Twin Fate: Sun and Moon

Chapter 18 - The Truth

The night felt endless, as though morning was still years away. But finally, I reached a conclusion—something unnatural was happening, something that wasn't supposed to be happening. What exactly? I didn't know yet. But I would find out today. When we meet at lunch, I am going to get her alone and make her tell me. There was no moving forward without it.

I'd done my research. A temperature that high would kill anyone. There was no reasonable explanation for what was going on, so Elin was hiding something from me. Still, that small voice in my head kept whispering that I was overthinking, making this into something bigger than it was. Doubt lingered, suggesting I was blowing things out of proportion.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw them—two crimson irises staring at me from the darkness. And yet, the dread that used to grip me when I thought of those eyes was slowly fading, replaced by a different feeling. Something new, something I couldn't quite name.

At last, the sun started to rise, its first rays spilling through the windows. I stood up, my legs feeling weak, as if I hadn't used them in days. The exhaustion weighed on me, thick and undeniable. I heard Alex in the bathroom, so I waited, my nerves growing sharper with every passing second as the reality of what was coming hit me. If I dont figure out what is going on, I feel like I might lose my mind.

I hurried through my morning routine, quicker than usual, and was already by the car before Alex had even put on his shoes. At least I had the sense to let him drive. With the lack of sleep, I doubted I'd be able to do it safely. Our argument from yesterday felt like it belonged to another lifetime.

The hum of the engine was unexpectedly soothing, and for a moment, I entertained the idea of staying in the car all day, hiding from everything. But I shook the thought away.I had to know the truth.

We pulled into the college parking lot earlier than I wanted, the familiar sight making my stomach twist. Alex still seemed pissed about yesterday's argument and kept quiet as we grabbed a cup of coffee, the silence between us thicker than ever.

My mind wasn't truly present. I moved through the motions mechanically, from coffee to lunch break. It felt like a fleeting moment before I found myself sitting with Alex, in silence, in our usual spot behind the college. Part of me almost hoped Elin wouldn't show up, that it had all been a bad dream. Even if she did come, I wished she would tell me it never happened.When I saw her approach with her usual graceful stride, a small part of the tension in my chest eased. But as she got closer to our bench, the faint voice in my head urged me to act like nothing had happened yesterday.

"Hey," she said, her voice carrying a tone I hadn't heard before, making my stomach sink even lower. Did she know I'd spent the night sleepless, turning over every detail? Her expression grew darker as she saw me, and I could tell my face betrayed something was wrong. The kiss we shared was so charged that I barely noticed her scent or the warmth of her lips.After a brief hesitation, I asked, "You got time for a walk?"

Elin didn't meet my eyes. Instead, she stared off into the distance, her gaze unfocused. "No," she finally replied, turning to face me. "We will talk after class." Her tone was firm, leaving no room for argument, but somewhat easing my tenssion, at least I will get a chance to get to the bottom of this.