Past Island: Regrets and Guilt (Past Series #1) [COMPLETED]

Chapter 24: The Breaking Point

The tension within the group had been simmering, an undercurrent of unease that had gradually built into a tempest. The revelation that Ashton was an imposter had ignited the spark, and now the blaze of mistrust and anger threatened to consume them all. The air was thick with resentment and suspicion, and the bonds that had held them together began to unravel.

Raiver was the first to break the uneasy silence, his voice a low growl of accusation. "Itong si Killua, masyadong secretive eh. Ever since we got here, you've been holding back. Ano naman kayang tinatago mo, ha?"

Killua's eyes narrowed, a flicker of anger crossing his face. "Secretive? I'm trying to keep us alive. Just because I'm not broadcasting my every thought to the world for fuck’s sake! doesn't mean I'm hiding something!"

Raiver took a step closer, his posture aggressive. "At maniniwala nalang kami dun basta-basta? How do we know you're not another impostor, leading us into a trap?"

Before Killua could respond, Darren jumped in, his frustration boiling over. "And what about you, Jax? Your reckless behavior nearly got us killed more than once, can’t you remember? huh? Are you trying to get us all killed, or is that just a side effect of your stupidity?"

Jax's face turned red with anger. "Ahh, so kasalanan ko pa na nagpapakahirap tayo dito? ni hindi ko nga narinig sayo na may ideya ka kung paano tayo makakaalis dito eh. You've been useless ever since your 'mystical challenge'—what so fucking ever!" he shouted, furious. "or maybe you're the one we should be questioning?" he asked, accusing Darren.

Remy, who had been trying to calm himself, found himself caught in the crossfire. "Enough!" he shouted, his voice breaking with the strain. "Hindi kayo nakakatulong eh. We need to stick together."

His plea fell on deaf ears. The group had reached its breaking point, and the pent-up anger and fear exploded into a torrent of accusations and recriminations. Each member aired their grievances, old wounds reopening and festering in the poisonous atmosphere.

Raiver turned on Remy, his voice filled with venom. "You think you're so wise, always trying to keep the peace. Pero nasaan ka nung kailangan namin nang totoong leader?! Hiding behind your calm facade while we face danger and suffering!"

Remy recoiled as if struck, his face pale. "I've been doing my best to keep us together. If we fall apart now, we're all doomed."

Killua's cold voice cut through them. "Maybe falling apart is the only way we'll see who the real threats are. Better to know now than be stabbed in the back later."

The fake Ashton watched from the sidelines, a grim specter of their betrayal. His presence was a constant reminder of their shattered trust, a living embodiment of the seeds of doubt that had been sown among them.

Darren's voice rose above the loudness, trembling with emotion. "We used to be a team. We faced everything together. Paano nangyari na ganito na?"

Jax's response was harsh, cutting. "It came to this because we stopped trusting each other. Because we let fear and suspicion take over. Maybe it's time we accept that not everyone here is who they say they are."

The words hung in the air, heavy with implication. Each member of the group looked around, their eyes filled with doubt and mistrust. The sense of camaraderie that had once sustained them was now a fragile thing, teetering on the brink of collapse.

Raiver's voice was a whisper, barely audible. "What if... what if none of us are real? Paano kung pinaglalaruan lang tayo ng Island na ito? to make us turn against each other?"

Killua's laugh was bitter. "If that's the case, then we're already lost. But I'm not going down without a fight."

Remy took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Hindi natin to pwedeng hayaan na manalo. We've faced worse before. We need to find Ashton and get out of here. Together."

Darren shook his head, his expression one of despair. "But how do we find Ashton when we can't even trust each other? How do we move forward when every step feels like a betrayal waiting to happen?"

The fake Ashton finally spoke, his voice calm and measured. "You're stronger than this. You were chosen because of your bond, because of your strength as a group. Don't let that be taken from you."

His words, though intended to soothe, only served to fan the flames of their anger. Jax rounded on him, his face contorted with rage. "You don't get to talk about our bond. Ikaw ang dahilan kung bakit kami nasa ganitong sitwasyon! You're the one who betrayed us."

The impostor held up his hands in a placating gesture. "I never meant to betray you. I was placed here to guide you, to ensure you stayed on the right path. But I can see now that my presence has done more harm than good."

Raiver's voice was cold. "Umalis ka nalang, pwede? Maybe it's time we took matters into our own hands. Umalis ka na! baka masapak din kita eh!"

The group fell into a tense silence, the weight of their decision hanging over them. Each member grappled with their own feelings of anger, betrayal, and fear. The fake Ashton's revelation had cut deep, leaving scars that might never fully heal.

Remy looked around at his friends, his heart heavy. "We need to find a way to move forward. We need to find Ashton and get out of here. But we can't do that if we're fighting each other."

Darren's voice was a whisper. "But how do we trust again? How do we know who to believe?"

The fake Ashton spoke again, his voice filled with a quiet determination. "Trust is a fragile thing. But you have to believe in each other, in the bond that brought you here. That's the only way you'll find your way out" he said, then the fake Ashton slowly disappeared into thin air.

The group's silence was heavy with unspoken doubts and fears. Each member wrestled with their own inner demons, their own insecurities and mistrust. The path ahead was uncertain, and the bonds that had once held them together now seemed tenuous and fragile.

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Past Island: Regrets and Guilt

Written by: @Clintoooon_

DISCLAIMER : This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, place, or events and incidents are either the products of the author's imaginations or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblances to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

@All Rights Reserved. Clintoooon_. 2024.