Silent Scars

CHAPTER 97

ARIANA HASTINGS

The day felt like it belonged to me and Kendric.

We sat cross legged on the floor, controllers in our hands, the screen flashing over and over with new rounds, new scores, new laughter. We played until our eyes burned, until our cheeks hurt from smiling too much. Every time I thought he’d finally give up, he’d grin wide, demand a rematch, and I couldn’t say no.

It was fun, so much fun. For a while, I almost forgot about the heaviness pressing down on the house this morning. But every now and then, my mind slipped back. To the way Leonardo’s eyes never strayed far from the clock, to Marcus’s silence, to Luca’s restless glances. They were hiding something. I didn’t know what, but I could feel it.

They tried so hard not to let me.

Leo sat straighter, calmer than ever, his voice steady whenever he spoke, like nothing in the world could shake him. Marcus kept busy, fussing with the smallest details at the table as if they mattered, as if his focus was anywhere but the storm he was carrying inside. Luca smiled at me when our eyes met, soft and reassuring, but I saw how his fingers drummed restlessly against his glass when he thought I wasn’t looking.

And Domain, he forced laughter louder than usual, like he could drown out the tension with his voice alone. Kendric, too, was brighter, chattier, pulling me into every joke, every game, as if his happiness could be enough to distract me.

I knew what they were doing.

And maybe once, before, I would have asked, pressed, tried to uncover the truth. But now I understood. They didn’t want me to see it. They didn’t want me to carry what they were carrying.

So I didn’t let on.

I smiled when Kendric teased me. I laughed when Domain puffed out his chest like he was showing off. I let Luca’s soft looks reassure me, let Marcus’s calm silence wash over me, let Leonardo’s presence feel like a wall nothing could break through.

I pretended I didn’t notice the cracks.

But I did. I noticed everything.

And I tucked it away quietly, because if hiding it from me gave them strength, then I could hide it too.

And I did.

We played until our laughter turned into yawns, until my cheeks hurt from smiling too much. Hours must have slipped by without either of us noticing, the rhythm of the game carrying us away like a tide. For a little while, it almost felt like nothing was waiting for us.

Because the heaviness never really left. It stayed tucked under my ribs, pressing harder whenever I caught a glance of the clock or remembered how quiet Marcus had been this morning.

By the time Kendric finally tossed his controller aside, it was late, later than I realized. The numbers on the clock made my chest tighten.

4:45.

Almost time.

We padded toward the stairs, our steps softer now, like we both knew the house was bracing itself for something.

The gathering.

Leo. Marcus. Domain.
All of them would be leaving soon.

And the heaviness in my chest, the way it pressed at me, tight and restless, told me something wasn’t right.

Just before we reached the stairs, I slowed.

"Ken."

I whispered.