my seven for your three.

the parade. (anything)

The morning after their confrontation was colder than the night before, the remnants of the fire barely a memory against the chill in the air. May sat alone by the dying embers, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and regret. The silence of the woods seemed to press down on her, making her feel even more isolated from her friends.

Lainey and Bianca finally stirred from their makeshift beds, their faces etched with the fatigue of the previous night. Lainey's eyes were steely with determination, while Bianca's were red from crying. The tension was palpable as they gathered their belongings, preparing for the next stage of their journey.

"We need to keep moving," Lainey said, her tone brooking no argument. "We've got unfinished business, and we can't afford to waste any more time."

May looked up, her expression conflicted. "But where do we go from here? I don't even know if I'm ready for what comes next."

Bianca stepped in, her voice firm despite the pain in her eyes. "We need to stay focused. Eleanor is the next step. We confront her, get the answers we need, and then figure out the rest."

Lainey nodded, her gaze fixed ahead. "Exactly. We can't let our emotions get in the way. We've come this far, and we need to see this through."

May stood up, brushing the dirt from her jeans, her hands trembling slightly. "But what if confronting her doesn't change anything?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "What if we're just... opening old wounds?"

Lainey's eyes darkened, her expression hardening. "It's not about changing anything, May. It's about getting closure. We deserve that. You deserve that."

May shook her head, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "And then what? We face Eleanor, and what happens after? We walk away and pretend everything's okay?"

Bianca stepped closer, placing a hand on May's arm. "It's not pretending, May. We need this closure to move on. This isn't just for you. It's for all of us."

May's breath hitched, pulling her arm away. "I don't know if I can do this."

Lainey crossed her arms, her patience thinning. "You're stronger than you think. Don't back out now. You were the one who wanted this."

"I wanted answers," May shot back. "Not more pain."

Lainey's face tightened, a sharp edge in her voice. "Pain is all we've ever known. Running from it isn't going to make it go away."

Bianca's voice was softer, more careful as she spoke. "May, we don't know what will happen. But you don't have to do it alone. We stick together, remember?"

"Stick together?" May repeated, her voice tinged with bitterness. "What does that even mean anymore?"

Lainey clenched her fists, her frustration spilling over. "It means we do what we have to do to survive. You think this is about some feel-good ending? It's about getting what we deserve, and I'm not backing down because you're scared."

May's face flushed with anger, her voice rising. "You think I'm scared of Eleanor? I'm scared of what this will do to us."

Bianca stepped between them, her voice steady despite the tension. "We can't tear each other apart now. We're almost there. Once we find Eleanor, we'll know what to do. We'll have the answers we need, and we go back and live out our lives."

May met Lainey's gaze, the fire between them still simmering. "Fine," she muttered, her voice barely audible. "But this doesn't feel right."

Lainey's expression softened, just for a moment. "Nothing about this is going to feel right, May. But we're in this together."