Elijah sat by the fire, his eyes lost in thought as he stared into the flames. He couldn't shake the feeling that the woman's words had left him with. "I know what you are," she had said. What did she mean by that?
Maya's voice interrupted his thoughts, breaking the silence that had fallen over the cabin. "Elijah, do you know what's going on?" she asked, her brow furrowed with concern.
Elijah turned to her, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What do you mean?" he asked, trying to keep his tone neutral.
Maya's gaze searched his face, as if seeking answers to unspoken questions. "I mean, with that woman," she said, her voice low. "She seemed to know you, Elijah. And what she said...it was like she knew something about you that we don't."
Elijah's expression turned guarded, his instincts on high alert. How much had Maya noticed? And what did she suspect? He hesitated, unsure of how to respond.
Just then, Alex spoke up, his voice cutting through the tension. "Bro, what exactly caused you to leave this kingdom?" he asked, his eyes locked on Elijah's face.
Elijah's gaze flickered, and he tried to change the subject. "Hey, has anyone seen the map of the forest? I think I left it in the-"
But before he could finish, Maya interrupted him, her voice firm. "Elijah, it's true, though. What really happened? Why did you leave the kingdom?"
The cabin fell silent, the only sound the crackling of the fire. Elijah's friends exchanged glances, their faces filled with a mix of curiosity and concern. Elijah's eyes darted around the room, his mind racing. How much could he reveal? And how much would he have to keep hidden?
Elijah hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "It's a long story, guys," he said finally, trying to brush it off. "Well, literally, I don't know much about the story myself, though. But it's a very, very long story."
Alex and Maya exchanged a look, their eyes communicating a clear message: don't push Elijah on this. But Alex, ever the curious one, couldn't help but try again.
"Come on, Elijah," Alex said, his voice persuasive. "What are we, friends for? Don't you trust us?"
Elijah's eyes darted to Alex, then to Maya, who was watching him with a concerned expression. He felt a pang of guilt for not being able to open up to them, but he just didn't know how.
Alex's voice cut through his thoughts again. "Do you see anything wrong with us? We're your friends, Elijah. We're in this together, no matter what. Promise."
Elijah's gaze locked onto Alex's, and for a moment, he felt like he was staring into the eyes of someone who truly understood him. The words "promise" and "together" echoed in his mind, making him feel a sense of comfort and security he hadn't felt in a long time.
But just as he was about to open up, something held him back. A voice in his head whispered warnings, reminding him of the dangers of revealing too much. Elijah's eyes dropped, and he looked away, the moment of vulnerability lost