Chapter 80: This World Of Trust
Zara followed Winter a few steps away from the campfire, her heart pounding against her ribcage. The campfire’s flickering light danced on his tense shoulders, casting long shadows on the ground.
Winter stopped abruptly, turning to face her, his expression tense but his eyes dark with something she couldn’t quite name—hurt, maybe? Disappointment?
"What was that in the car?" His gaze pierced through her. "The toy—where did it come from?"
Zara looked away, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her coat. She took a deep breath, her mind racing for the right words. "Leo... he has this ability," she started, "He can store things in a kind of alternate space. It’s like... it exists alongside him."
Winter’s brow furrowed, his lips pressing into a thin line. "An alternate space?" he repeated, the scepticism clear in his tone. He rubbed a hand over his face, exhaling sharply. "Leo has a storage space?"
Zara nodded, her hands fidgeting nervously. "Yes, but it’s hard to understand. He’s just a child, Winter. He doesn’t even fully comprehend it himself."
Winter’s face twisted in disbelief, a flicker of something like betrayal flashing in his eyes. "Why didn’t you tell me?"
Zara stammered, her voice faltering under his intensity. "I... I didn’t know how to explain it. I was waiting for the right moment."
"The right moment?" Winter’s tone grew colder. "And when was that going to be? We’ve been together for almost months now. "You didn’t need to lie, Zara."
Zara gasped, her eyes wide with shock. "I’m not lying! It’s not that simple, Winter. I was trying to protect him."
"Protect him by keeping me in the dark?" His tone was accusatory, his arms crossing over his chest. "What else haven’t you told me? How much more do I have to do to earn your trust?"