Chapter 24: "Shadows of the Past"

The fire had long since died down, and the quiet of the night wrapped around the camp like a heavy blanket. The crew had settled in for the night, finding what little comfort they could in the confines of the forest clearing. Ellie lay on her makeshift bedroll, her mind restless, as usual. The weight of the events—of Thomas being taken, of Cane's betrayal—kept her awake, unable to find peace in the silence.

She glanced around, seeing the others sleeping in varying positions, but one figure was missing. Raine, who had been acting colder than usual, was nowhere to be seen. Ellie frowned. She hadn't noticed her leave, but then again, she hadn't really been paying attention.

Ellie's curiosity got the best of her, and after a moment's hesitation, she quietly slipped from her bedroll. The night air was cool against her skin as she stood up, careful not to disturb the others. She moved softly, her eyes scanning the darkened surroundings. It wasn't like Raine to wander off, especially not after everything they had been through.

The forest was eerily quiet, the only sound being the soft rustling of leaves. Ellie moved slowly, her footsteps light, until she spotted a figure standing just ahead, silhouetted against the dim light of the moon. Raine. She was standing still, staring out into the distance at some unseen view.

Ellie stopped in her tracks, not wanting to startle her, but the curiosity burned. What was Raine doing out here alone?

"Raine?" Ellie called softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

The girl stiffened but didn't turn around. She stood there for a long moment before responding, her voice low and controlled. "Can't sleep."

Ellie, always the empathetic one, took a step closer. "I can see that. Is everything okay?"

Raine didn't answer immediately. Instead, she gave a short, bitter laugh. "Does it look okay?"

Ellie hesitated. She wasn't sure what to say, how to reach Raine, but she could tell that something was weighing on her. Raine wasn't the type to open up, but Ellie could sense that the walls around her were finally starting to crack.

"I've been through a lot, Ellie," Raine continued, her tone colder than before, though it held a trace of something deeper. "More than you could possibly understand."

Ellie stayed silent, not wanting to push too hard. She simply nodded, giving Raine space. It was rare for the girl to show any vulnerability. But as the minutes ticked by, Raine finally sighed, the sound of it heavy with pain.

"His name was Luke," Raine said suddenly, her voice barely audible in the night. "I... I loved him."

Ellie's heart skipped a beat, surprised by the admission. She had no idea Raine had ever been in love. She stayed quiet, letting Raine continue at her own pace.

Raine took a deep breath, her fists clenched at her sides. "He was everything I wasn't. Kind. Gentle. He didn't care about the world or its cruelty. He just wanted to live... to love, without fear of what people thought."

Ellie remained still, waiting, sensing that Raine was leading up to something painful. Her intuition was right.

"He died," Raine's voice cracked slightly, and she turned her gaze away from Ellie, staring at the moonlit landscape. "They killed him. Took him from me, just because he didn't fit their ideals. Because he wasn't what they wanted. He was a threat to their power."

Ellie's breath caught in her throat. She'd never imagined that Raine's past held such darkness, that her coldness came from a place of such deep loss. She stepped forward, slowly, her voice gentle.

"I'm so sorry, Raine," Ellie said, her voice quiet but sincere.

Raine shook her head, her eyes bitter as she looked at the ground. "You don't need to be sorry. You didn't do it. But it doesn't change the fact that... that I couldn't save him. I couldn't protect him from them. And now, I can't protect anyone."

Ellie's heart went out to her, the rough edges of Raine's personality now making so much more sense. She wasn't just tough—she was broken.

Raine let out a shaky breath, her posture stiff as she turned back to face Ellie. "So, I built walls around myself. I pushed everyone away. No one gets close enough to hurt me again. That's how I survive."

Ellie watched her for a long moment, feeling the weight of Raine's words settle between them. She understood now, more than ever, why Raine was the way she was. The girl wasn't just a hardened warrior; she was someone who had been shattered by the world and was trying desperately not to break again.

"You don't have to push me away, Raine," Ellie said softly, her voice full of compassion. "You don't have to carry all that alone."

Raine let out a bitter laugh, but this time it lacked its usual venom. "Maybe... maybe it's easier this way."

Ellie took another step closer, her gaze steady and understanding. "It's not easy, Raine. It's lonely."

For a long moment, Raine said nothing. Then, her voice, barely a whisper, cracked through the quiet. "I don't know how to let anyone in again, Ellie."

Ellie's heart went out to her, and she stepped closer, her hand resting gently on Raine's shoulder. "You don't have to figure it out all at once. Just... take it one step at a time. I'm here, whenever you need."

Raine stood there for a moment, the weight of her grief hanging heavy in the air. Finally, she nodded stiffly. "Thanks," she muttered.

Ellie smiled softly, a flicker of hope in her chest. Maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something new for Raine.