The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow over the camp as I made my way to the fire pit. The day had been long and exhausting, both physically and mentally.
My conversation with Elias earlier had left me feeling uneasy, and Soren's cryptic warning about disappearances had only added to the weight on my chest. But for now, I pushed those thoughts aside. Tonight, I needed a break. I needed to feel like a normal kid, even if just for a little while.
I spotted Tobias first. He was sitting on a log near the fire, his usual smirk plastered across his face as he animatedly told some story to a small group of kids. His hands were flying everywhere, and his voice carried over the crackling of the flames. As I got closer, I caught the tail end of his tale.
"—and then I said, 'If you think I'm eating that, you've got another thing coming!'" The kids burst into laughter, and Tobias leaned back, looking far too pleased with himself.
"Tobias," I called out, raising an eyebrow as I approached. "You're going to scare them off with your lies."
He turned to me, his grin widening. "Rowan! My favorite skeptic. Come join the fun. I was just telling these fine folks about the time I single-handedly fought off a pack of wild dogs with nothing but a spoon."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips. "Yeah, because that definitely happened."
Tobias clutched his chest in mock offense. "You wound me, Rowan. Truly. My stories are 100% accurate. Right, guys?" He turned to the kids, who were still giggling, and they nodded enthusiastically.
"Sure, Tobias," I said, sitting down on the log beside him. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."
He laughed, throwing an arm around my shoulders. "That's the spirit! Now, let's get some food before Talia eats it all."
As if on cue, Talia appeared, balancing two bowls of stew in her hands. Her fiery red hair was tied back in a messy braid, and her freckled face was flushed from the heat of the fire. She plopped down on the ground across from us, setting one bowl in front of herself and shoving the other toward Tobias.
"Here," she said, her voice sharp but not unkind. "I saved you some before the vultures got to it."
Tobias grinned, grabbing the bowl. "You're a lifesaver, Talia. Truly."
She rolled her eyes but didn't respond, instead focusing on her food. I grabbed a bowl for myself and sat back, letting the warmth of the fire seep into my bones. For a moment, it was almost peaceful. Almost normal.
Soren joined us a few minutes later, his lanky frame casting a long shadow as he approached. He sat down quietly, his sharp eyes scanning the group before landing on me.
"Rowan," he said with a nod.
"Soren," I replied, returning the gesture.
Tobias glanced between us, his smirk returning. "What's this? A secret handshake? Are you two forming some kind of brooding boys' club?"
Soren raised an eyebrow. "Do you ever stop talking?"
"Nope," Tobias said, popping the 'p.' "It's one of my many talents."
Talia snorted, stirring her stew with a piece of bread. "More like your only talent."
Tobias gasped, clutching his chest again. "You wound me, Talia. Truly. I'll have you know I'm also an excellent dancer."
Talia raised an eyebrow. "Prove it."
Without missing a beat, Tobias stood and began an exaggerated, ridiculous dance, complete with arm waves and hip thrusts. The kids nearby burst into laughter, and even Talia couldn't hold back a grin. I shook my head, but I couldn't help laughing a little. Tobias was ridiculous, but he had a way of lightening the mood.
Soren, however, looked completely unimpressed. "You're embarrassing yourself," he said flatly.
Tobias stopped mid-dance, pointing a finger at Soren. "You're just jealous of my moves."
Soren sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm jealous of your ability to make a fool of yourself in front of everyone? Sure."
Talia laughed, a sharp, genuine sound that made Tobias grin even wider. "Alright, alright," she said, waving a hand. "Sit down before you hurt yourself."
Tobias complied, dropping back onto the log with a dramatic sigh. "Fine. But you're all missing out on a once-in-a-lifetime performance."
"I think we'll survive," I said dryly, earning a chuckle from Talia.
For a while, we just sat there, eating and talking. Tobias kept the conversation light, cracking jokes and teasing Talia, who gave as good as she got. Soren stayed quiet for the most part, but every now and then, he'd throw in a dry comment that had us all laughing. It was… nice. For the first time since we'd arrived at the camp, I felt like I was part of something. Like I wasn't completely alone.
But as the fire died down and the night grew darker, the mood shifted. Tobias's jokes became fewer and farther between, and Talia's sharp retorts softened into thoughtful silence. Even Soren seemed more pensive, his sharp eyes flicking toward the shadows at the edge of the camp.
It was Talia who broke the silence. "So," she said, her voice low. "What's the plan?"
I glanced at her, my stomach tightening. "What do you mean?"
She met my gaze, her green eyes serious. "You're not planning on staying here forever, are you? None of us are."
I hesitated, glancing at Tobias and Soren. Tobias was uncharacteristically quiet, his usual smirk replaced by a thoughtful frown. Soren, on the other hand, was watching me intently, his expression unreadable.
"No," I said finally. "I'm not."
Talia nodded, like she'd expected that answer. "Good. Because this place… it's not right. I don't trust Father Gideon, and I don't trust the Risen."
"Neither do I," Tobias said, his voice uncharacteristically serious. "I've been here longer than most of you, and I've seen things. People disappearing, weird rituals… it's not just a camp. It's a cult."
Soren nodded, his gaze fixed on the fire. "He's right. This place… it's dangerous. And if we don't get out soon, we might not get out at all."
I swallowed hard, my mind racing. This was it. This was the moment I'd been waiting for. But now that it was here, I wasn't sure what to say.
"What about Elias?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "He's… he's not ready to leave. He thinks Father Gideon is helping him."
Talia's expression softened, and she reached out, placing a hand on my arm. "We'll figure it out. We'll get him out too."
Tobias nodded, his usual smirk returning, though it was smaller now. "Yeah. We're not leaving anyone behind. That's not how we roll."
Soren leaned forward, his sharp eyes locking onto mine. "But we need a plan. A real one. We can't just run off into the night and hope for the best."
I nodded, my chest tightening with a mix of fear and determination. "I know. But we'll figure it out. Together."
For a moment, no one spoke. The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows across our faces. Then Talia broke the silence, her voice firm.
"Alright. So we're doing this. We're getting out of here."
"Together," Tobias added, holding out his hand.
Talia placed her hand on top of his, and Soren followed suit. I hesitated for a moment, then placed my hand on top of theirs. It was a small gesture, but it felt like a promise. A promise that we'd look out for each other. That we'd get out of this place, no matter what.
"Together," I said, my voice steady.
As we sat there, the fire casting a warm glow over our small group, I felt a flicker of hope. It was small, fragile, but it was there. And for the first time in a long time, I believed that maybe, just maybe, we could make it out of this alive.
But deep down, I knew it wouldn't be easy. The camp was a maze, the watchers were always watching, and Father Gideon… he wasn't going to let us go without a fight.
Still, as I looked at the faces around me—Tobias's grin, Talia's fiery determination, Soren's quiet resolve—I knew we had a chance. And that was enough.
For now.