The Phantom of the Woods

Unlikely Connections

The next night, as promised, Lily returned to the woods. The path was familiar now, the dark corners of the forest no longer intimidating but inviting. There was something about Kael that drew her in, something beyond the mystery of his face or the whispers of the townspeople. He was kind, despite the lonely existence he lived, and she found herself wanting to be around him more and more.

When she reached the clearing near his cabin, Kael was sitting on the same log, waiting. This time, though, he wasn’t muttering to himself or doubting her return. He glanced up as soon as he heard her footsteps, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Hey, Kael," she greeted, grinning as she sat down beside him.

"Hey," he replied softly.

Lily tilted her head, curiosity bubbling up. "So, what can we do for fun?"

Kael frowned slightly. "Fun? I don’t think what I do would be much fun for you."

Lily crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "You could be wrong. I’m more adventurous than I look."

Kael studied her for a moment, a hint of a smile forming. "Alright, then. You ever shot a bow?"

"Shot a bow? Like archery?" Lily’s eyes lit up. "No, but I’ve always wanted to try!"

Kael nodded, leading her to a small section of the clearing where he had set up a target. He handed her a simple wooden bow and a few arrows, showing her how to hold it and pull the string back.

Determined to prove she could handle it, Lily focused intently on the target. She pulled back the bowstring, her arms shaking slightly from the tension, and released the arrow. It flew through the air with a soft whoosh, landing just outside the bullseye.

"Not bad for your first try," Kael remarked, a glimmer of pride in his voice.

Lily beamed, feeling accomplished. "Told you I could handle it. What else do you have out here?"

Kael shrugged, leaning against a nearby tree. "That’s pretty much it. Hunting, fishing, archery. It’s not exactly thrilling."

Lily looked at him thoughtfully. "Do you ever get bored?"

Kael’s smile faded slightly. "Sometimes. But it’s better than being around people who—" He stopped, realizing he was about to say too much.

"Who what?" Lily asked gently.

Kael didn’t respond, shifting his gaze away from her. Silence fell between them for a moment before Lily broke it with another question. "Kael, did you ever have a girlfriend?"

He raised an eyebrow, surprised. "With a face like this?"

Lily rolled her eyes, playful. "I mean, before… you know."

He let out a soft sigh, shaking his head. "No. I was young when… it happened. I never had a girlfriend before, and after—well, no one really wanted to get close."

"That’s not fair," Lily said, her heart aching for him.

Kael shrugged. "It is what it is."

Lily bit her lip, hesitating before asking her next question. "Do you believe in love?"

Kael looked at her, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I don’t know. I’ve never thought much about it."

"Never?" she pressed. "Not even once?"

Kael shook his head. "No one’s ever really shown me what love is supposed to look like. Not in a way that makes sense, at least."

Lily nodded, taking in his words. The night grew quieter as they continued talking, shifting from deeper topics to lighter ones. Kael, for the first time in years, found himself enjoying the conversation. He liked the way she spoke to him—like he was normal, like she wasn’t trying to avoid looking at the scarred half of his face.

As the moon began to sink lower in the sky, Lily stretched her arms and stood up, signaling it was time for her to leave. Kael, unsure how to say goodbye, stood too, shifting awkwardly on his feet.

Before he could say anything, Lily stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him in a warm hug. Kael stiffened, surprised and unsure how to react.

"Are you okay with this?" she asked, pulling back slightly but keeping her arms around him.

"You're doing it anyway," Kael replied, his voice a mix of confusion and warmth.

Lily smiled softly. "It's still good to ask. You don’t get hugs, right? I wanted to give you one."

Kael stared at her, his heart racing. "Why?"

"Because you’re my friend," she said simply.

The word ‘friend’ echoed in Kael’s mind. It was such a simple word, but it held so much weight for him. He nodded slowly, his heart feeling something he hadn’t felt in years—comfort.

Lily finally let go, stepping back with a bright smile. "Alright, I’ll see you tomorrow night?"

Kael nodded, still feeling the warmth of her hug lingering on his skin. "Yeah… tomorrow."

With that, Lily disappeared into the trees, leaving Kael standing there in the dark, his heart lighter than it had been in a long time.