Kaltain

10. Broken shards....

*Gore warning.*

"Well, I'll be leaving now." Ava's voice was tinged with resignation as she turned and hastened away from the group, her shoulders relaxing slightly with each step. The oppressive heat of the sun beat down relentlessly, making her every breath feel labored. The distant murmurs of the waves on the beach seemed to fade as she retraced her steps, trying to escape the encroaching sense of unease.

She glanced back over her shoulder to ensure they weren't following her. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Rose frantically waving and shouting for her to stop. Panic surged through Ava, and she quickened her pace, nearly stumbling over a stray rock. Her boots clattered against the paved footpath with a rhythmic urgency, but just as she was about to lose her footing, a firm hand clasped her shoulder, halting her progress.

"What is it now? You promised to le—" Ava's protest was cut short as she turned and found herself face-to-face with a towering figure. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked up at the imposing silhouette. The figure's electric blue eyes glowed with an unsettling intensity, their gaze penetrating and inscrutable. The grip on her shoulder was unyielding, and Ava's attempts to wriggle free only seemed to tighten the hold.

"This is not the northern beach," Cullen grumbled, his voice carrying a tone of frustration. He trudged forward with a lethargic pace, flanked by the others, who watched Ava with expressions of doubt and confusion.

"Yes, it is!" Ava insisted, her voice strained. Aspen finally released her shoulder, and she took a step back, feeling the shadow of his presence recede. His tan skin contrasted sharply against the brilliant sun, casting a looming shadow over her.

"This isn't what it looked like a few days ago," Emm protested, his eyes scanning the surroundings with an air of contemplation.

"Are you sure this is it?" Florian's sigh was filled with skepticism.

"Yes, I swear on my life that this is the right place," Ava replied, stepping a few feet away from them. Her fatigue was palpable; her eyelids drooped with exhaustion, and the adrenaline that had fueled her escape was beginning to wane.

"Alright," Florian said, exhaling slowly. "Thank you for everything." She gave Ava a faint, relieved smile, and Ava, feeling a wave of relief wash over her, began to walk backward, her eyes darting between the group and the path ahead. Once she was certain they wouldn't follow, she turned and resumed her journey home, desperate for a semblance of normalcy.

"Bye, Ava!" Emm called out cheerfully, waving energetically. Cullen offered her a grin, while Rose shot her a scowl and Aspen muttered something under his breath.

"Whatever," Ava murmured, her voice barely audible. Her footsteps faded into the distance as she walked away from the group.

"Well then," Florian clicked her tongue, her gaze fixed on the endlessly stretching horizon, its exotic hues shimmering and shifting in the late afternoon light. Her mind was a whirlwind of befuddled questions, struggling to make sense of their current predicament.

X

Ava flopped down onto her bed, the weight of the day's events crashing down on her. Anxiety gripped her tightly, and she hurriedly sealed every door and window, drawing the curtains tight. The oppressive darkness of her room was a stark contrast to the bright daylight outside. She gulped down a glass of water, trying to stave off hunger, and set her alarm before sinking into her bed, eager for rest.

However, sleep was elusive. The thin streams of light that filtered through the curtains cast shifting patterns across her skin, but her mind was anything but calm. The haunting nightmare from a few days ago and the cryptic words from her captors tormented her thoughts. She wondered if she was losing her grip on reality, her past a jumble of fragmented memories and disturbing dreams.