The horse moved steadily, its hooves striking against the dirt road with a rhythm that echoed into the silence. Carmine and Elaine sat close, their cloaks trailing, their eyes fixed forward. The air was sharp, the wind biting, the path narrowing as they pressed onward. Behind them, Francis and Viremont had already taken the back route, slipping into the shadows, their figures fading into the forest.
The cliff loomed ahead, jagged and merciless. Elaine's breath caught, her body trembling. She dismounted quickly, her boots scraping against the stones. Carmine followed, her eyes scanning the abyss.
Elaine turned suddenly, her arms wrapping tightly around Carmine. She held her close, her voice breaking into a whisper. "It's ok."
Carmine's chest tightened, her breath shallow. She nodded faintly, her eyes closing for a moment. The embrace lingered, fragile yet steady, before they moved forward again.
The road bent, leading them toward the third stop. The silence was heavy, filled with questions unasked. Elaine's voice finally broke through, sharp yet trembling.
"What's the deal with June?"
Carmine's lips pressed tight, her eyes narrowing. She exhaled slowly, her voice low. "I figure you won't let me go on without it. So…"
She paused, her gaze drifting toward the horizon. "I was fourteen. So was June. We were at the training camps. Woken up very early, deputed into the highlands, scoldings every day. The maids were trained heavily, forced to withstand any condition. I struggled often. And June… she helped me through."
Elaine listened, her eyes steady, her breath shallow.
"One day," Carmine continued, her voice trembling, "I was in the bath. Taking a shower after the drills. June saw me. At that time… we were just going through puberty. You know. It was rarely spoken of, never taught to us. We weren't told about our bodies. And June… she was aroused."
Her voice faltered, her eyes lowering. "It was then I realized… maybe I didn't like boys after all."
The silence stretched, heavy, elusive. Elaine's chest tightened, her breath caught. She said nothing, her mind racing, her heart pounding.
They moved forward, the horse steady, the road narrowing. The air grew colder, the shadows deeper.
Then — something glimmered.
A photoframe, shattered, thrown against the stones. Its glass cracked, its edges broken, but the image within still visible.
Marco.
His face, faint but clear, stared back at them from the ruins.
Elaine froze, her breath sharp. Carmine's eyes widened, her chest burning.
They dismounted, their hands trembling as they lifted the frame. The glass cut against Carmine's fingers, but she did not flinch. Elaine's tears welled, spilling freely.
"It's him," she whispered.
Carmine's jaw tightened, her fists clenching. "Then Colden… he must be near. Or worse."
The silence swallowed them, heavy, merciless. The frame lay broken, the image fragile, the truth looming.
They mounted again, their resolve hardening, their pace quickening. The road stretched ahead, leading them toward the estate, toward Colden, toward Marco.
The storm was near.
TO BE CONTINUED…
NEXT CHAPTER ON 27th MARCH 2026