Page 25 of Hidden Echoes

“Well…” She hesitates. “I tried to kill you.”

I let out a soft sigh. “You were scared, Mia. I get it. I’m not going to hurt you, but… I’ll admit this is all new for me, too. I’m kind of used to being alone.”

She nods, her gaze distant. “Me too,” she murmurs. “I’ve been alone for a long time.” She pauses, her fingers fidgeting in her lap. “I had a brother once. And then… I didn’t. Just my cage after that.”

Her words hang heavy in the air, and I don’t press. Instead, I let the silence settle, offering her space if she wants to continue.

“I didn’t like it,” she says quietly. “Some bad men hurt me.”

I grip the steering wheel tighter, my knuckles turning white. “Do you want to talk about it?” I ask carefully, knowing the weight of my words.

Her eyes flick to mine, confused, as if the concept of talking about feelings is completely foreign to her. “What do you mean?”

“Sometimes…” I start, unsure of how to phrase it. “Sometimes it helps to talk about the things that make us sad. Gets them out of your head, you know?”

She looks at me like I’ve just spoken in another language. “Do you have things that make you sad?”

I take a deep breath, knowing I can’t expect her honesty without offering mine. “Yeah. I hate the place I once called home. It makes me sad that I can’t go back there.”

“Was it nice?” she asks, her curiosity genuine.

I hesitate, my voice quieter when I answer. “Sometimes. But mostly, it was just lonely.”

Her face softens, and she murmurs, “You must miss your siblings.”

“Sometimes,” I admit. “My brother’s probably married now. His wife’s name is Abigail. Sweet woman—he deserves someone like that. And my sister… she’s probably with Harvin. They’ve always been close.” My voice grows bitter without meaning to, the words heavy with regret. “I don’t know how they are now. I walked out of their lives. It’s just easier that way.”

Her gaze lingers on me, as though she can sense the weight of my words, but she doesn’t push. Instead, she leans back, her eyes growing heavy with sleep.

When she finally drifts off, her breathing even and peaceful, I focus on the road ahead. Hours pass in quiet contemplation, the hum of the engine and the soft music the only sounds keeping me company.

I glance over at her, her eyes still closed, but there's a subtle smile playing on her lips, like she’s dreaming about something funny. The quiet hum of the car fills the space, but I know she’s not one for silence for long.

“You’re awfully quiet tonight,” I say, not expecting her to answer.

But Mia, ever the spark of energy, doesn’t let it go. “Me? Quiet? That’s a good one.” She stirs slightly, propping herself up on her elbow, and her voice takes on that excited tone she has, like she’s bursting with thoughts.

“Okay, okay,” she continues, “what do you think about this? If you could be anywhere right now, like any place, real or imaginary, where would it be?”

I raise an eyebrow, caught off guard by the randomness of the question. “Uh, I don’t know. Somewhere peaceful, maybe... a cabin in the woods.”

She looks at me like I’ve just spoken in another language. “A cabin? In the woods? Is that, like, a thing people actually do? What do you do there, just... sit in silence and stare at trees?”

I can’t help but laugh, shaking my head. “Yeah, pretty much. But it's nice. Peaceful.”

She scrunches her nose. “That sounds boring. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I get the whole ‘nature’ thing, but you can’t just... stare at trees all day. What if a bear shows up? Or a squirrel that knows karate?”

I stare at her, blinking for a second. “A squirrel that knows karate?”

She nods seriously, as if it’s the most logical thing in the world. “Yeah! They’re sneaky little creatures. I’ve seen enough movies to know they can be trained. Imagine, like, a squirrel army, attacking from the trees! You’d need more than just peace and quiet to deal with that.”

I almost choke on my laugh, not expecting that from her. I mean the girl should be all gloomy right? She went through a lot.

Mia isn't gloomy at all—she's like a little burst of sunshine with a hint of psycho energy. She kind of gives off Lucy vibes from Elfen Lied, mixing sweetness with unpredictability.

“Well, I guess I’d have to rethink my cabin in the woods then. What about you? Where would you go?”

She tilts her head, eyes wide with innocence. “I don’t know... Maybe a mall? Or, like, one of those fancy stores with all the pretty clothes? People go there, right? Or is that just a dream thing?”

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