LOGINIf you were Kaelith, what would you do? Would you leave, knowing that one action will break Papa, or would you go back and endure because of him alone?
“Listen to me, Veylor,” Kayla pleaded. “Her brothers and sisters are out trying to get help for her and their papa. An elder is inside with them, watching over both of them. You need to leave. Please. Now.”“No,” I said firmly, shaking my head. “I will not leave without seeing Kaelith. And I will not leave her here without proper medical care. Not now. Not ever.”“We do not have any in Ashwood, remember? Just leave, Veylor. Leave while you still can,” Kayla cried.“I do not care,” I shot back. “Even if I have to take her out of Ashwood, I will. I am not leaving here without her!”I brushed past Kayla and broke into a run toward Kaelith’s house. I did not knock. I shoved the door open and barged in.The sitting room was dim. An old woman sat in the middle of it, burning incense in a small clay bowl, rocking slightly as she mumbled words I could not make out. Her skin was deeply lined, her gray hair tied back loosely, her eyes half-closed, as if somewhere far away.“Ma’am,” I said breat
Kayla laughed bitterly.“Why would I, Veylor? So you can finish what you started?”That was it.“Oh please,” I snapped. “Not again. Not again! I am sick and tired of asking the same question while everyone keeps accusing me without telling me anything. What have I done that I don’t know about?”Her lips curled. She stepped away from her door and walked right up to me, eyes sharp and unforgiving.“What haven’t you done?” she said coldly. “You’re the reason everything happened the way it did.”She scoffed, her gaze sweeping over me like she was searching for something and finding nothing.“I wonder what she ever saw in you that she let it happen.”Her words hit me like a blow to the chest.“Let what happen?” I shouted. “Oh my god. Oh my fucking god, Kayla!”I was panting now, my heart slamming hard against my ribs, veins buzzing like they were on fire. I forced myself to breathe in, then out.“Okay, Kayla,” I said, holding up a hand. “Let’s do it like this. No more beating around the bu
I ran through the woods, my boots pounding against the narrow path. Branches snapped back against my arms, leaves slapped my face, and the air grew thicker with every breath. My chest burned. Sweat blurred my vision. The path twisted sharply, roots threatening to trip me, but I didn’t slow down. Fear dragged me forward.Then suddenly, I burst out of the trees.I stopped short, bent over, hands on my knees, panting hard.In front of me stretched a wide, open space, quiet and deeply unsettling. Houses stood in a perfect circle, all facing inward, evenly spaced, like they had been placed with careful intention. There was only one entrance into the compound. Beyond it lay nothing but thick forest, stretching endlessly in every direction.My instincts screamed.One of these houses had to be Kaelith’s.“But where do I even start?” I muttered, straightening slowly.No people. No voices. No movement. Just silence, heavy and pressing down on me.I clenched my jaw.I wasn’t leaving without seei
I swallowed and kept my gaze forward, silently counting the minutes as the bus rolled on.About twenty minutes later, the bus stopped and everyone filed out. I stayed seated, waiting until I was the last to step down, not wanting to provoke anything further.Outside, the area buzzed with life. Small shops lined the street, people moved in hurried clusters, and carts rattled over uneven ground. I adjusted my jacket and headed toward the narrow path that led to the woods where I had waited for Kaelith the day before.I didn’t know exactly where she lived, but I was sure it was nearby. If I got past the woods, I could always ask someone.As I walked, dry leaves crunching beneath my boots, my thoughts drifted to her. I imagined the look on her face when she saw me. She would probably stiffen, glare, then fire off her usual lines at me.“I don’t like you. Stay away from me.”I mimicked her soft voice under my breath and laughed softly, lost in my own little daydream.I kept replaying my im
Iris’s sudden outburst earlier still echoed in my head, her words cutting sharper than any blade. “Kaelith is back to where she belongs.”What did that even mean? I couldn’t get it out of my mind.Iris… she had been the first girl I met the day I arrived in Ashwood. Lost, drained from wandering the streets trying to find my apartment, I had nearly given up when she appeared.She moved with effortless elegance, tall and poised, her smile bright enough to stop time. That smile—confident, disarmingly beautiful—made it easy to see why every gaze followed her as she kept pace with her younger sisters, Uri and Ina.I met all three that day, but Iris… she left a mark. Her presence alone could sweep a man off his feet. She and her sisters guided me to my apartment, making sure I didn’t get lost again.Days became weeks, and she started dropping by regularly, sometimes with her sisters, sometimes alone. She became a quiet, constant part of my life.Over time, a subtle closeness formed between
Katherine was smiling like she always did, a woven basket balanced neatly in her hands. I didn’t need to look inside to know what it held. She brought food every morning without fail.“Hi, Veylor,” she said brightly. “Did I wake you?”I stared at her for a second, then forced a smile. How else am I supposed to tell her to stop without sounding rude and ungrateful?“It’s fine,” I answered. “I was already up.”“Can I come in?” she asked, still smiling, leaning forward as if the answer didn’t matter.My smile slipped.“Katherine—”“It’s Katherina,” she cut in quickly.“Sorry,” I said, exhaling. “Katherina. The thing is, I don’t think you coming in is a good idea. I’m working, and I really don’t need distractions. Maybe we could do this some other time?”I forced a tighter smile.“Oh,” she said, unfazed. “I can be quiet. Very quiet. I promise.” She lifted the basket slightly. “I can help you clean, heat your food, do your laundry. Anything.”She tried to step past me. I blocked the doorwa







