Page 37 of Monster's Maiden

"No," she snaps back, determination flaring in her tone. "You don't understand."

Each word is a lifeline pulling me from the depths of unconsciousness. Their voices blend into a symphony of urgency and confusion.

"Lara," Maya pleads. "Come with us."

Silence stretches before Lara speaks again, her voice filled with resolve. "I can't leave him like this."

Aiden sighs, frustration evident in his tone. "We don’t have time for this crap."

"Look at him,” Lara pleads, her voice cracking with emotion. “He’s hurt because of you. We can't just abandon him," she insists.

“Lara,” Aiden’s voice softens, trying to coax her. “We need to get out of here.”

“I’m not leaving him!” Lara’s cry is fierce and resolute.

Her proximity sends warmth flooding through me—a stark contrast to the cold that numbs my body. Her hand rests gently on my wound, and I sense her resolve wavering between loyalty to me and the pull of her friends.

"Lara, cut this out," Maya urges gently. "We need to go now."

Lara’s breath hitches. Her hesitation is palpable; I can almost see the conflict etched across her face even in my mind's eye. Her fingers brush against my stone-like skin, a fleeting touch that sends ripples of warmth through my consciousness.

“Please,” she whispers, more to herself than anyone else. “Don’t make me do this.”

With one last lingering touch, I weakly feel them pull her away from me. The absence of her warmth is a physical ache that cuts deeper than any blade.

The muted sound of their retreating footsteps echoes through the cavern, growing fainter with each passing second. The darkness closes in again.

As I teeter on the edge of survival, one thing remains clear: our fates are bound together, no matter how hard they try to pull us apart.

21

LARA

My eyes flutter open and the world around me blurs into focus. The weight of my body presses against the cold ground. Each limb is heavy and unresponsive. Above me, Aiden and Maya hover, their faces etched with worry. Their presence jars me back to reality.

They must have used herbs to knock me out. The bitter taste lingers at the back of my throat. It's a lasting remnant of their betrayal masked as concern.

Confusion seeps into my bones. It mingles with panic as the realization hits. They’ve managed to escape the cavern, dragging me along with them. Their craftiness surpasses my own convictions. How could they have outsmarted me?

The cavern's darkness, once comforting in its familiarity, now feels distant and elusive. Instead, I find myself surrounded by the stark whiteness of the winter forest. The cold air nips at my cheeks. It's sharp and unforgiving. Snow crunches underfoot as Aiden shifts his weight.

Zyrith’s face flashes in my mind. His deep-set eyes filled with a blend of protectiveness and longing brings a small smile to my face. The warmth of his touch still lingers on my skin. The thought of him lying unconscious amidst the ruins sends a deep pang through my heart.

I struggle to sit up, muscles protesting against the movement. My breaths come in short gasps as I try to steady myself. Each inhale draws in the crisp scent of pine and earth.

Aiden’s hand hovers near mine but doesn’t touch me. His jaw is set in that stubborn way it always is when he’s made up his mind about something.

Maya’s eyes meet mine briefly before she looks away, her expression torn between relief and guilt.

They don’t understand. They couldn’t possibly comprehend what I left behind in that cavern—the connection I forged with Zyrith amidst the darkness and solitude.

I take in our surroundings—a clearing framed by towering evergreens draped in snow. The world feels both vast and constricting at once.

Silent tears blur my vision as I wrestle with the conflicting emotions churning inside me—gratitude for their rescue mixed with a profound sense of loss for what I left behind.

"Aiden, Maya, please," I beg, my voice cracking under the weight of desperation. "You don’t understand. I need to go back to him."

Aiden’s brow furrows. “Lara, that was a monster back there. Have you lost your fucking mind?”

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