The War.

Chapter 40: Secret.

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Mia rolled her eyes as she stepped into the building, the dim light flickering overhead casting eerie shadows across the dilapidated walls. "Yeah, so totally deserted," she muttered sarcastically, her voice dripping with irritation. Without missing a beat, she lifted her weapon and shot down the swarm of eoldrans that rushed toward them, their grotesque bodies crumpling to the floor in a heap.

"She couldn't have known, Amelia," Charlotte said, her voice steady and calm as she followed behind, unfazed by the chaos.

"Yeah, right. Trust Marjorie, they said," Mia mumbled under her breath, shaking her head. As they walked through the hallway littered with the bodies of the creatures, an eerie silence settled over them—until a blood-curdling scream pierced the air. The sound was unmistakably human, sending a jolt of panic through the group.

Mia and Charlotte exchanged wide-eyed glances, their faces pale with terror. There was no mistaking it—the scream was filled with pain, fear, and desperation.

Mia's heart pounded in her chest as she cautiously approached the room where the scream had come from. She pushed the door open with trembling hands, her breath hitching in her throat as her eyes landed on the figure crumpled on the floor. "Siobhan?!"

The name left Mia's lips in a strangled gasp as she rushed toward her. Siobhan looked fragile, her skin pale, her breaths shallow. Charlotte immediately knelt beside her, her hands trembling as she checked for injuries. "Oh my God, Siobhan..." Charlotte's voice was soft, filled with concern.

Siobhan's eyes fluttered open briefly, her gaze unfocused, her lips parted as if trying to speak but no words came out. Her body was limp, and the usually strong, defiant Siobhan was barely holding on. Seeing her like this made Mia's stomach churn with fear and guilt.

"Mia, help me. We need to get her out of here," Charlotte said, nudging Mia to action.

Mia didn't hesitate, gently picking Siobhan up with care, as if she might shatter if mishandled. She could feel Siobhan's weak pulse as she carried her, each labored breath sending a wave of anxiety through Mia's body. They made their way out of the building, Mia carefully placing Siobhan into the back of the car. Every second felt like an eternity as they drove off, the rest of the group silent, tension thick in the air.

As the car sped down the road, Mia glanced in the rearview mirror at Siobhan, her heart heavy with worry. She had never seen her like this—so vulnerable, so broken. She didn't know what had happened, but she knew one thing: they had to keep Siobhan safe. The battle outside might have ended, but the war for Siobhan's survival had just begun.

Little did they know, Siobhan was fine—at least, physically. Sure, the eoldrans had gotten a few good hits in, leaving her bruised and sore, but she wasn't dying. She wasn't on the brink of death like they thought. She was fine.

But as she lay there in the backseat of the car, feeling the concerned glances thrown her way, panic began to well up inside her. Her chest tightened, and her mind raced as the reality of the situation hit her like a wave.

What am I doing?

Her thoughts spiraled as guilt clawed at her insides. She wasn't helpless. She wasn't weak. So why was she pretending? Why had she let them find her like that, looking like she was at death's door? The weight of her choices bore down on her, but she knew—deep down—that there was a reason for it.

I'm doing this for a good reason. I'm doing this for Stella. She has a good reason.

She repeated the mantra in her head, over and over again, trying to convince herself that it was true. That it was justified. That there was no other way. The lie felt heavy in her mouth, like a bitter pill she couldn't swallow, but it was the only thing she could hold on to.

Mia and Charlotte's voices filtered through the haze in her mind, their concern palpable, but Siobhan couldn't focus on them. Her thoughts were elsewhere—on what came next, on the secret she was hiding. On the fact that this was the only way to keep them safe.

But the guilt remained. She wasn't dying, but the look in Mia's eyes, the raw fear and desperation—it almost made her wish she were.

- * -

After they had cleaned her up, Siobhan sat on the couch, her hands wrapped around a steaming cup of tea. The warmth seeped through her palms, but it did little to ease the chill settling in her mind. Her thoughts were in turmoil, spiraling around one name, one person.

Stella. Stella. Stella. Stella.

It was as if the very name echoed through her brain, bouncing off the walls of her conscience. Siobhan kept repeating it, trying to convince herself that there was a reason for what she had done. She had willingly chosen to put them in danger, and no matter how much she tried to deny it, the truth clawed at her.

This is the right decision. No. This is wrong. I had to do it. But... she didn't force me.

It wasn't Stella who had coerced her into this. She wasn't some puppet with her strings pulled. No, Siobhan had wanted to do this. The realization hit her hard, tightening the knot of guilt already sitting heavily in her chest. She took a shaky breath, trying to soothe her thoughts, but the questions kept coming.

What am I doing?

She gripped the cup tighter, hoping the warmth would calm her, but it didn't. She was too far gone in her own head.

What Siobhan didn't realize was that Ella, sitting quietly across the room, had been reading her thoughts. Ella's forehead glowed faintly as she furrowed her brow, confusion flickering in her young eyes.

Who is Stella? Ella thought to herself. What decision?

Before she could say anything aloud, Mia noticed the faint glow on Ella's forehead. She leaned over, her tone gentle but firm. "Princess, we've talked about this. Stop."

Ella opened her mouth to protest, her curiosity burning in her chest. "But—" she began.

"No," Mia cut her off sharply. Her eyes softened as she glanced at Ella. "Not now."

Ella hesitated, then nodded, the glow fading from her forehead. She cast one last glance toward Siobhan, wondering what secrets lay hidden in the depths of her mind.

Siobhan was sitting quietly on the edge of the bed, her thoughts drifting in and out of focus. The dim light of the room barely illuminated her face, casting shadows across her furrowed brow. She hadn't expected Ella to enter so suddenly, and when she did, the question hit her like a sharp blade.

"Who is Stella?" Ella asked, her young voice cutting through the silence.

Siobhan's eyes shot up to meet Ella's, wide with shock. For a moment, she said nothing, her heart skipping a beat as panic swirled inside her. She hadn't expected Ella to dig deeper.

"Uh..." Siobhan mumbled, her mind scrambling for an answer. She hadn't prepared herself for this conversation. How could she explain without revealing too much? Her throat tightened as she tried to form words, but they wouldn't come.

-~•***•~-

back to back chapters wow.

gang dw ella wont find out who stella is, well at least not rn.

y'all r gonna find out why stella hates mia soon !

we. are. 40. fucking. chapters. in. and. i. still. haven't. gotten. to. the. main. plot.

there won't be any filler chapters until i get to the main plot cuz seriously i cba.

next chapter will probs be another week sorry gang. (i have a week full of exams, questioning, essays, homework, assignments. and the vp still thinks we can do it all and get perfect grades.)

hope you enjoyed

bye lovelies !!