Ashes: Book 1 of the Shadows Series - By Tristan Carver

Breaking the Silence

Daylen paced the dimly lit confines of the bunker, the flickering fluorescent lights casting eerie shadows on the walls. The air was heavy with unspoken words and the residual tension from the last mission. Kael was quiet, seated at the table with a map spread out in front of him, tracing the routes with a fingertip, but the spark in his eyes seemed muted.

"Are you going to help me figure this out, or just sit there?" Kael's voice was curt, lacking its usual spark. He didn't look up, but the edge in his tone made it clear he wasn't in the mood for small talk.

Daylen opened his mouth to respond, but the weight of their last encounter clamped down on him. The kiss still lingered in the back of his mind, a reminder of the vulnerability they had shared. Instead, he opted for silence, hoping the tension would somehow dissipate if they pretended it didn't exist.

The others in the bunker moved about quietly, respecting the charged atmosphere surrounding the two of them. Daylen felt their stares occasionally land on him and Kael, their curiosity palpable. He couldn't blame them; the fallout from the last mission had left everyone on edge, but it felt as if Daylen and Kael were the only ones stuck in an unyielding limbo.

After a long moment, Kael sighed, folding the map with a sharp snap. "We need to raid the supply depot tomorrow. I know it's risky, but we can't afford to wait any longer. We're running low on food, and the last shipment didn't make it through."

Daylen nodded, pushing his own conflicting feelings aside. "I can handle the scouting. Just tell me what I need to look for."

Kael rubbed his temples, the tension in his shoulders evident even through the fabric of his shirt. "I can't do this without you, Daylen. I need your eyes out there. You see things I don't." His gaze finally met Daylen's, and for a moment, the wall between them seemed to crack.

"Fine. We'll work together," Daylen said, his heart racing at the prospect of spending more time with Kael. "But we have to get on the same page. We can't afford to make mistakes."

Kael's expression softened slightly, but the shadow of frustration lingered. "You think I don't know that? I'm not here to play games, Daylen."

"Then let's stop acting like we're not," Daylen said, the words slipping out before he could catch them.

Kael flinched, then looked away, an unreadable expression crossing his face. The silence stretched between them, heavy and charged. Daylen felt the ache of unresolved emotions echoing in the space that had once felt so safe.

As they prepared for the upcoming mission, Daylen's thoughts drifted to the kiss they had shared. The way Kael had pulled him close, the intensity of the moment—it all replayed in his mind like a haunting melody he couldn't shake. The fear of losing Kael to the chaos of their lives gripped him tight, but the prospect of risking everything for a chance at something more was terrifying.

"Daylen," Kael said suddenly, breaking the silence. "I—"

Before he could finish, a loud crash echoed from the entrance of the bunker. The two of them exchanged startled looks as the heavy door swung open. A figure stumbled in, face pale and eyes wide with panic. It was one of their scouts, a young woman named Lila.

"They found us! They're coming!" she gasped, breathless. "We have to move—now!"

The moment of vulnerability shattered, replaced by the urgency of survival. Daylen and Kael sprang into action, adrenaline coursing through their veins. They gathered supplies quickly, heartbeats synchronizing in a frantic rhythm.

"Where are they coming from?" Kael demanded, his voice steady despite the chaos.

"From the east, near the old factory. They must have tracked us!" Lila replied, her eyes darting around the room.