the truth(54)

(The memory fades, leaving only the dim glow of torches lighting the cavern walls. Dakota exhales slowly, feeling the weight of his past pressing down on him. His mind is racing—flashes of moments where he predicted events before they happened, his constant secrecy, and the creeping guilt that never left him.)

His friends stare at him, but he doesn't meet their eyes. He's thinking again.

Dakota (thinking):

"I've been avoiding this for so long. Hiding things. Keeping secrets. Always dodging questions. Always feeling guilty. Always thinking—'When should I tell them the truth?' 'When is the right time?' But… what if there is no right time? What if the moment I tell them, everything just falls apart?"

His hands tighten into fists at his sides.

Dakota (thinking):

"I've been so careful. So damn careful. But even now, I'm suspicious of them. Of Ava, Lucas, Liam, Mia… even my own friends. What if they aren't who they seem? What if—what if they're reincarnated, too? What if they remember things I don't? What if…"

He shakes his head, forcing the thoughts away. He couldn't let himself go down that path. He couldn't start doubting them—not yet. If he did, he'd lose everything before he even had a chance to make things right.

Henry (crossing his arms, staring at Dakota):

"Ah, so that's what you were thinking when you were dodging our questions and acting all secret-like. You were feeling guilty."

Dakota (closing his eyes for a moment, then nodding):

"Yes, I was feeling guilty, you know. I never meant—I mean, I always felt guilty. I wanted to tell you the secrets, but I didn't know what the consequences would be like. So I just decided to hide it until the right time came for it."

There's a heavy silence. Jack, Amelia, and Luna exchange glances, waiting to see how Henry will respond. Finally, Henry sighs and shakes his head, giving Dakota a knowing look.

Henry (calmly):

"You made the right choice, Dakota. It was the right choice."

Dakota (nodding, almost to himself):

"I know."

Jack (raising an eyebrow, smirking slightly):

"So, what now? You gonna tell us all your secrets?"

Dakota (grinning, but it's tired):

"Hell no."

Luna (crossing her arms):

"Figured."

Amelia (sighing):

"Well, the memories are done now, so, boom. Now what do we do?"

Just as Henry and the others are about to answer, a shift in the air makes them all freeze. A strange energy crackles around them, and suddenly—

Ava, Lucas, Liam, and Mia stir.

Their eyes snap open.

For a long, tense moment, none of them speak. They sit up slowly, their breathing uneven, their eyes darting around the cavern before all of them land on one person.

Dakota.

The unreadable expressions in their eyes make his stomach twist. It's the kind of look that makes his suspicions stir again—the kind of look that makes him wonder just how much they know.

Henry, Jack, Amelia, and Luna exchange quick glances.

Luna (whispering to the others):

"We should probably get out."

Jack (nodding, stepping back slightly):

"Yeah. I agree."

Henry (glancing at Dakota, then back at the others):

"Let's just go. We'll leave you guys to it."

Dakota doesn't even look at them. His gaze is locked onto Ava, Lucas, Liam, and Mia, who still haven't said a word.

Dakota (quietly, exhaling):

"Well… I guess we'll have a long talk now."

(The cavern is silent. The others have left, leaving only Dakota and the four who had just awoken. The tension in the air is suffocating, and Dakota doesn't know who should speak first. Finally, it's Ava who breaks the silence.)

Ava (softly, but firm):

"Dakota."

Dakota (not looking away):

"Yeah?"

Lucas (his voice unreadable):

"How long have you known?"

Dakota (pausing, then tilting his head slightly):

"Known what?"

Liam (his eyes narrowing slightly):

"Don't play dumb."

Mia finally speaks, her voice almost too quiet to hear.

Mia (staring at Dakota, eyes sharp):

"You've been hiding things. Since the beginning."

Dakota sighs, running a hand through his hair. He knew this was coming, but still, facing it head-on made it so much worse.

Dakota (quietly):

"Yeah. I have."

Ava (her eyes glinting):

"So… how much do you know?"

Dakota hesitates. He doesn't want to answer that question. Not yet. Not when he still doesn't know what's going on in their heads.

Dakota (thinking):

"Are they testing me? Do they already know the answer? Or are they just trying to see if I'll lie?"

He shakes his head. It doesn't matter. He's already in this mess—no use pretending anymore.

Dakota (exhaling, meeting their gazes evenly):

"A lot."

The moment he says it, the tension in the cavern seems to shift. Something unspoken passes between the four of them. Dakota watches their reactions closely, analyzing every detail.

Mia looks relieved. Liam looks… almost amused. Lucas just nods, like he already knew. And Ava… Ava looks like she's been expecting this for a long time.

Ava (crossing her arms, smirking slightly):

"Well. Took you long enough to admit it."

Dakota (raising an eyebrow):

"Oh? And what exactly have I admitted?"

Liam (laughing under his breath):

"That you're not normal. That you're hiding things. That you've known things you shouldn't have known for a long, long time."

Dakota (thinking):

"…Shit."

For a moment, Dakota wonders if he should just tell them everything now. Spill every secret. Every memory. Every reason why he's the way he is.

But then he remembers.

The moment he tells them, everything changes.

And he's not ready for that yet.

Not yet.

Dakota (sighing, rubbing his temple):

"Alright. Fine. You caught me. I know things. I've been hiding things. Big deal."

Lucas (grinning slightly):

"Yeah, it is a big deal."

Ava (smirking):

"And we'll be getting those answers from you. Right nos."

Dakota just shakes his head, exhaling heavily.

Dakota (quietly, to himself):

"Yeah. You will be getting it right now"

But then he spoke, he knew that they already know the truth.

" You guys already know the truth, so why do you need the answer."