The Black Hollow never truly slept. Even in the dead of night, murmured conversations drifted through the damp tunnels, the scent of burning oil and stale ale thick in the air. Aedric lay on his back, staring at the uneven stone ceiling, his mind refusing to rest.
A few feet away, Seris was seated against the wall, her daggers laid out beside her. Though she looked relaxed, Aedric knew better—she was always on guard. Tessa had finally succumbed to exhaustion, curled up beneath a makeshift blanket.
The day had been brutal. From the bounty placed on his head to the desperate escape into the Black Hollow, Aedric knew they were on borrowed time. Sooner or later, The Raven's men would come looking. Staying hidden wouldn't be enough. They needed a plan.
And yet, despite the looming threats, his mind kept drifting back to Seris.
Something had shifted between them earlier. It had been subtle—a flicker of hesitation in her eyes, the way she had held his gaze just a moment longer than necessary. He could still feel the weight of that moment, lingering like an unspoken truth neither of them were ready to acknowledge.
After what felt like an eternity of silence, he finally spoke. "You never answered my question."
Seris turned slightly, glancing at him. "Which one?"
"You've been here before. What happened?"
For a moment, he thought she wouldn't answer. Then, she let out a quiet sigh.
"I was desperate," she admitted. "You know what it's like, growing up with nothing. No safety, no future. I thought maybe I could carve out a place for myself down here. I was young, arrogant, and I thought I was untouchable."
Aedric stayed silent, letting her speak.
"I got involved with the wrong people. The Hollow has its own set of rules, its own hierarchy. I learned that the hard way." She idly ran a finger along the edge of her dagger. "Made an enemy out of someone I shouldn't have. I barely got out."
Aedric frowned. "Who?"
Seris gave him a wry smile. "You're not the only one with people who want them dead."
Aedric exhaled. "And now we're back here."
She nodded. "Funny how life works."
He turned his head to face her fully. "If it's dangerous for you, why did you come back?"
Seris met his gaze, her expression unreadable. "Because you needed me."
The words struck something deep inside him.
Aedric had always relied on himself. Trust was a rare currency in his world, and he had learned early that depending on others only led to betrayal. But Seris… she had been by his side through all of this. She had risked her life for him more than once.
A heavy silence stretched between them, the air thick with unspoken words.
Then Seris looked away, breaking the moment. "We should get some sleep."
Aedric hesitated but nodded. "Yeah."
But as he closed his eyes, he knew that sleep wouldn't come easily. Because for the first time in a long while, it wasn't just survival on his mind.
It was her.