“You’re a bit too attached,” Lionel joked at her.
“Well,” her smile faded, her eyes still on me. “Ethalyn reminds me of my sister…”
“Really, where’s she now?” I chuckled low.
“She’s dead.”
Her words silenced us, my jaw hanging open.
“I’m sorry,” I stammered, my heart in my throat.
“It’s okay,” she said easily, her eyes lowering a bit, but her voice remained steady.
“What was she like?” Mey asked, carefully, as if to not break her.
“She was my twin,” Ashley sighed, seemingly unaffected by the memories. “She was a lot like Ethalyn; brave, smart, careful of other’s feelings.” She turned back to me, her eyes glimmering, arms squeezing me playfully. “Then I got in trouble, stealing black powder and failing my trials. A group came to take revenge on me, but she stepped in… pretended to be me until they beat her to death.”
My eyes widened, before my arms swung around her, pressing her head against me, trying to shield her. She tensed, before she chuckled slightly. “See? Always so protective.”
“Ashley,” I whispered, my heart breaking for her.
A sibling was one thing, but a twin? I’d heard those relationships are on another level, almost like they’re a part of you, which meant a group of thugs stole a part of Ashley. It suddenly fell into place, the times she wanted to be close, that morning I woke up with her hugging me.
Mey stepped closer, hugging Ashley from the side and Nate sighed, before he stepped in and hugged us all.
“We’ve got you now,” Mey said, her voice soft.
“Mm.” Ashley smiled.
“We’ll take good care of her, Ashley’s sister,” I added with a confirming nod.
Slowly, darkness began to close around us. The tall looming trees blocked most of the light out during the day, so once the sun set, it became dark very quickly.
“How are we supposed to see anything in this gloom?” Eve asked, her steps slowing down.
“It’s not that bad, your eyes will get—” Ashley began, before a sound cracked in her direction.
“Ashley?” I asked, concerned.
“Yeah… okay it’s dark, I just made out with a tree.”
Mey chuckled at that, Ashley muttering a curse underneath her breath.
“Here, take my hand,” Nate offered, stretching out towards her.
“I’d much rather take Mey’s, nothing personal,” Ashley scoffed, glaring at the hand as if it was threatening her.
“I know, but this is what you get,” Nate shot back. A brief hesitation, before Ashley took Nate’s hand and continued muttering. He chuckled, pulling her close.
“Don’t braid our fingers like that!” Ashley hissed.
“What? Are you shy?” Nate teased, clearly enjoying this side of her.
“Stop teasing her,” Mey snapped, sending an elbow into her brother’s ribs.
“We’ll be demon snacks in no time with all this noise,” Eve murmured in the back.
“Should we make camp?” Lionel asked low.
