"The Weight of Silence (part 1)"

It began to rain heavily at that moment. It was summer, a time of hot weather and torrential downpours—a deluge that transformed the trail they had taken into a river of mud.

Evelyn guided the horse with difficulty, its hooves sinking into the mud with every step. Leo clung to her waist, his large frame, weakened and weary, pressed against her back.

His cheek lightly touched her shoulder as his head lolled forward in shock. Every time the horse jolted, he groaned softly, but instead of complaining, he just managed to hang on with what little strength he still had.

The cool rain contrasted sharply with the warmth of his body as Evelyn felt his ragged breath against her neck.

A wave of worry washed over her. He was at his limit. "Hold on, Leo," she whispered, more to herself than to him. "We're almost there." She tightened the reins, urging the horse onward.

The image of Liam's mangled body reminded her of the importance of taking care of Leo at that moment. "He needs a real rest," she thought. "If this guy breaks now, if he gives up... we're all screwed."

Why did she think that? She didn't know, but she felt it. "Could I be falling for this guy?" she wondered, somehow sensing their fates were continuing to intertwine.

They had been riding for almost an hour, and the rain showed no signs of stopping. Leo was shivering from cold and exhaustion, and Evelyn feared he might pass out at any moment. 

They needed to find shelter soon. It was then that she spotted an indentation on the side of a hill, almost hidden by a curtain of water formed by a small waterfall due to the heavy rain.

"There, that should do," she said, pointing with her head. "Let's stop."

With some difficulty, she helped Leo dismount. With his legs shaky, he stumbled and nearly fell if she had not grabbed him. "Be careful," she said, guiding him into the cave. "How did you get so exhausted like this? Did you use your ELEV that much? Do you want to die?" she protested as she supported Leo.

The cave was damp and dark, the floor uneven and rough. But it was dry, and that was all that mattered. Evelyn managed, without much effort, to light a small fire with twigs and flint from the survival kit. Even though everything was slightly damp, she was an experienced rogue in the field from a very young age.

The light of the flames revealed a modest space, with stalactites hanging from the ceiling and an underground stream flowing through one corner. She moved away from the dripping water and found a good spot for both of them.

Exhausted, Leo leaned against the cave wall and sat down heavily, closing his eyes. His shoulder hurt so bad it was nearly intolerable, and his entire body ached. He had been thrown several yards and had landed badly.

Evelyn observed him for a moment, then began to examine his injuries, her face serious. She found it.

"I need to put your shoulder back in place," she said, her voice soft but firm. "It's going to hurt... like hell..."

Leo opened his eyes, confused. "What...?"

"Your shoulder. It's dislocated." She indicated with her head. "I need to put it back in place."

He nodded, too weak to protest. Evelyn positioned herself beside him, holding his arm firmly. "This is going to hurt," she repeated and pulled hard.

Leo screamed, his body convulsing with excruciating pain. His fingers curled like springs, stretching and contracting. It failed; he tensed up too much. After a few seconds, he fainted, which made it easier for Evelyn, who continued to check his shoulder calmly. This time, she pulled and twisted, feeling the bone snap back into place with a muffled pop. Leo didn't even moan or wake up. When she finished, she sighed in relief.

The pain in her own wrist was a constant reminder of the danger they had faced. She examined her wrist, now swollen and bruised. She needed a moment to recover too. "When was the last time I was hurt this badly? Can't remember..." she thought.

While Leo slept, curled up near the small dancing fire, Evelyn tended to his wounds as best she could, using what was left of the kit and some herbs she recognized growing near the cave entrance. 

She cleaned the cuts with water from the stream and applied a paste made with the herbs and regenerative potion, hoping it would help prevent infection. She was a little apprehensive; after all, she wasn't a healer; she only had her experience over the few years as an Equalizer.

After finishing the dressings, she watched him sleep. The dim firelight softened his features. He looked so young, so vulnerable... and yet he had fought with a ferocity that surprised her. A lock of dark hair fell over his forehead with the breeze that entered the cave. 

