.”

Eli smiled slightly.

“I won’t.”

A pause.

Then he added—

“I’ll get a new phone and call you.”

Charlotte’s expression softened.

“I’ll be waiting.”

(Flashback) ---- That Same Night

The small phone shop was still open.

Bright lights.

Glass displays.

Completely normal.

Eli stood there, staring at rows of devices like he hadn’t seen one in years.

“…This feels weird,” he muttered.

“First time buying a phone?” the shop attendant asked.

Eli let out a quiet huff.

“…Feels like it.”

He picked one.

Simple.

Nothing fancy.

Just something that worked.

An hour later—

He stepped outside, new phone in hand.

Hesitated for a second.

Then dialed.

It rang.

Once.

Twice.

Then—

“Eli?”

Charlotte’s voice came through.

Soft.

Relieved.

Eli smiled without realizing.

“…Yeah. It’s me.”

“You actually called.”

“I said I would.”

She laughed quietly.

“…I missed you.”

Eli’s chest tightened slightly.

“…I missed you too.”

And just like that—

Everything felt normal again.

(Present) ----  Eli exhaled slowly.

“…Yeah.”

That was real.

That mattered.

Not whatever complicated mess Kieran brought into his life.

His phone buzzed lightly again.

This time—

A message.

Charlotte: Don’t forget today 

Eli smiled slightly.

“…I won’t.”

He typed quickly.

Eli: I’ll be there soon.

He hit send.

Then stood up.

“…Alright, I’m done for today.”

Kieran’s voice came immediately.

“You’re not.”

Eli glanced at him.

“…I have plans.”

Kieran’s gaze shifted slightly.

“To do what?”

Eli slipped his phone into his pocket.

“…I’m going out.”

“With her.”

It wasn’t a question.

Eli shrugged.

“Yeah.”

Silence.

The air changed.

Subtly.

But noticeably.

Kieran stepped closer.

“Cancel it.”

Eli frowned immediately.

“…No.”

“It’s not safe.”

Eli scoffed.

“You say that about everything.”

“This isn’t the same.”

Eli crossed his arms.

“…It never is with you.”

Kieran’s eyes dropped briefly—

To Eli’s pocket.

Where the phone was.

Then back to his face.

“You’re choosing this?”

Eli raised a brow.

“…Choosing what? My own life?”

Kieran stepped closer again.

That same tension creeping in.

“You’re choosing her over your safety.”

Eli let out a short laugh.

“No—I’m choosing to not let you control everything I do.”

A pause.

Then Eli added, more firmly:

“I’m going.”

Kieran’s jaw tightened slightly.

“…Two hours,” Eli continued, pulling out his phone again. “That’s what I told her.”

He unlocked it.

Right there.

In front of Kieran.

And dialed.

The call connected quickly.

“Hey,” Eli said, his tone softening immediately. “Yeah, I’ll be there in about two hours… yeah… no, I’m done here… yeah, I’ll see you.”

He hung up.

And for a moment—

There was silence.

Heavy.

Uncomfortable.

Kieran was staring at him.

Not hiding it.

Not looking away.

Eli frowned.

“…What?”

Kieran’s voice came low.

“You sound different.”

Eli blinked.

“…What?”

“When you talk to her.”

Eli stared at him.

“…Obviously.”

Kieran didn’t respond.

But his gaze didn’t soften either.

Eli slipped his phone back into his pocket.

“…I’m leaving.”

He turned.

Took a few steps.

Then paused.

“…Don’t follow me.”

Kieran didn’t answer.

But the bond—

It reacted.

Sharp.

Tight.

Like it didn’t agree.

Eli clenched his jaw slightly.

“…Ignore it.”

And kept walking.

Kieran didn’t move.

Not immediately.

But his eyes followed Eli until he disappeared.

Slowly—

His expression darkened.

“…Two hours.”

The words were quiet.

Measured.

Controlled.

But beneath that control—

Something else stirred.

Something sharper.

Something far less patient.