Mike’s gaze shifts to the fire, his expression unreadable as he breaks the heavy silence. “It’s fine, Tessie,” he says softly, his words a balm to the ache in my heart. “It was about time you knew.”
A newfound sense of understanding and empathy bound us, the weight of their shared pasts forging a bond stronger than steel.
The crackling of the fire seems to echo the tension that lingers in the air as Mike takes a long sip of his beer. Nate’s sudden clap shatters the quiet, his enthusiasm a welcome reprieve from the weight of the unspoken words hanging between us.
“Right,” he declares, his voice bright with anticipation. “I think Mike and I better go set up the guesthouse.”
I furrow my brows in confusion. “For what?” I ask, my voice tinged with uncertainty.
A playful smirk dances across Mike’s lips as he stands.
“You’ll see,” he replies, crossing the distance between us in quick strides.
Before I can process his meaning, his lips meet mine in a tender kiss, a spark igniting between us like a flame catching hold of dry tinder.
Mike and Nate make their way towards the guesthouse, leaving me and Cain alone by the crackling fire.
I turn to Cain, confusion and excitement swirling within me. “What do you think they’re up to?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Cain’s gaze softens as his eyes meet mine, a reassuring smile playing at the corners of his lips. “You will have to wait and see,” he replies, his tone light yet tinged with curiosity. “I’m sure it’ll be memorable for you.”
Cain and I embrace, his arms wrapping around me reassuringly.
“Let’s play truth or dare, just me and you,” I propose, my voice barely above a whisper as I feel his steady heartbeat against my chest.
Cain’s breath tickles my ear as he responds, his voice laced with a hint of anticipation.
“Truth,” he declares, he smirks playfully.
A mischievous grin tugs at my lips as I ponder my question. I seize upon the perfect query.
“Oh, this is a good one,” I tease, my voice tinged with excitement. “Who did you lose your virginity to?” I ask, unable to contain my smile as I await his response.
As the words leave my lips, I watch Cain’s smirk disappear. A flicker of emotion passes through his eyes before he composes himself.
For a moment, the air between us seems to thicken with unspoken tension, the weight of my question hanging heavy in the space between us. I hold my breath.
But instead of answering, Cain simply gazes into the dancing flames, his thoughts seemingly lost in the flickering light.
“I’m sorry,” I murmur, my voice barely a whisper as I reach out to touch his arm, my fingers brushing against his skin in a silent gesture of apology. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”
Cain’s gaze met mine, a flicker of gratitude shining in his eyes as he offered me a reassuring smile. “It’s ok,” he replies softly, his voice barely audible above the crackling of the fire.
“When I was in my teens. One of my foster parents took advantage of me–”
Before he could finish his sentence, I cut him off.
“What an evil man. You don’t have to say anymore, Cain. I’m sorry,” I reassure him.
The air thickens with an unsettling tension as the word she escapes his lips in a barely audible whisper. His voice trembles as he bravely pushes forward with his painful recollection. “She used to come in my room at night,” he reveals, each syllable heavy with the weight of his past trauma. “I thought it was normal until Nate explained that parents don’t do that.”
The image of him being a vulnerable child, innocently accepting the intrusion of a predator disguised as someone who was meant to care for him, sears itself into my mind. It makes me feel sick.
My heart plummets into the depths of despair as I absorb the magnitude of his confession. I envelop him in a tight embrace.
“I’m sorry, Cain.”
“It’s ok, princess. You didn’t know,” he reassures, his words carrying the weight of a lifetime of suppressed pain and unspoken anguish. “I guess that’s why I used women and never wanted to get close to them.”
My heart aches at his confession. “Oh, Cain. Please tell me you went to the police?” I implore. But his response sends a shiver down my spine, a chilling reminder of the darkness lurking within his soul. “Nah. She died unexpectedly,” he says with a smirk, his words laced with a sinister edge.
At that moment, I understand the unspoken truth behind his words. I know what he’s saying and I know better than to press any further. Like he said in the past, he only killed people that deserved it. And in his eyes, she was no exception.
It’s a night full of confessions, each one a jagged piece of a puzzle I never asked to solve. With each revelation, I feel the weight of responsibility pressing down on my shoulders.
My heart twists with a gnawing sense of guilt, a relentless ache that claws at my insides as I grapple with the knowledge of the pain and suffering hidden beneath the surface of those I care about.
But for now, I can only listen and be there for them. At that moment, I realized we were all broken somehow. Maybe that’s why we all connected.
“Come on, princess,” Cain says softly. He then helps me, his hand tenderly cupping my cheek, his touch offering both reassurance. His eyes gleam with anticipation as he helps me get dressed. He then takes my hand and leads me to the guesthouse.
As we approach, the evening air carries a tangible buzz of anticipation, adding to the nervous flutter in my stomach.
The guesthouse looms before us, its windows aglow with a warm, inviting orange light that spills out onto the surrounding garden. The door swings open and a flickering glow washes over us. The crackling flame is the only source of light, enveloping the room.
My eyes dart around the room, taking in the intimate setting. The air is heavy with the scent of burning wood. Shadows flicker and dance along the walls, casting mysterious shapes that seem to pulse with a life of their own.
