Eclipsed

chapter 28

Chapter 28: Restless Shadows

The room was bathed in the faint glow of moonlight filtering through the small window. Ren lay on his side, staring blankly at the wall. His breathing was steady, but his mind churned with restless thoughts. Across the room, Kael shifted in his bed, the creak of the wooden frame breaking the silence.

“Hey, man,” Kael’s voice broke the stillness. “You awake?”

Ren blinked, then sighed softly. “Yeah, I can’t sleep.”

Kael sat up, running a hand through his messy hair. “Thought so. You’ve been acting different since the whole Ozythar thing. Not talking much. I mean... may I ask why?”

Ren turned onto his back, staring at the ceiling. “What do you mean? I’m the same as I’ve always been.”

Kael shook his head. “Nah, not when I first met you. Back then, you were quiet but... not this kind of quiet. This feels heavier. Like something broke in you.”

Ren clenched his fists under the blanket. “Kael, it’s nothing. I just need to keep moving forward. That’s all.”

Kael pressed on, his tone softer. “Look, I’m not saying you need to spill your heart or anything, but I’ve seen people change after going through stuff like this. And it wasn’t just being captured or tortured, was it? Something else happened.”

Ren’s jaw tightened. Memories surged unbidden—painful flashes of the cruel experiments, the unrelenting darkness, Ozythar’s laughter echoing in his ears. And then, that cryptic image of Liora, her voice chilling and commanding, as if her presence loomed over his very soul.

“Kael,” Ren said finally, his voice low. “You should try and get some sleep. We have a long day tomorrow.”

Kael frowned, sensing the finality in Ren’s tone. He wanted to push further but knew it wouldn’t get him anywhere. “Alright, man. Just... don’t bottle it up. If you ever need to talk, I’m here.”

Ren didn’t respond. Instead, he closed his eyes, the vivid images refusing to fade. The screams, the piercing pain, the weight of Liora’s gaze—like she could see straight through him.

Eventually, the exhaustion won, and Ren drifted into a fitful sleep, haunted by the ghosts of his past.

---

Morning

The sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the small room. Ren woke to the sound of Kael stretching noisily and yawning.

“Well, good morning to you, Sunshine,” Kael said, grinning as he pulled on his boots.

Ren sat up, rubbing his temples. “Morning.”

“You sleep okay?” Kael asked, his tone casual but his gaze sharp.

Ren hesitated, then nodded. “As much as I could.”

Kael clapped him on the shoulder. “Well, let’s get moving. Valen’s probably waiting to give us another riveting lecture about being ‘focused’ or whatever.”

Ren allowed a small, wry smile. “Yeah. Let’s not keep him waiting.”

Though the morning seemed bright and full of promise, Ren couldn’t shake the shadows lingering in the corners of his mind. But for now, he shoved them aside and focused on the task ahead.

As Ren and Kael came down the creaky stairs, Valen stood by the door with a smirk. “Took you two long enough.”

Ren stretched and yawned. “I slept in. Not sure about him.”