Aden's Search
Aden moved through the ruins like a ghost—silent, unseen, unfelt. It wasn't a choice; it was his reality.
The temple had marked him.
Now, the world ignored him.
Still, he refused to believe it. He had friends here. They wouldn't just vanish. They had to be somewhere.
He stepped into the overgrown remains of the old camp. Torn tents, scattered supplies, and the lingering scent of smoke filled the air. Someone had been here recently.
But where were they?
His heart pounded as he approached the largest tent. The entrance flap was torn, swaying slightly in the windless air. He reached out to push it aside—only to stop himself.
A terrible feeling gripped his chest.
Something was wrong.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside.
And froze.
Bodies.
Laid out like broken dolls, their forms stiff with death.
These weren't just soldiers.
These were his friends.
> "No…"
The word barely escaped his lips, swallowed by the stillness of the room. His mind rejected it, refused to process the sight before him.
Not them. Not like this.
His hands clenched into trembling fists. He forced himself to look—forced himself to remember.
And just like that, the past came rushing back.
---
Two days earlier.
Aden stood among his squad, the air buzzing with nervous energy. They weren't soldiers, not really. They were scavengers, young and reckless, chasing a mission too big for them.
"Repeat the objective," their leader—Jonas—said, arms crossed. He was the oldest among them, barely nineteen but already carrying the weight of command.
Aden straightened. "Investigate the temple, retrieve any artifacts, and report back."
Jonas nodded. "And if things go south?"
"Regroup at the camp."
Jonas smirked, ruffling Aden's hair. "That's right, kid. Don't go trying to be a hero."
Aden rolled his eyes, shoving him off. "I'm not a kid."
Their laughter echoed through the camp.
They didn't know it would be their last.
---
Back to the Present
Aden knelt beside Jonas's lifeless form, his fingers hovering over his friend's bloodstained coat.
The warmth was long gone.
He wasn't a kid anymore.
Not after this.
His hands trembled as he whispered, "I should have been here."
But the world had already decided.
And it refused to listen.