The Road Back Home

The next day, we were all preparing to leave, but it didn't feel like a farewell. Karun and I began our early morning journey, not saying "goodbye," but simply "bye," because we had decided to meet again soon once everything settled down. Astrid gave me a tight hug, her smile brimming with a bittersweet warmth, while Aiden patted my head lightly, his usual teasing demeanor softened for the moment. They said it might take them two more weeks, but once they were out, they'd definitely give us a call. Damian, still as quiet as ever, shook hands with my brother, their exchange brief but meaningful.

Hemma emerged from the house with Gibbard, her smile radiant. She pulled me into a warm embrace. "Thanks, Kathy dear! Have a good life out there," she said, her voice full of emotion. "Bye, Hemma," I replied, squeezing her tight. "Thanks for everything! You too, Uncle Gibbard, please look after her." He patted my head, smiling softly. "Sure, dear."

Next, it was Liam and Daisy. I didn't expect Daisy to tear up, but she did, and Liam was there, gently helping her with tissues. I hugged Daisy back, trying to comfort her. "It's okay, Daisy. Thanks for your support," I said, my voice steady despite the lump in my throat. Liam offered me our usual funny handshake, and I couldn't help but smile, even in the midst of the emotional goodbye.

Ryan was last. He looked at me with that familiar intensity, as if he were judging me, perhaps thinking I was going to say something too serious. "Ryan," I said, tapping his shoulder. "People will think you hate them if you keep staring at them like that." He opened his mouth to argue, but I hugged him before he could speak. "It's okay, Ryan," I said quietly. "I wish you would cry, laugh, and scream... open up your heart. I wish you nothing but happiness." As I winked at Damian, who was standing nearby, I saw him flinch, an unusual response from someone so composed. I couldn't help but find a little joy in seeing him caught off guard.

We all agreed to meet again at the end of next month, no matter where we were. It was a promise that felt both comforting and full of anticipation.

The plane we boarded was the same one that had brought us here five weeks ago. We took the same old seats, Karun and I, looking out the window as the plane began to ascend. The world below started shrinking—the mansion, the forest, Nirdweep Island, and all the fears and uncertainties that had been a part of our journey.

I glanced at Karun who's speaking. "I didn't expect you and Ryan to be so close," I said, raising an eyebrow.

Karun side-eyed me, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. "Huh! Maybe we are. What's wrong with that?" I replied

He chuckled. "Nah, just that I'm not sure when you guys became so close."

I started to say something but was cut off as he took the earphones from my hand, slipping them around his neck. I tried to get them back, but the air hostess warned me not to stand up yet. Karun stuck his tongue out at me in playful teasing, settling back into his seat. I leaned back in my own, my eyes drifting closed as sleep overtook me.

When we landed back in Velandria, everything felt different. We didn't go back to the old mansion. There were no more secrets, no more hiding. We were finally out in the open. The sense of freedom was overwhelming. It wasn't like before, when we'd been traveling in secrecy. This time, we were on a normal plane, surrounded by strangers, people who didn't know the weight of what we had just experienced.

I was relieved by the noise. After weeks of the eerie silence of the forest and the constant tension of the game, it felt good to hear the bustle of the real world again, even if it was just the hum of conversation on the plane.

Karun was sitting beside me, his head resting against my shoulder, and I couldn't help but reflect on everything we'd been through. Memories of the game flashed through my mind—how he had stepped in for me and took the shot, the moment I felt as if my whole world collapsed while he was bleeding, yet still managing to smile at me to show I was safe. He had been there through it all, my protector, my family.

We weren't twins, but there had always been an unspoken bond between us. I was a year younger.The truth was, even back then, my brother had always been there. He was the one who had stood by my crib when I was a baby, always coming to comfort me when I cried. He was my rock, even when we fought—something we did quite often. We weren't the picture-perfect siblings, but when it came down to it, we always had each other's backs.

I remembered the day he went to school for the first time. I had been so proud of him, even though he was the one struggling in the crowd of new faces and the chaos of the first day. I watched him from a distance, and when he turned to leave, something inside me broke. I didn't want him to go. I ran after him, even though I wasn't very good at running yet. I tripped, scraped my knee, but I didn't care. I needed to be with him. When I reached him, I refused to let go, holding him tight until my parents calmed me down.

It was moments like that—moments that shaped us—that reminded me why we were so close. It wasn't just about family. It was about being there for each other, through thick and thin. No matter where life took us, no matter how far we went, there would always be a part of me that would never let go of him.

As the plane continued its journey, I closed my eyes, feeling the steady beat of my heart, knowing that no matter where we went, Karun and I would always be in it together.