ROMAN
My voice came out steadier than I felt.
Because I didn't want to sound scared.
Ethan didn’t answer right away.
He looked ahead instead, like he was confirming something only he could see. Then he nodded once, as if satisfied.
“We’re here,” he said.
I frowned.
Here.
That didn’t mean anything on its own.
I shifted my stance slightly, scanning the area more carefully now.
The trees were denser here, the ground uneven in a way that suggested less frequent movement. No clear markings. No obvious paths leading deeper in any particular direction.
It didn’t feel special.
Which made it worse.
My eyes narrowed slightly as I looked back at him.
“What is ‘here’ supposed to mean?” I asked.
Ethan finally turned fully toward me, his expression less casual than before. Not serious in
