The Garden of Decay

Chapter 4

The air outside felt different after her meeting with Lucien — thicker, heavier with a weight she couldn't quite explain. (Y/N) stepped onto the path, the cool breeze doing little to soothe the unease that had settled deep in her chest. As the door closed behind her, the warmth of Lucien's presence seemed to evaporate, replaced by the cold, hard reality of the Garden and its strange tranquility.

Elias was still standing a short distance away, his posture relaxed, but there was a subtle tension in the way he glanced toward the path. (Y/N) followed his gaze and saw Thorne approaching, his dark eyes locked on her, his expression as unreadable as ever. He moved with purpose, every step deliberate, and there was no mistaking the protective, almost predatory aura that surrounded him.

Elias offered her a small nod, his usual softness tempered by something more cautious. "I'll leave you to it, then. Thorne will show you where you'll be staying." His eyes flicked to Thorne's face for the briefest moment, something unspoken passing between them before Elias turned and walked away, leaving her alone with the Garden's brooding protector.

Thorne said nothing as he came to a stop in front of her, his arms crossed over his chest. He stood a full head taller than her, casting a shadow that only seemed to amplify his intimidating presence. There was no warmth in his gaze, no hint of the charm that Lucien had so effortlessly exuded. Thorne's eyes were cold, hard, like chipped stone, and they were fixed on her with a guarded intensity.

"Lucien talked to you," he said, his voice low and rough, like gravel grinding beneath boots.

(Y/N) nodded, unsure of how much to reveal. She felt a strange instinct to be careful around Thorne, to not show too much of her hand. "He... welcomed me, I guess. Said I'd be safe here."

Thorne's jaw tightened slightly, his gaze narrowing as if he were weighing her words. He let out a slow breath, the sound sharp in the stillness. "Safe." He seemed to taste the word as if it didn't sit well with him. "You think you're safe just because Lucien says so?"

Her heart skipped a beat at the edge in his tone. "He seems to be in charge. Why wouldn't I believe him?"

Thorne's eyes darkened, a muscle in his jaw twitching as he stared down at her. "Lucien's good at talking. Real good. But don't let that fool you." He stepped closer, the space between them shrinking, his voice dropping lower. "The Garden has rules. Follow them, and you'll be fine. But you keep your eyes open. Especially around Lucien."

(Y/N) blinked, taken aback by his warning. Thorne's distrust of outsiders had been clear from the moment they'd met, but now it seemed that his suspicion extended within the Garden as well. She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. "What do you mean by that?"

Thorne's lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, it seemed like he might not answer. His gaze flicked briefly toward where Lucien's building stood, then back to her. "Lucien runs things here. But that doesn't mean you should trust him." He paused, letting the weight of his words settle in the air between them. "He has his own way of keeping people in line."

A cold shiver ran down her spine, but (Y/N) wasn't sure if it was because of Lucien or because of the way Thorne was looking at her — like she was already on the verge of breaking some unspoken rule. His intensity made it hard to breathe, his presence a constant reminder that no matter how peaceful the Garden seemed, it was still a cage.

Thorne's eyes lingered on her for a long moment before he finally stepped back, breaking the tension. "Come on. I'll show you where you'll be staying."

Without waiting for her response, he turned and started walking, his broad shoulders cutting through the narrow path that led deeper into the Garden. (Y/N) hesitated only for a second before following, the hairs on the back of her neck prickling with unease.

As they walked, the atmosphere shifted again. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the lush greenery. The Garden was quiet, but it wasn't a peaceful quiet — it was the kind of stillness that made (Y/N) feel like she was being watched. Like the Garden itself was holding its breath, waiting for something.

Thorne moved ahead of her, his stride long and unhurried, but his posture was tense. He wasn't the type to make idle conversation, and (Y/N) found herself grateful for the silence. Her mind was still buzzing with everything that had happened in the past few hours. From barely escaping the undead, to being welcomed into this strange sanctuary, to now — whatever this was.

She couldn't help but glance at Thorne's back as they walked. He was rough around the edges, clearly distrustful of her and perhaps everyone else around him. But there was something about him, something that made her want to understand what lay beneath that cold exterior. She wasn't sure if it was curiosity or some deeper instinct, but despite his warnings, she felt drawn to him in a way she couldn't explain.

They finally reached a small, secluded cabin tucked away at the edge of the Garden's inner circle. It was simple, much like the one Elias had brought her to earlier, but it had an air of isolation to it — almost like it was set apart from the rest of the community on purpose.

"This is yours," Thorne said, nodding toward the cabin. "You'll sleep here. Keep your things here."

(Y/N) glanced at the cabin, then back at him. "Why here? It seems a bit... out of the way."

Thorne's gaze flicked to the cabin, then back to her, his expression as unreadable as ever. "Easier to keep an eye on you." His words were blunt, but they carried an undercurrent that made her stomach twist. Whether he meant to protect her or control her, she wasn't sure.

He opened the door and stepped inside, motioning for her to follow. The interior was sparsely furnished — just a bed, a small table, and a single chair by the window. A few shelves lined the walls, empty for now, but ready to hold whatever few belongings she might gather. It was simple, but clean, and the faint scent of fresh wood hung in the air.

"You'll get used to it," Thorne said, his eyes scanning the room as if making sure everything was in place. "It's not much, but it's safe."

There was that word again. Safe. She couldn't help but wonder if it meant the same thing to him as it did to Lucien — or if it meant something entirely different.

Thorne turned to face her, his expression hardening once more. "There are rules here. Basic stuff. Don't wander outside the Garden's boundaries. Don't go into the restricted areas unless you're told to. And don't question Lucien in front of the others."

(Y/N) frowned, the last rule catching her off guard. "Why not?"

Thorne's eyes darkened, and for a moment, she thought he wasn't going to answer. But then his voice came, low and deliberate. "Because the Garden runs on order. And Lucien's the one keeping that order. You start questioning him, and things get messy."

Her pulse quickened at the warning in his tone, but she nodded, understanding enough to not push further. "Okay. I'll keep that in mind."

Thorne studied her for a moment longer, his gaze piercing, before he turned toward the door. "I'll be around. If you need something, find me."

He stepped outside, and for a brief moment, (Y/N) thought he might leave without another word. But then he paused in the doorway, his broad shoulders framed by the fading light of the setting sun.

"Just... be careful who you trust." His voice was quieter now, more subdued. "The Garden might look like a sanctuary, but it's still a prison. And not everyone who smiles at you has your best interests at heart."

And with that, Thorne was gone, leaving her alone in the small cabin, the weight of his words pressing down on her chest.

(Y/N) stood in the center of the room, the silence closing in around her. Outside, the world had been reduced to a nightmare of the undead, but inside the Garden, there were different dangers. Ones that were harder to see.

She didn't know who to trust. Not yet. But Thorne's warning lingered in her mind, a constant reminder that even in this place of beauty and calm, darkness lurked beneath the surface.