Chapter 5: Three Players
The orange glow of the fire still danced behind him, but Noah couldn’t bring himself to look back.
Cael’s charred body lay motionless among the embers, silent now. No screams, no curses, no more secrets.
Noah’s hand trembled as he pulled the bronze pocket watch from the inner pocket of his coat. The lid clicked open."
8:47 p.m.
’Shit, I need to hurry...’
He clenched his jaw. There were thirteen minutes left until the butcher closed. If he failed to bring the meat home, his mother would kill him. Not literally, but after everything that had happened today,the idea didn’t sound so bad.
Noah turned away from the flames and took two steps—then staggered.
His stomach churned, twisted with a sickening knot of guilt and adrenaline. He doubled over and vomited onto the grass. The acidic taste burned his throat.
He wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his cloak, breathing heavily.
’No time to waste. I’ll break down later...’
He ran. Not just through the forest trail, not just toward the city—but as if escaping the weight of what he had done. His feet pounded against the dirt path. Trees blurred past him. Each breath was a knife to the lungs, but he didn’t slow down.