Unspoken Truths

Alex led the way down the dim corridor, his steps quiet but deliberate. Kaia followed a few paces behind, her eyes scanning the shadows. Neither spoke, the tension of their earlier encounter still hanging in the air.

They eventually found a room that seemed stable enough for the night. The windows were mostly intact, and the door could be wedged shut with some of the debris scattered around. A few old mattresses lay in a corner, their fabric worn but still usable.

Kaia moved toward one of the mattresses and tested it with her foot. "Seen worse," she muttered, dropping her pack beside it.

She glanced at Alex, who was standing by the door, his knife still in hand.

"You planning to stand guard all night?" she asked, her tone light but probing.

Alex hesitated before setting the knife down within reach. "Old habit," he said simply. He dragged another mattress to the opposite side of the room and sat down, his back against the wall.

Kaia shrugged and plopped down on her mattress. She stretched her legs out, leaning back on her elbows. "You're a real conversationalist, aren't you?"

Alex gave her a sidelong glance. "I'm not here to make friends."

She smirked faintly. "Good. Neither am I."

The silence that followed wasn't uncomfortable, just heavy with unspoken thoughts. The faint light from the window cast long shadows across the room, and the sound of wind rustling through the trees outside filled the quiet.

Kaia rummaged through her pack and pulled out a small, crumpled energy bar. She tore it open and took a bite, chewing slowly as she glanced at Alex. After a moment, she held it out to him.

"Want some?"

Alex blinked, surprised. He shook his head. "I'm good."

Kaia shrugged and took another bite. "Suit yourself."

Alex leaned back against the wall, his eyes scanning the room. Despite himself, a faint sense of ease crept in. 

Kaia finished her snack and lay down fully, folding her arms behind her head. "You know," she said after a moment, "this place might not be half-bad if it weren't falling apart."

Alex glanced at her, the corner of his mouth twitching in a brief smile. "If it weren't falling apart, it wouldn't be empty."

"Fair point," she said with a chuckle.

The two lapsed into silence again, the edges of their mutual wariness softening just a little. As the light outside faded and the room grew darker, Kaia yawned and rolled onto her side, pulling her pack closer as a pillow.

"I'll take the first watch," Alex said quietly, his voice breaking the stillness.

Kaia looked at him, her brow furrowing. "You sure?"

"Yeah," he replied. "Get some rest."

She hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. Wake me if you hear anything."

Alex gave a slight nod, his gaze already fixed on the doorway. Kaia closed her eyes, her breathing evening out as sleep claimed her quickly.

For a while, Alex sat in the darkness, his knife within reach and his thoughts churning. But the quiet of the room and the presence of someone else—however temporary—were enough to steady him and get him away from his dark thoughts. Looking back at Kaya, he told himself " Tomorrow, they'd talk." After 5 hours or so, he went and gave Kaya a slight nudge, she woke up startled and almost hit him in the face. Hey Hey, slow down woman. Alex said. Ups! Sorry! She said. I didn't want to act this way, it's that I had a bad dream. Alex looking at her, nodded. I get it, I also have these kinds of dreams. 

So it's my turn to take the watch. Kaya said and he nodded, looking tired. 

Ok, take care and get some sleep, you are starting to look like those things outside, escaping a light chuckle.

The morning sunlight streamed through the cracks in the shelter's walls as Alex and Kaia sat on opposite sides of the small fire. The scent of their meager breakfast—a mix of foraged roots and canned food—filled the air. They ate in silence at first, the only sound the occasional crackle of the fire.

Kaia glanced up at Alex, her expression thoughtful. "So," she began, breaking the silence, "about that explosion yesterday. You said it wasn't entirely you, but you were involved. What happened?"

Alex tensed, his gaze dropping to his food. The memories of Carter, the bridge, and the kids were still too fresh, like an open wound that refused to heal. He stabbed his fork into a piece of canned meat and said nothing.

Kaia pressed on, her tone less demanding and more curious. "Look, I'm not trying to pry for no reason. It's just… if there's danger, I need to know what I'm walking into. I've survived this long by not getting caught in other people's messes."

Alex sighed, his grip on the fork tightening. He could feel her eyes on him, waiting for an answer, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, he focused on the fire, the flames dancing in chaotic patterns that mirrored the storm in his mind.

"I don't want to talk about it," he said finally, his voice low and firm.

Kaia raised an eyebrow, clearly not satisfied. "You said that last night. But if you're keeping secrets, how am I supposed to trust you?"

At that, Alex looked up, his eyes sharp. "Trust isn't something I'm handing out right now," he said.

Kaia leaned back, crossing her arms. "Fair enough," she said, though her tone suggested otherwise. "Then let's change the subject. How about you explain why you're so hell-bent on avoiding this conversation?"

Alex's jaw tightened. The thought of Carter's betrayal, the kids tied up in that van, and the bridge exploding flashed through his mind. But what hit him hardest was the memory of Nora—her lifeless body and the promise he couldn't keep.

"You wouldn't understand," he muttered.

Kaia scoffed. "Try me."

Before Kaia could push further, Alex straightened up, locking eyes with her. "What about you?" he asked, deflecting. "How'd you end up here? You were quick to dodge that question last night."

Kaia hesitated, caught off guard by the sudden shift. "I told you—I've been moving around," she said vaguely.

"That's not an answer," Alex said, narrowing his eyes.

Kaia sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Fine. I was with a group before this. People I trusted. Or thought I did. But things fell apart—like they always do."

"What happened?" Alex pressed.

Kaia hesitated, the tension in her posture clear. "People changed," she said finally. "We all wanted the same thing—survival—but everyone had a different idea of what that meant. The lines got crossed. Things got messy."

Alex studied her, recognizing the guarded look in her eyes. It was the same look he'd seen in his own reflection countless times. "And now you're alone," he said.

Kaia nodded. "It's better that way. Fewer people to lose."

The words hit Alex harder than he expected. He looked away, staring into the fire. "Yeah," he said quietly. "I get that."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The fire crackled between them, filling the silence with its steady rhythm.

Kaia leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "Look, Alex," she said, her voice softer now. "I'm not trying to pry into your life. But if we're going to keep traveling together, we need to be on the same page. Whatever happened with that explosion, whoever you're running from or after—I need to know if it's going to get me killed."

Alex glanced at her, seeing the sincerity in her expression. He thought about the kids, still out there somewhere, and the promise he'd made to protect them. Kaia didn't deserve to be dragged into his mess, but she was right—they needed to trust each other if they were going to survive.

"I'll tell you," he said finally. "Just… not now."

Kaia studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. But don't wait too long, Alex. Secrets have a way of catching up with you."

Alex nodded, though he wasn't sure he believed his own words. As Kaia began cleaning up their makeshift breakfast, he stared into the flames, wondering how much longer he could keep running from his past.