NOVEL NEXT Chapter 31: Chapter 31
Zedd stood at the threshold of his cabin, his left side hidden beneath the layers of clothing he had put on. His shirt, long-sleeved and slightly oversized, covered his synthetic arm, and a glove concealed the fingers of his left hand, starkly pale against the normal skin of his right. The weight of the fabric felt strange, almost suffocating, but it was necessary. He couldn't risk anyone seeing the transformation he had undergone—not yet, not while he was still hiding.
He took a deep breath, pushing aside any lingering hesitation. The sunlight, which had been shut out for three long months, streamed in through the open door and the boarded-up windows. The light felt almost foreign to him, but it was the first taste of freedom he had felt in a long time. It was time to leave. To move on.
Zedd stepped outside, his boots crunching against the earth as he made his way toward the village. As soon as he entered the village proper, two familiar figures emerged in the distance, running toward him. Elara and Reina. They had been waiting, clearly concerned and likely eager to get answers. The sight of them made Zedd feel an unfamiliar twist in his chest. He couldn't afford any emotional distractions. Not now.
Before either of them could bombard him with questions, Zedd held up his hand, stopping them in their tracks. "I'm not answering any questions," he said curtly, already turning away. There was something he needed to take care of first, something that had been lingering in the back of his mind for days.
He walked with purpose to the small cabin owner's place, where he had been staying. The building was modest, tucked away at the edge of the village. As soon as the owner saw Zedd approaching, he raised an eyebrow.
"Late on the payment, huh?" the owner said, crossing his arms.
Zedd nodded, his gaze unwavering. "I apologize for the delay. Here," he said, handing over twelve silver coins. "Three months' rent. I've stayed longer than I should have."
The owner looked at the coins, then back at Zedd with a skeptical look. "Well, you could've paid earlier, kid. But fine. Why don't you just pay for next month in advance, too? That'll save some hassle."
Zedd shook his head, turning slightly as he prepared to leave. "I'm leaving tonight," he said. "I've stayed here long enough."
With that, he turned, heading back toward the outskirts of the village, where his cabin was located. But Elara and Reina, despite Zedd's clear intentions, had caught up with him. Both stood with their hands on their hips, their expressions a mixture of confusion and frustration.
Elara, always the more direct of the two, spoke first. "You're leaving?" Her voice was sharp, almost accusing.
Zedd didn't meet her gaze, keeping his focus ahead. "Yes," he replied bluntly. "I've stayed in this village long enough. Three months and two weeks."
Reina, typically more reserved, looked worried. "But why? Where are you going?"
Zedd hesitated for a fraction of a second. He could feel their eyes on him, but he refused to meet them. "I don't know," he said, his voice cold. "Maybe some other village. Maybe nowhere. It doesn't matter."
Elara took a step forward, her voice rising. "But, but at least tell us what you were doing all this time, locked in that cabin. We've been worried!"
Zedd stopped walking, but only for a moment. He turned his head just enough to address them, his tone hardening. "It doesn't concern you," he said, his voice low and controlled. "You just forget about me and move on with your lives. It's better that way."
His words hung in the air for a moment, heavier than the silence that followed. Zedd could feel the pull of his past, his desire to leave it all behind, to keep moving, to never stop running. He couldn't afford to be anchored down by anyone—not even them.
Zedd didn't look back as he continued on his way. His steps quickened, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. He had no time for attachments, no time to slow down. He was a fugitive, a murderer, and even though his body had been transformed, his past was still very much a part of him. He couldn't afford to stay in one place for too long. And as much as he'd tried to ignore the small flicker of emotion that had stirred within him for Elara and Reina, he knew it was best to cut ties now, before it got any harder.
As the village faded behind him, Zedd's thoughts remained clouded with conflicting emotions. But he didn't look back. He couldn't. He had to move forward—whatever that meant.
Tonight, he would leave this village behind. And tomorrow? Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new dangers. It was the only life he knew.