Without thinking, Evelyn leaned forward, intending to brush the hair from his eyes. Her fingers gently touched his skin, and she stopped, her breath suspended. She was close—too close, very close. She could feel the warmth of his body and hear his slow, regular breathing. She thought about going further but stopped herself. She wanted to lean in even more, but her superego held her back.

Evelyn pulled away abruptly, as if she had been burned. What was she thinking? He was just a guy, a wounded and traumatized guy who needed her help, not... whatever that was. She shook her head, trying to clear her confused thoughts. She got up, grabbed the canteen, and went out to get some water.

As the water filled the container, she looked out of the cave at the falling rain. "It seems like this rain will wash away all the bitterness we've suffered," she thought.

The mission wasn't a complete failure, but grief could destroy even the strongest. She thought of her own grief, the pain that had consumed her years ago. She shut her eyes, inhaling deeply, attempting to cast aside the memories, but it proved futile. The pain lingered, quietly waiting, poised to emerge at any time.

When she returned, Leo was waking up, moaning in pain. "What... where...?" He glanced around, feeling a bit lost, and noticed her by the fire, facing away from him. The flickering firelight and the patter of rain outside cast an unsettling atmosphere over the room.

"You're awake. Drink this." She handed him the canteen with water and a piece of dried meat.

"Liam...?" The memory of his death struck him sharply in the temple. His eyes filled with tears, but he held them back, blinking rapidly.

"He's gone. I'm sorry." Her tone was low, heavy with grief.

Leo didn't say anything. He just took the canteen and drank in silence, sniffing twice. He ate the meat afterward, but it was like chewing sand. The food had no taste, and he only ate to stay alive.

"The incursion... was successful," Evelyn said after a long silence. "But Fleshripper escaped, wounded." She avoided mentioning that she hadn't found the rest of the incursion party. She didn't want to overload him further; after all, she had no information.

"He... he took Liam's life," Leo whispered, his voice trembling with sorrow. He clenched his fists, consumed by rage and helplessness.

"I know. I'm sorry," Evelyn repeated. She gently rested her hand on the back of his neck as a gesture of support. She sensed the tightness in his muscles, the suppressed anger he struggled to contain.

"I'm going back to Besen," Leo said suddenly, his voice weak but determined.

"Besen? Why?" She looked at him, surprised.

"I need... I need to see it with my own eyes." He couldn't explain, but the need to return was like a calling, something he had to do. "I need to put an end to this." He felt that his past was holding him back somehow.

The following morning, the rain had transformed into a gentle drizzle. Leo rose gradually, his body aching yet his mind was set on his goals. He experienced a profound emptiness, a hollowness, as if a part of him had been torn away with Liam's life.

"I'll go with you to the road," Evelyn said seriously. "Then, I'll go my own way."

"Thank you... for everything." He looked at her, and for a moment, he saw or thought he saw the shadow of a smile along with the dimple... He blinked, confused, a strange nostalgia consuming him.

Evelyn offered a slight, almost imperceptible smile. "Don't thank me. Just... survive."

They left the cave. Leo looked back one last time at the darkness swallowing the almost extinguished fire, as if searching for something among the ashes, that laughter that had followed him in recent days, perhaps the last vestige of hope fading away. Then, with a sigh, he turned.

On the road, Evelyn helped him mount the horse. He was too weak to climb up alone. His body felt incredibly heavy, and each movement triggered sharp waves of discomfort throughout his muscles.

"Be careful, Leo," she said, handing him the reins. Evelyn's eyes, for a brief moment, revealed genuine concern, but they quickly closed, as if she were keeping her feelings to herself.

"You too," he replied, holding the reins firmly. Their fingers touched, and he felt a strange electric current run through his arm. He ignored it, attributing the sensation to tiredness and tension.

They looked at each other for a long moment, a silence charged with unspoken emotions, shared losses, and newfound determination.