the truth(55)

The cavern was still heavy with silence. The echoes of Dakota's words still hung in the air, wrapping around all of them like an unshakable chain.

Then, suddenly—

Lucas moved.

Everyone watched, stunned, as he took a deep breath, then slowly lowered himself to the ground, pressing his forehead against the cold stone floor. He bowed.

Dakota's eyes widened slightly, but he said nothing as Lucas' voice rang through the stillness.

Lucas (voice shaking, filled with regret):

"Dakota… I was wrong. I was so damn wrong. I should've believed you from the start. Lisa—Lisa was a monster, and I was too blind to see it. Because of her, I made you suffer. I got you in so much trouble. And worse—I didn't see the truth until it was too late."

Lucas clenched his fists against the ground, his whole body trembling.

Lucas (softly, voice breaking):

"And because of her… I died."

The words cut through the air like a blade.

Dakota exhaled, his expression unreadable. He stared down at Lucas for a long moment, before finally, he spoke—his voice quieter than usual.

Dakota (softly):

"I'm sorry too, Lucas. I never thought Lisa would actually end up killing you. I regret it. I regret not saving you."

The weight of the confession settled between them, heavy and suffocating.

Then, in unison, Ava, Liam, and Mia stepped forward. And—shockingly—they all bowed down as well.

Dakota's breath caught in his throat. He wasn't expecting this.

Ava, always the proud one, was lowering her head. Mia, always reserved, was humbling herself. And Liam—Liam, who once punched Dakota in blind rage—was now bowing before him.

Ava (clenching her fists, voice filled with guilt):

"Dakota… I'm sorry. I said things back then—harsh things. I blamed you. I hated you. And I was wrong. I was so fucking wrong."

Mia, beside her, nodded, her voice softer but just as heavy.

Mia (voice shaking slightly):

"I'm sorry too. For everything. For all the times I doubted you. For not seeing the truth sooner."

Liam hesitated before speaking, his voice unusually quiet.

Liam (gritting his teeth):

"And me… I… Damn it, Dakota. I hit you. I fucking hit you. I never meant to. I swear I never meant to."

He raised his head slightly, eyes filled with an emotion Dakota couldn't quite place.

Liam (quietly, almost whispering):

"That should've never happened. In our past life—that damn bitch Lisa manipulated us. Manipulated all of us. And because of her, we lost everything. We lost our friendship. We lost Michael."

His voice cracked on that last word.

The name—Michael—the name of Dakota's first life.

Dakota inhaled sharply, his fingers curling into fists.

Ava (voice dripping with venom):

"I will never forgive her. Never. I want to rip her apart. How dare she break us? How dare she destroy Michael? If only we hadn't gotten manipulated. If only…"

Her voice trailed off into bitter silence.

Dakota looked at them—truly looked at them.

For so long, he had buried his emotions. For so long, he had refused to acknowledge the pain of the past. He thought it didn't matter anymore—that nothing would change even if he did.

But now, standing before them—seeing their regret, their sorrow, their hatred toward Lisa—he finally understood something.

They had suffered, too.

They had been broken, just like he had.

And now, in this new life, they were trying to make things right.

Dakota exhaled slowly, his voice steady and certain.

Dakota (calmly):

"Don't worry, guys. We'll kill her."

There was a beat of silence.

Then, Dakota frowned slightly, as if realizing something.

Dakota (grinning slightly):

"Oh, wait. No, we can't. We have other things to deal with first."

The others tensed.

Liam (narrowing his eyes):

"Other things?"

Dakota turned toward Lucas, his expression unreadable.

Dakota (calmly):

"Lucas, you're one of them, aren't you?"

Lucas flinched.

For a moment, he said nothing. But then—he exhaled sharply, letting out a bitter chuckle.

Lucas (softly):

"So… you figured it out, huh?"

Dakota (smirking slightly):

"I had my suspicions."

Lucas was silent for a moment. Then, finally, he spoke.

Lucas (low voice):

"Tell me something, Dakota. If you suspected me of being Ethan in our past life… then why? Why did you pair me up against Lisa? Why would you put me against her, knowing what I was?"

Dakota tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering in his eyes.

Dakota (grinning):

"Why not?"

Lucas blinked.

Dakota (shrugging):

"You had to get your revenge, right? So, I decided to pair you up against her. You should be the one to kill her with your own hands, since she killed you first."

There was silence.

Then—Lucas laughed.

Lucas (laughing darkly):

"Goddamn it, Dakota. You're so evil."

His laughter echoed through the cavern, sharp and bitter and filled with something dangerously close to joy.

Lucas (grinning wildly, eyes gleaming with madness):

"But I'll take it. I want to rip that bitch apart with my own hands. And I will."

Dakota smirked.

Dakota (calmly):

"Well, that's great."

The atmosphere had shifted. The weight of the past still lingered, but now—there was a new energy in the air.

A determination.

A hunger for vengeance.

Dakota (serious tone):

"Now, let's all split up. The war is about to begin soon, and we need to get ready."

The others nodded, their expressions hardening.

They had unfinished business.

And soon—soon, the world would burn.

As the group dispersed, preparing for the coming battle, Dakota stood still for a moment, staring at the cavern ceiling.

His mind was racing.

This reunion… it was something he never expected.

The past had finally caught up to him.

But now, for the first time in a long time—he didn't feel so alone.

A slow, dangerous smile spread across his lips.

"Lisa… you thought you won. You thought you destroyed us."

"But you were wrong."

"We're still here."

"And this time—you won't escape."

With that final thought, Dakota turned and walked away—into the darkness, where war awaited. And he laughed, a laugh that was filled with Anger and thirst for revenge.