The Phantom of the Woods

The River of Secrets

The evening had settled around the woods, and Lily sat beside Kael on the porch, feeling the warmth of his arm resting near hers. She looked over at him, her eyes tracing the sharp lines of his face, softened by the quietness of the night. They had been spending more time together, growing closer in ways Lily hadn't anticipated. It wasn't just about attraction anymore. There was something deeper between them-something unspoken, but always there.

After a while, Lily glanced at Kael, breaking the comfortable silence. "Kael," she started softly, her voice careful, "what happened to your parents?"

Kael's body tensed slightly, but his expression remained calm. He took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the woods ahead. "They died," he said simply, the words heavy, like they carried more weight than he let on.

Lily's heart tightened at the thought of what he must've gone through. "I'm sorry," she whispered, unsure what else to say. She reached out, gently placing her hand on his arm, a small gesture of comfort.

Kael remained quiet for a moment, his jaw tightening as he gathered his thoughts. "They tried to help me, you know. They didn't want me to... end up like this." His hand absentmindedly brushed over the scar on his face, a symbol of whatever curse or darkness had touched his life. "They were on their way to see this woman. They thought she could help."

Lily's brows furrowed in confusion. "A woman? What kind of woman?"

Kael's gaze turned distant, as if he was seeing something far away, or maybe something long buried in his memories. "Her name was Iona," he said slowly. "She lived across a river-far beyond the woods, hidden away. My parents had heard stories about her, that she had answers... or could help lift curses."

Lily's eyes widened at the mention of the name. "Iona? Wait, I've heard about her. People talk about her like she's a legend. I didn't know she was real."

Kael nodded, his face still serious. "She's real. Or, at least, they believed she was. I never got to meet her."

Lily's curiosity was piqued now, though there was also a part of her that felt a chill run down her spine. She had always heard whispered tales of a mysterious woman who lived beyond the river, someone who knew things about magic, curses, and ancient remedies. But she had always assumed it was just that-a tale, a story people told to scare kids or keep them from wandering too far into the woods.

"Did they make it to her?" Lily asked quietly, not sure if she really wanted to hear the answer.

Kael shook his head. "No. They never crossed the river. They died on their way there."

Lily's heart sank as she imagined what that must've been like for him-losing his parents and being left alone with no answers, no solutions. "Do you think... if they had reached her, things could've been different?"

Kael shrugged, his expression unreadable. "I don't know. Maybe. I'll never know now."

Lily sat in silence for a moment, trying to process everything Kael had just told her. She had always felt like there was something more to him, something darker in his past, but this was even more complicated than she'd imagined.

"So," Lily said, her voice quiet, "this Iona... she's still out there, across the river?"

Kael nodded. "Yeah. She doesn't come near the town. You have to go to her. But it's not easy. The river's wide, and dangerous."

Lily bit her lip, thinking. "Do you ever think about... going to see her? I mean, if she really has answers... maybe she could help you."

Kael glanced over at her, his expression softening for the first time. "You'd go with me?"

Lily blinked, surprised by the question. "If you wanted me to, yeah," she said, her heart beating a little faster at the idea. "I mean, I don't know if I'd be much help, but I'd go."

Kael's gaze lingered on her for a moment, as if he was weighing the idea. "I don't know," he said eventually, looking away. "It's been a long time. I'm not sure if anything can be undone."

Lily felt a surge of determination rise in her chest. "You don't know that. I think it's worth a shot. If she really has answers, Kael... maybe it's not too late."

Kael didn't say anything, but the look in his eyes told her that he was considering it, at least. They sat together in silence again, the weight of the conversation settling between them. Lily knew that whatever had happened in Kael's past, it wasn't something that could be easily fixed. But maybe, just maybe, this Iona could help. Or at the very least, give Kael some closure.

After a while, Kael stood up, stretching his arms and letting out a sigh. "It's late. You should head back."

Lily nodded, standing up beside him. She didn't want to leave him, but she knew he wasn't ready for more than what they had talked about tonight. "Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow."

Kael gave her a small smile, the kind that always made her heart flutter. "Be careful going home."

"I will," she said, turning to leave.

But as she started walking away, something made her stop. She turned back to Kael, her eyes searching his. "Kael?"

"Yeah?"

"Maybe... maybe we don't have to figure everything out right now. But just know, whatever you decide, I'll be here for you."

Kael's expression softened, and he nodded. "Thanks, Lily."

She smiled and walked away, the night air cool against her skin. But her mind was racing with thoughts of Iona and the mysterious river. Maybe the answers Kael needed were closer than either of them had realized. And maybe-just maybe-they could find her together.