In the evening, when they stopped at a small inn at the edge of the woods, Kellan went outside, looking for a moment of peace. The full moon illuminated the clearing, and its glow was reflected in the boy's eyes. He heard the whispers again—quiet, ominous voices that seemed to come from the depths of his mind.
Kellan stood still, staring at the moon, which now seemed cold and alien to him. His body did not seem to belong entirely to him. He knew what lay within—not just the darkness, but the shadow of the Shadow Lord himself. He could feel it, quiet and unyielding, like poison slowly spreading through his veins. Recently, these moments have happened more often. The whispers were louder, clearer, and their presence was increasingly difficult to ignore.
– You cannot escape, – a voice echoed in his mind, deep and mocking, as if he knew his every secret, every little thought.
Kellan clenched his fists, trying to control his breathing. His heart was beating like crazy, and his inner anxiety seemed to grow with every moment. What had once been just a dark whisper on the edge of consciousness was now gaining strength. Lately, it has become increasingly difficult to ignore this. Every night, every moment of silence, made the shadow in his heart speak louder, as if he knew Kellan was on the verge of breaking down.
– Why are you resisting? – You know it does not make sense...– the voice was like poison, delicate but penetrating. Kellan felt his hands tremble and his body begin to refuse.
– I am not you... And I will not let you go...– he whispered through clenched teeth, but his words sounded more like a plea than a firm denial.
The voice responded with a laugh, cold and full of satisfaction. – And yet we are one, Kellan. Which will last longer, you or this prison?
Kellan clutched his head, as if he could tear the words out of his mind. He did not notice when Anabell approached him, her footsteps as quiet as the rustle of leaves. The girl looked at him with concern, her hands gently reaching his shoulder.
– Kellan—– she said quietly, her voice soft but clearly filled with unease.
The boy shuddered at the sound of her voice, as if suddenly snapped out of a trance. He looked up at her, and there was something lurking in his eyes that made Anabell shiver. It was pain, but also fear – fear of myself.
– Are you okay? – You've seemed different since lately, – she said, not taking her eyes off him.
– I am fine, – he replied quickly, too quickly, as if he were trying to convince himself more than her.
Anabell was not deceived. She gently tightened her grip on his shoulder, forcing him to look into her eyes.
– Kellan, if anything is going on, you can tell me. – You do not have to carry it alone, – she added, her voice now firmer.
The boy lowered his eyes, feeling the weight of the words still resting on his heart. He could not tell her. He could not admit that the shadow he carried inside him was not just a memory... It is alone. He was there, present, alert, ready to take control at any moment.
– You would not understand, – he whispered, looking away.
– Maybe try it. Her voice was calm but determined. – I do not know what you have been through, but I know you are strong. If you were not, you would not be here.
Her words pierced the darkness in his mind, if only for a moment. He looked at her with gratitude, but also with pain.
– Thank you, Anabell, – he said quietly. – But this is my fight.
Anabell sighed but did not press. She took a step closer, her hand still resting on his shoulder.
– Just remember that you are not alone. Regardless of what happens, – she said with a warm smile that seemed to light up the night.
Kellan nodded, though he knew deep down that the truth about the shadow in his heart could cost them both more than they could bear. He looked at Anabell, surprised at how her touch and voice seemed to bring him back to balance. After a moment of silence, he asked quietly.
– Why did you come here? – Shouldn't you sleep?
Anabell sighed, looking away at the moon.
– I could not fall asleep, – she admitted. – I was thinking about all this... And then I noticed that you were not there either. I thought maybe... You need someone who will just be next to you.
Kellan bit his lip, surprised by her sincerity. He stared at her silently for a moment, then sighed.
– Thanks, but I do not think I am the best company, – he said, looking away.
Anabell smiled slightly.
– You do not have to be the company. – Maybe I need you. Her words were simple, but they touched something deep inside him.
Kellan did not answer, but he felt the tension in his arms begin to subside. Anabell looked up at the sky, which was now strewn with stars.
– Look, – she said, pointing to the stars. – They are so beautiful. Perhaps... Shall we sit down for a moment and just look at them?
Kellan hesitated for a moment, but eventually nodded.
– Good, – he said quietly.
They sat down on the grass, near to the inn, where the lights had already dimmed and the night was completely silent. The stars twinkled in the dark sky, creating constellations that seemed eternal and unchanging.
–You know... I have always liked the stars, – Anabell said, breaking the silence. – When I was little, I imagined that each of them was a story. Maybe some of them have long ended, but their light still reaches us, reminding us of what was.
Kellan looked at her out of the corner of his eye, startled by her words.
–This... Smart, – he said after a moment.
Anabell laughed softly.
– I do not know if it is smart. Simply... The stars have always given me a sense of peace. Such certainty that even if the world changes, they will always be there.
He did not answer, staring at the twinkling lights in the sky. After a moment, he felt Anabell gently lean on his shoulder. His first instinct was tension, but he quickly relaxed.
It was... Strange, but at the same time soothing. The silence that had usually been filled with ominous whispers was now peaceful. The voice was silent, as if Anabell's presence were too much for him to bear. Kellan did not understand why this was happening, but he noticed that he felt something he had not experienced in a long time silence in his mind.
– Something happened? – Anabell asked quietly, seeing that he had been silent for a long moment.
– No, – he said, although he was not sure if he was telling the truth. –Simply... I feel calmer.
Anabell smiled slightly, though she did not lift her head off his shoulder. Kellan looked at her, and then back at the stars. There was something about her presence something that silenced the darkness in his heart. He did not know if it was her words, her touch, or just the fact that she was there for him. But now, in that moment, he felt he could fight a little longer.He did not know how many more moments he would have, but he was going to enjoy each of them. At least for a moment.