The cabin was quiet. Not the kind of silence that felt like peace—no, this was the sharp-edged quiet that came after a truth had been promised but not yet delivered.
Elliot sat across from me now. His posture was straighter than usual, like he was bracing for something. The sun had dipped below the horizon outside the window, casting long shadows across the train walls. Our world had turned a deep, flickering amber, caught between the artificial light inside and the fading gold beyond the glass.
I let the silence stretch for a while longer.
Not to be dramatic.
Just to gather the right words.
Then, finally, I spoke.
"I'm going to tell you everything, Elliot."
His eyes met mine. They were steady and focused. A little afraid, but not enough to look away.
"My name is Reynard Vale."
He blinked once, slow. The name didn't hit him—yet. But the sound of it hung heavy in the air.
