chapter 14: shadows in the mind
ren sat quietly, the morning light soft but unable to calm the storm inside his head. maya's words from earlier lingered, but something deeper gnawed at him. why was he sleeping on the road? why couldn't he remember what happened?
his mind raced through broken fragments, trying to piece together a puzzle that refused to come clear. every attempt brought more questions than answers. the ache in his shoulder pulsed, a dull reminder that something had gone terribly wrong.
maya noticed his silence and finally broke it, her voice gentle but concerned. "hey, you're quiet. something wrong?"
ren blinked, caught off guard by her attention. he forced himself to speak, trying to mask the confusion behind a guarded tone. "just… thinking."
maya tilted her head, studying him. "you can talk to me, you know. whatever it is."
he hesitated. pride screamed at him to keep his guard up, to trust no one. but the calm in maya's eyes, the safety of this small room, chipped away at that wall.
"i don't remember why i was lying on the road," ren finally admitted, voice low. "it's like something erased it from my mind."
maya frowned slightly, the flicker of worry clear. "that's not normal. someone must've done something to you."
ren clenched his fists, the frustration bubbling up. "i'm weak. i let it happen."
"being weak doesn't mean you deserve it," maya said firmly. "but you have to be careful. whoever did this might still be out there."
ren's mind raced again, the pieces starting to connect. this wasn't just bad luck or a random attack. it was something bigger. something dangerous.
yet beneath the fear, a spark of pride burned brighter than ever. he wouldn't stay weak. he would get answers. and when he did, no one would ever make him helpless again.
maya reached out, her hand brushing his arm gently. "you're not alone in this."
ren met her gaze, a silent promise forming between them. the journey ahead was uncertain and dark, but for the first time, he wasn't facing it completely by himself.
outside, the wind whispered through the trees, carrying with it the shadows of what was to come.