𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐍 ᴀ ᴋɪɴɢ ᴀʀᴛʜᴜʀ ʀᴇᴛᴇʟʟɪɴɢ ✔

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟔: 𝐒𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐭

CHAPTER 16.

Soft patters of rain brushed against the leaves of the forest. The rain quenched the soil from sandy hues to rich and moist soil. Baked from the previous summer, and now hydrated. Marcus sat outside, occupying himself by keeping a fire going.

 He continued to poke at the fire to keep it going, but it continued to drown in the rain. A disappointed sigh escaped his lips, he pulled up his hood and folded his arms inside his coat. A cold translucent breath left his lips, his eyes remained cold and soulful.

His mind couldn't comprehend that Gavin was gone. A part of him wished that it should have been him, instead of Gavin. A cloud of regret quenched his heart. He began to recall the moment he walked into the forest and traced Gavin and Axel's tracks.

 The way the forest reeked of death, was quite repulsive. He remembered the fear that made his heart ascend when he found Gavin sitting on the edge of a stone cliff, that had cascades of waterfalls. The rocks below were coated with a small layer of crimson from the previous attack of the Wendigo. It was difficult to determine what was at the bottom of the cliff after a fog concealed the forest below.

Marcus found Gavin sitting slightly beyond the edge, and deep in his thoughts. Both Gavin and Marcus were beyond thrilled to see each other, after all, Axel or Gavin might have been killed by the bandits or the nocturnal beings of the forest. But after Gavin shared the novel of details of what happened.

In such little time, Gavin was gone, and Marcus began to beat himself up for it. He believed that sending Maxwell to acquire that Gavin's life will be spared was a mistake. Even when Gavin devoted his loyalty to Axel, he promised himself that she would return. But he never anticipated that this would be easy.

"Good morning." Anna greeted Marcus. She sat across from him on the soaked log.

The corner of Marcus's lip raised, acknowledging her greeting. Anna easily picked up on Marcus's sour mood. Anna waved her hand and the puddle of water that swallowed the fire vanished.

His vision narrowed to a pinprick. He continued to fiddle with the overgrown piece of grass that was intertwined between his fingers.

Anna cast a skeptical glance, "Something on your mind?" she questioned, eager to know what was aggravating him.

Marcus raised his head and shrugged, "I just cannot comprehend that he's gone." Marcus admitted.

Anna's lips pursed tightly, unsure how she could reply to Marcus. He sought the smallest amount of comfort.

"What if he isn't dead?" Marcus added. His eyes didn't have that usual bright spark, instead, they remained smouldering and dark.

"Both Maxwell and Axel saw it with their own eyes. He may be gone now, but we cannot mourn ourselves for too long. We have to keep his legacy alive, by honouring him." Anna answered Marcus.

Marcus felt his chest tighten, his wounds were superficial but his guilt went bone-deep. His thoughts were rattling in his mind like a bird imprisoned in a cage. His heart began to stamper, and his throat tightened.

A soft, but shallow tear escaped the edge of his eye. Why couldn't he have just gotten along with Gavin, instead of stubbornly convincing himself that Gavin was trying to take Anna away from him?