Eugene swallowed hard and slowly nodded. For the first time since they met, he did not dare throw insults at Gideon. Only now did he truly understand why people could be terrified of him.
The three men walked toward the nearby canyon, where massive rocks blocked the sunlight and cast long shadows across the sand. Eugene stayed in front while Aaron walked beside him, and Gideon followed quietly behind them.
The atmosphere felt less like they were heading toward a peaceful conversation and more like a criminal being escorted to his sentencing.
Once they reached the shade beneath the canyon wall, Gideon finally stopped walking.
He did not waste any time. "Why were you insulting me back then?"
Eugene instinctively backed himself against the stone wall. His eyes lowered to the ground as he struggled to answer.
"It's because... because..."
The words refused to come out properly. The truth was, he did not even fully understand it himself.
