Old Fears Resurface

A faint scuff of boots alerted her. She opened her eyes to see Kai approaching with measured caution. He offered a small nod, as if testing if she wanted company. She exhaled slowly, gesturing for him to come closer.

"Are you okay?" he asked, voice laced with concern.

She shrugged, swallowing the tightness in her throat. "Just needed to breathe. Every time I think we're moving forward—like with the farmland success—something drags us back. This rumor about Jace reinforcing his band…" She trailed off, eyes flicking to the orchard branches overhead.

Kai let out a slow breath, stopping a foot away. "Rumors aren't certainties, but we know him. He doesn't stay idle."

She nodded grimly. "Exactly. He's cunning. He might already have moles here. Or maybe not. But either way, I can't relax. Not while he's out there, reorganizing, building alliances. I've seen him do it once before, in the other…" She caught herself, remembering that not everyone knew about her literal second chance. But Kai knew. The tension in her voice told the story well enough.

He studied her face. "I get it. You can't let your guard down. Jace's betrayal… it killed you once. You can't forget that."

Her mouth twisted in a bitter half-smile. "I wish I could. But the memory's carved into me. It's not just fear of infiltration. It's the knowledge of what he's capable of. He turned on me so swiftly…" Her voice trembled. "I can't risk that again."

Kai reached out, brushing his fingertips lightly over her arm—an offer of comfort, not a demand. "Leila, you're not the same person you were back then. None of us are. And this time, you're not alone in anticipating his next move."

She swallowed, letting her gaze flick to the orchard's battered leaves rustling in a faint breeze. "I know. But every time I think about letting my guard down, letting myself feel safe, I remember how it ended last time."

Kai sighed. "And maybe that's wise. We keep vigilance. But we still need to live. The farmland expansions, the festival… they matter. They keep morale high, keep us unified."

She closed her eyes, a swirl of conflicting emotions churning within her. "I can't bury that fear. He's the reason I died once. The reason Ellie turned on me. I— If he's truly out there recruiting skilled fighters, he'll come eventually, won't he? The farmland, our success—he'll want it or destroy it."

Kai didn't flinch. "We'll be ready. Whatever he tries, we won't face it alone. You have Tamsin's watchers, Harriet's group, the orchard staff… they're all more motivated than ever now that they've tasted success. And you have me," he added gently. "I'm not Jace. I'm not Ellie. I won't betray you."

A grateful ache tangled in Leila's chest. She still wasn't ready to trust wholeheartedly, but the quiet certainty in his voice helped. "Thank you," she whispered, forcing a small smile to her lips. She wasn't naive enough to think that ended the matter—fear was a stubborn ghost. But maybe she could keep it from devouring her.

They wandered back from the orchard to find Rowan concluding his trade for a few rations, parted from them with cautious well-wishes, and left under the watchful eye of Tamsin's faction. He'd mentioned no further intel about Jace, only stories of ruin and desperation scattered across the land. Despite Tamsin's attempt to press for more details, Rowan insisted he was just a scavenger trying to survive, not a spy.

As he exited the gates, Mark sighed, rubbing his temple. "So Jace is reorganizing—no surprise. The question is when he'll make his next move."

Darren stared at the farmland beyond. "We keep building the outpost, keep watchers vigilant. At least Harriet's group is helping. They have reason to fear Jace too, if they're truly no part of his network."

Tamsin huffed. "Or they're just biding their time. But I won't argue right now. We have bigger concerns."

Leila listened to them, heart thudding with a subdued mix of dread and determination. She pressed a hand to her chest, remembering how swiftly Jace had turned on her. He can't do that again, she vowed silently. I won't let him. Her second chance had to count.

Night fell without further incident. Torches were lit, watchers posted. The orchard and farmland settled under the hush of another uncertain dark. People gathered around small fires, anxiously discussing the rumor of Jace's regrouping but finding solace in the harvest that still fed them well. In her quarters, Leila pored over maps, scrawling potential infiltration routes or vantage points. Better to plan than to be caught off guard.

She heard a soft knock and looked up to see Kai's silhouette in the doorway. "Sorry," he said, stepping in tentatively. "I was heading to my watch shift. Thought I'd check on you."

She exhaled, leaning back. "I'm okay. Just… can't shake the worry that we're on borrowed time. That Jace will bulldoze us once he's strong enough."

Kai approached the small table where her maps lay. "We have to use that time to fortify, unify. Harriet's group is on board, Tamsin's watchers are still watchful. We keep the farmland blossoming, the outpost rising."

She nodded. "It's all we can do. I just—I can't let my guard down, not for a second."

His gaze softened. "Doesn't mean you have to lock yourself away from everything. The festival was proof we can have fleeting moments of normalcy. You deserve that."

A pang of regret tugged at her. She recalled nearly dancing with him, only to flee. The swirl of longing and fear had consumed her. "Maybe next time… I won't run," she murmured, a faint catch in her voice. "But while Jace is out there, every step feels precarious."

Kai gave a small, understanding nod. "If you need anything—help, an ear, a reminder that not everyone turns out like Jace—just ask."

She swallowed back the lump in her throat. "Thank you. For everything."

His lips curved in a gentle smile. Then he turned to leave, watch shift awaiting him. The door closed softly behind him, leaving Leila in the quiet half-light of her lantern. She let out a shaky breath, the swirl of old ghosts and new responsibilities pressing in from all sides.

Still, she refused to collapse under it. She had a second chance. She had farmland success, alliances forming, watchers posted, and small glimpses of affection that thawed the ice around her heart. The rumor of Jace's recovery might be a specter hanging overhead, but she'd keep forging ahead. Because every day they survived—every yield of crops, every outpost built—was a victory in a world Jace had once stolen from her.

With that thought, she blew out the lantern and prepared to rest, heart still hammering with residual fear, but mind resolute. She'd be ready, on guard, until the moment Jace revealed his hand. And even then, she'd stand her ground—because this time, she wouldn't face betrayal alone.