chapter 20: cracks in the calm
the village lay quiet under the deepening twilight, but ren's mind was anything but calm. the warning from maya's parchment replayed in his thoughts, and the uneasy feeling of being hunted gnawed at his core. pride pushed him forward — he couldn't show weakness, couldn't be the one to lose his memories and sanity.
"why do these shadows want me?" he wondered silently, fists clenched. "what am i hiding that even i can't remember?"
maya sat nearby, watching the last rays of sun slip away. "you're tense," she said softly, breaking the silence.
ren glanced at her, then turned back to the horizon. "i don't like feeling lost," he admitted. "like someone took a piece of me."
she nodded slowly. "sometimes, not knowing is worse than the truth."
his heart beat faster. "then i'll find the truth. no matter what it costs."
the wind whispered through the trees, carrying a chill that wasn't just from the evening. somewhere in the darkness, something watched — waiting for ren to slip, to let pride falter.
and ren knew the battle was just beginning.
*the shadows aren't just out there. maybe they're inside me too.*
he swallowed hard, feeling the madness stirring beneath his skin — a dark power born from broken memories and raw pride.
"i won't lose," he promised himself. "not now. not ever."
the night deepened, swallowing the village in shadows. ren's eyes burned bright with determination and something darker — the fragile edge between sanity and madness.
and on that edge, he would find his true strength.