Through The Shadows

"I just need some fresh air."

That was all Evelyn said before disappearing from Riley's sight. But then, hours have already passed with no sign of her. Neither was she answering her calls.

It was only natural for Riley to panic. Especially with Evelyn being weird all day. Not to talk of her being the star of the event. Her abscence was soon noticed by the others, and they immediately lurch out in search for her.

The search stretched on for almost 3 hours. The group combing through the woods with flashlights, and calling her name into the subtle darkness. The chilling air carried no response, only the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant hoots of owls. Riley's worry deepened with every passing moment.

For some reason, the moonlight seem to get brighter than usual every passing minute. Riley's mind could only go back on Evelyn's narrated dreams. And this seem to fuel her anxiety.

They were supposed to be out there in twos for the search. But she was too worried about Evelyn than herself, that she walked into the dense woods by herself.

Hurring through the shadowry forest, her heart stopped when she stumbled upon Evelyn's phone lying on the ground near an upturned patch of dirt. She bent down, picking it up with trembling fingers. The screen was cracked, smeared with what looked like mud— or was it blood? A cold wave of dread washed over her as she clutched it tightly to her chest. Justifying the reason for her anxiety.

"Something's wrong," Riley whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over the faint rustle of the wind.

She raced back to find the others. Fortunately, they were not far from each other. And their deviced means of finding each other was pretty helpful, reaching out to those who seemed to have wandered a bit further.

The group's resolve to find Evelyn strengthened after Riley showed them the phone, but as the hours passed and the woods yielded no sign of her, exhaustion began to creep in. Reluctantly, the search party returned to the campsite, their faces heavy with worry and defeat.

Back at the campsite, Riley paced anxiously. Every time someone emerged from the woods in pairs, she would rush to them, hope flickering in her eyes.

"Did you find her? Please tell me you found her!" she would ask, her voice laced with desperation as her eyes searched over their shoulders. But every response was the same— a solemn shake of the head and averted eyes.

By the time the group had fully regrouped at the campsite, the tension was palpable. Their conversations were low and worried, and everyone avoided saying the worst aloud.

Then, someone gasped.

All heads deftly turned toward the edge of the woods, where a figure emerged. The moonlight illuminated Evelyn, her form hunch but steady as she walked toward the group. Relief and disbelief wave through the crowd as murmurs broke out.

"Evelyn!" Riley's voice cracked as she bolted toward her. She reached her friend in seconds, wrapping her arms tightly around her. The warmth of Evelyn's body, solid and alive, filled Riley with a surge of relief. So intense it brought tears to her eyes.

"Oh my God, are you okay? What happened? Where were you?" She asked, checking her up.

But before Evelyn could even answer the questions, Riley's eyes settled on the man standing silently a few steps behind her, his looks calm and sharp features unreadable.

"Who is this guy?" She asked, her gaze still fixed on him.

Evelyn hesitated, her eyes flickering to Kael. His golden gaze swept over the group but remained silent. His gaze not giving much away.

"I— I'm okay," Evelyn finally said, her voice hoarse and quiet. "I just... I got lost in the woods. But Kael here, found me and helped me get back." She added, glancing briefly at Kael in a form of introduction.

Riley pulled back just enough to look her in the eyes, her hands gripping Evelyn's shoulders tightly. "Lost? Evelyn, we combed everywhere for you! Do you have any idea how worried we all were?" Her gaze shifted briefly to Kael, suspicion flaring in her expression. "And how did he find you when we couldn't?"

Kael stepped forward, his presence commanding attention despite his silence. "I was passing through when I heard her," he simply said, his voice calm but firm. "She was hurt and disoriented. I helped her get back to safety."

The group exchanged wary glances, clearly unsettled by Kael's sudden appearance. Riley's eyes narrowed, her protective instincts kicking in. "Disoriented? Hurt? Evelyn, what's going on? Did something happen out there?"

Evelyn swallowed hard, the weight of Kael's earlier revelations pressing heavily on her. She opened her mouth to respond but hesitated, unsure of what to say. She couldn't tell her the truth— not yet.

Before she could think of anything, Riley leaned closer to her ear "Did he kidnapped you?" She whispered, her gaze lingering on Kael.

"What?" Evelyn muttered, "What makes you think so?" She added, as she glanced at Kael.

"Because he looks like he would." Riley snapped.

"Come on Rile, it's just that I... I tripped and fell," she lied, her voice faltering. "I must've hit my head or something. It's all a blur."

Riley frowned, clearly unconvinced. But she didn't press further. Instead, she glanced at Kael again, her posture stiff. "Well, thank you for helping her," she said cautiously, though her tone lacked warmth.

Kael dipped his head slightly in acknowledgment. "You should keep an eye on her," he said, his eyes locking with Riley's. "She's been through more than she's letting on."

Kael stepped back as Riley embraced Evelyn tightly, his gaze sweeping over the gathered group. The tension in the air was palpable as everyone regarded him with suspicion. Kael, however, seemed unfazed.

"I've done my part," he said to himself. "She's safe now."

With that, he turned away, his movements fluid and deliberate as he headed back into the woods, but this time his path veered toward the resort on the other side of the camp.

Evelyn caught a glimpse of him disappearing into the shadows and felt an odd pang of unease. Her mind raced as she recalled his words from earlier: "You're in danger, and if you want to survive, you'll need to trust me."

"Wait," she blurted, stepping forward slightly. Riley's grip tightened on her arm, pulling her back.

"Evelyn, let him go," Riley insisted, her tone firm but gentle. "Whoever he is, he's not our problem now. You are."

Evelyn hesitated, her gaze lingering on the spot where Kael had disappeared. Part of her wanted to follow him, to demand answers she knew she wouldn't get in front of her friends. But another part of her— the part still reeling from everything that had happened— knew Riley was right.

As Kael's silhouette faded into the distance, the group slowly began to relax. Riley turned to Evelyn, her expression softening.

"Evelyn, talk to me. What's really going on? Who was that guy? And why do I feel like you're not telling me everything?"

Evelyn lowered her gaze, guilt twisting in her chest. "I'll explain," she whispered. "Just... not here. Not now."

Riley studied her for a long moment before sighing, and pulled her into another hug. "Fine. But you're not leaving my sight for the rest of the night, okay?"

Evelyn nodded, her heart heavy with secrets she wasn't ready to share. For now, all she could do was hold on to the fragile sense of safety she felt among her friends. Even as the weight of her newfound identity loomed over her like a dark shadow.

"Come on," Riley said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Let's get you cleaned up and warm. You're safe now."

Evelyn lips curled into a wry smile , allowing Riley to guide her back to the campsite. But even as her friends surrounded her with concern and questions, her thoughts remained on Kael and the cryptic warnings he'd given her.

But among all this, one thought still holds. "Why didn't her mother say anything about this?"

She understands she doesn't want to talk about her father, probably because he left them. But now this? She doesn't even know what to think.