Deception within

(Lina)

I sat beside Kieran, my hands clutching his. He still hadn't woken up, and the guilt that gnawed at me felt unbearable. His face was pale, his breathing shallow but steady. 

The faint rise and fall of his chest was the only thing keeping me focused. I squeezed his hand gently, hoping for some sort of response, but there was none.

"I'm sorry," I whispered. My voice cracked, and a tear slipped down my cheek. "This is all my fault. You shouldn't have been hurt because of me."

As if on cue, the familiar, cold voice of the system echoed in my mind.

'Lina, it is time for your next task.'

I tensed, my eyes darting around the room, though I knew no one else could hear it. "What now?" I muttered under my breath, hoping no one nearby noticed me talking to myself.