The Garden of Decay

Chapter 20

Late into the night, the Garden was steeped in shadows, the quiet unsettling rather than comforting. Most residents were asleep, but (Y/N) lay awake, her thoughts restless. Lucien's recent words lingered in her mind, leaving an uneasy weight on her chest that she couldn't shake. She closed her eyes, willing herself to relax, when a soft knock at her door made her sit up.

The door creaked open, revealing Thorne. His silhouette was tense, framed by the dim light from the hall. There was something different about him tonight — an intensity in his eyes that went beyond their usual guarded look.

"Get dressed," he said in a low voice, not stepping inside. "I'm taking you outside the Garden for a bit."

(Y/N) hesitated, her heart thudding. The thought of sneaking out of the Garden, of seeing the world beyond its walls, sparked a mix of fear and thrill. But the urgency in Thorne's eyes left little room for argument.

Without another word, she threw on her boots, tugged on her jacket, and followed him into the shadows.

They slipped through a side gate she hadn't noticed before, hidden among thick, overgrown vines that cloaked its existence. Thorne moved quietly, his steps soundless, his gaze alert as they edged along the exterior wall. Once outside, the world seemed vast, stretching in a way that was both exhilarating and overwhelming after the confines of the Garden.

As they stepped further into the night, Thorne glanced at her, his expression serious. "Stay close. Out here... things aren't as contained as they are inside."

(Y/N) nodded, feeling the pulse of adrenaline quicken within her. She glanced around, taking in the abandoned remnants of the world they had once known — buildings overrun by foliage, cars half-buried in dirt, long claimed by time and neglect. She felt both the freedom of the open air and the lingering threat it held.

"Why did you bring me out here?" she whispered, not wanting to disturb the fragile quiet.

Thorne glanced at her, his expression softening. "I wanted you to see what we're up against. Lucien... he talks about control, about sacrifices, but it's easy to make those calls when you're safe behind the walls. Out here, survival isn't a debate. It's... different." He trailed off, as if wrestling with the weight of the words, his jaw clenched.

As they moved through the deserted terrain, (Y/N) couldn't help but think of the tension she'd felt building between him and Lucien. Ever since the attack, each had vied for her attention in ways that felt increasingly charged. She glanced at Thorne as they walked, curiosity getting the better of her. "Has it always been like this between you and Lucien? The... rivalry?"

Thorne's gaze flicked toward her, his expression darkening slightly. "Lucien and I have never seen eye to eye," he said carefully, though a hint of bitterness seeped through. "He thinks control is everything. But out here, control is just an illusion. And Lucien?" He shook his head, a faint sneer tugging at his lips. "He's not what he seems."

She felt a shiver at the certainty in his voice, a weight to his words that hinted at things unspoken. She wanted to ask more, but his posture shifted, signaling the end of the topic. They continued in silence, every shadow seeming to hold a secret, but the world felt sharper, more exposed than it ever had.

Thorne's hand brushed hers once, lingering a moment longer than necessary, before he dropped it back to his side. They pressed on, their breaths puffing in the cool night air, as he led her up a low incline until they stood at the edge of a ravine. Below, the remnants of an old town lay in ruins, half-hidden by tangled growth and shadows.

"Look down there," he murmured, gesturing toward the town's remnants. "Once, this was someone's life. People had homes, families... hopes. Now, it's just rubble. That's what's waiting beyond our walls. That's what Lucien won't talk about. What's really out there."

(Y/N) felt a chill that had nothing to do with the night air. She looked down at the ruins, imagining the lives that had once breathed within them, the memories that had faded along with the broken walls. The weight of what they'd lost as a world pressed down on her, making her throat tighten.

"He keeps things from you, doesn't he?" Thorne's voice was low, almost a growl. "Lucien acts like he's your protector, like he knows best. But he's keeping you caged. We're all his prisoners, in one way or another."

She glanced at him, surprised by the raw intensity in his voice, the rare vulnerability breaking through his hardened exterior. "Thorne... why are you telling me this?"

He looked at her, his dark eyes catching the moonlight, something unreadable flashing in them. "Because I don't want you to end up like everyone else. Trapped, helpless. If anything happens... if you need to leave..." He hesitated, his hand reaching for hers. "I want to be the one who shows you how."

They stood in silence, his hand enveloping hers with an almost desperate gentleness. She could feel his pulse, a steady, reassuring beat that mirrored her own. For a moment, they were alone, bound by a shared understanding that words couldn't fully capture.

But the silence broke with a low, guttural sound — a distant growl that sent her heart racing. Thorne's gaze snapped to the shadowed edges of the ravine, his grip tightening.

"Stay close," he whispered, every trace of softness vanishing as his protective instincts took over. He pulled her close, his stance shifting, his gaze scanning their surroundings.

(Y/N) barely dared to breathe, her eyes darting between the shadows. The growling grew louder, echoing through the ravine, the unmistakable sound of something moving, something alive. Thorne pulled her back a few steps, his stance low and ready, eyes locked on the darkened path ahead.

"Don't run," he murmured. "If we're quiet, we can move around them."

Heart pounding, she nodded, matching her steps to his as they moved, silent as shadows. Thorne's hand remained firmly on hers, guiding her, his movements careful, each step calculated. Despite the danger, she felt strangely safe with him, his presence a shield against the darkness.

They managed to slip past the edge of the ravine and began to move back toward the Garden's walls, Thorne's tension only easing when the sounds faded into the distance. Once they were close to the hidden gate, he let out a breath, his shoulders relaxing as he turned to her, his face barely visible in the dim light.

"Now you understand," he murmured. "This isn't just some... sheltered paradise."

(Y/N) met his gaze, searching for words, but the weight of what she'd seen hung heavy between them, silencing her. She only nodded, knowing he'd shown her something precious, something dangerous. The world beyond the Garden was vast and unforgiving, yet somehow, in that moment, it felt less daunting with Thorne beside her.

But as they slipped back through the gate, his hand lingered on her shoulder, his fingers trailing down her arm before he finally pulled away. "If you ever need to get out," he said, his voice low and earnest, "you come to me."

With one last look, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving her alone in the quiet chill of the Garden.