Nathaniel’s POV The camp feels alive again. Children run between the cabins, sparring partners laugh as they drop their wooden swords, and the summer breeze carries the smell of pine and fresh bread from the kitchens. For once, there is no darkness pressing down on us—only anticipation. I stand in the training hall, sunlight slanting through the tall windows. Before me, chairs are set in a loose circle. Slowly, they fill. Samantha and Carl enter first, side by side, though Carl keeps glancing at her as if making sure she isn’t about to vanish. Selene and Zach follow, Zach’s hand resting protectively on her back. They sit across from each other, exchanging polite nods but also that nervous, shared curiosity that binds all parents when they wait for news. When the room settles into silence, I take a breath. “Thank you all for coming. I know you’ve been waiting, and today I can finally give you answers.” Samantha leans forward, her hands trembling in her lap. “It’s about Eva, isn’t i
Paris’s POV The engines rumble like restless beasts as four jeeps wait at the gate. The courtyard is quieter than usual, the laughter from yesterday’s feast already feeling like a distant echo. Today, my home will feel emptier. “Ready?” I ask, though my voice doesn’t quite hold steady. Michael throws his bag into the back of a jeep, rolling his eyes. “As ready as we’ll ever be. Beds, here I come.” Lenny groans. “Finally.” They try to lighten the air, but even their banter can’t cut through the heaviness pressing down on us all. Kostas stands stiff beside me, jaw tight, eyes burning holes into the ground. Lily hovers near him, her hand brushing his, steadying him in ways words can’t. Eva hugs Katerina first, then Nikos, then Kristina. When she turns to me, her eyes shine, though she blinks quickly as if to hide it. “Thank you,” she whispers. “For welcoming me. For making me feel… like I belong.” I place a hand on her shoulder, forcing myself to smile. “Family is not alw
Eva’s POV The smell of roasted lamb and fresh herbs reaches me even before I step out of the cabin. My stomach, which has been embarrassingly quiet since breakfast, growls in anticipation. I smooth down my simple white dress, wondering if I should have chosen something fancier, but when I open the door, all hesitation evaporates. The courtyard has been transformed. Long tables stretch beneath the olive trees, covered with white linen and bursting with color—platters of grilled vegetables, golden loaves of bread, olives glistening like gems, bowls of tzatziki, and bright carafes of wine. Garlands of bougainvillea wind along the tables, and lanterns swing overhead, catching the early afternoon light. Laughter already fills the air, bubbling like music. “Finally!” Kostas shouts when he spots me, rising from his chair with dramatic flair. “The guest of honor has arrived. We were about to send out a search party.” I laugh, shaking my head. “I’m not late.” “Late is a matter of per
Eva’s point of view Breakfast ends with laughter, teasing, and the sort of easy chaos I didn’t realize I’d been starving for. But even with everyone around me, my eyes keep drifting toward Kostas. He laughs with the twins, his hand brushing Carol’s as she whispers something in his ear, and for a moment I see him the way I did when I first arrived here—like a constant. A friend. A brother. And I know I owe him something. A goodbye, even if we’ll see each other again. “Kostas?” I say softly as the others begin clearing plates. “Can we talk?” He glances at me, curious, then nods. “Of course.” We slip out quietly, leaving the chatter behind. The path to the beach is familiar now—olive trees swaying, the scent of salt and pine mingling in the air. When the sand greets us, it feels like stepping into our own secret world. “This place,” Kostas says, kicking off his shoes and letting the waves lick at his toes, “I always figured it would be where we’d solve all of life’s problem
Eva’s point of view The smell of bread and coffee greets me before I even step into the main house. My heart is a knot in my chest, but I force my feet forward. The memories are still raw, still burning, but they are mine again. And they lead me here. The voices reach me first. Laughter. Teasing. Light, easy tones that feel foreign after so much darkness. Inside, the dining hall is alive with energy. Kostas sits at the far end of the table, his hands flying as he tells a story. The twins are beside him, laughing so hard they nearly fall off their chairs. Carol leans into him with bright eyes, while Lily shakes her head in mock despair. Across the table, Paris , Kanella, Nikos and Kristina sip their coffee, smiling like proud parents. “Kostas,” Kristina teases, “if you exaggerate any more, they’ll think you’re the one who fought off those rogues single-handed.” Paris smirks. “Knowing my son, he probably believes it.” The table erupts in laughter, Kostas turning red as he
Eva’s point of view The night is warm, the kind of warmth that clings to your skin and makes the sea smell stronger. After we finish eating, everyone drifts toward the guest house. Sonia hugs me a little too long, Parker squeezes my hand like he’s afraid to let go, and Theo—he lingers with his eyes on me, like words are caught in his throat. I can’t stay inside. Not with the weight of their stories pressing down on me, whispering truths I don’t remember. So, when the others settle in, I slip away and walk toward the beach. The sand is cool beneath my bare feet, and the waves stretch endlessly, black and silver under the moon. I wrap my arms around myself. “What am I supposed to do, Artemis?” I whisper. “You already know,” she answers softly in my mind. I close my eyes. “I don’t. They’re all looking at me like I should be someone I’m not. I can’t even remember their faces in the stories. I don’t remember saving them. I don’t remember… him.” My hand drifts to my belly. “And