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She shifts in her chair, her eyes fixed on me as she listens intently. “The Rift?” she repeats, her voice cautious. “What are you talking about?”
I nod, my gaze steady. “Yes, the Rift. It’s said to be a doorway to another realm, a place where time and space blur together. It’s always been believed that it held immense power, both dangerous and wondrous.”
Her brow furrows as she tries to make sense of what I’m saying. “What does this have to do with why I’m here? Or are you just trying to distract me? I don’t understand. Why are we in the ‘forbidden forest’? I don’t think I’ve ever even heard of this place.”
I give her a half smile, hoping she’ll connect the dots. “You see, Mahalia, there are legends that say the Rift can be opened by the presence of a rare individual—a person who possesses a unique connection to the supernatural. It’s a connection that can only be activated under specific circumstances, and that’s why you’re here.”
She looks intrigued but still puzzled. “So, you’re saying that I’m the key to opening this Rift thing? Because I can assure you now that isn’t the case. I’m not special at all. I’m just a normal person who wants to go back to her life. You have it all wrong.”
“Maybe.” I nod again, relieved that she’s catching on. “That’s one possibility, Mahalia. The legends also speak of a great challenge that must be faced to harness the Rift’s power. It’s a test of strength, courage, and unity. And we believe that you might be the one to help us navigate that challenge. You might be the one who binds us all together.”
“Who together?”
“Well, you know me, don’t you? And you know Maddox too. Maybe you will know everyone else when they get here. You might be the emotional bond.”
She doesn’t look entirely convinced, but she seems willing to entertain the idea. “So, what does this mean? What do I have to do? Unless this is just a story. I still don’t know with you. I have never been able to tell with you. You’re always so… mysterious.”
I kinda like that idea. Of being a man of mystery, so that’s why I clamp my lips shut and I say nothing. Instead, I rise to my feet, and I walk towards the water’s edge. I don’t know why Maddox decided to place us behind the waterfall for the year while we work this mission, but I like it a lot.
I dip a toe in, before diving headfirst under the waves, enjoying this moment of just being. I sink under the water becoming one with nature, which is where I feel most comfortable and most like me.
As I emerge from the water, droplets glistening on my skin, I turn to find Mahalia watching me with a mix of curiosity and frustration in her eyes. She’s still grappling with the idea that my story might hold some truth and that her role in all of this might be a significant one. Honestly, she has no idea.
“So, is this some kind of initiation ritual or a test? You going for a swim while I’m stuck here? Trapped to this chair?”
I chuckle, the water’s cool embrace having temporarily washed away the tension in my mind. “No, it’s not an initiation, just me enjoying a moment of peace before you start yelling at me all over again.”
She eyes me warily as if trying to decipher whether I’m being sincere or merely evading her questions. “You always had a way of avoiding giving straight answers, Kit. Have you always been that way? I don’t remember much of you from high school. Other than you being an ass.”
Her words make my thoughts turn to a time long before the present moment—a time when Mahalia and I were mere teenagers in high school. It’s a memory I’ve often tried to bury, but now, with her here, those memories resurface with a vengeance.
I think back to all the ways I used to bully Mahalia. In high school, I was a different person—reckless, arrogant, and often cruel. Mahalia was the target of much of that cruelty, and it was my way of hiding the feelings that I couldn’t quite comprehend at the time. She was a smart, independent, and fiercely outspoken girl, and she had a way of challenging me that no one else dared. It infuriated me, but it also intrigued me. I didn’t understand why I felt drawn to her, why her fiery spirit both irritated and fascinated me.
I remember the times I made fun of her in front of our classmates, the way I mocked her interests and belittled her achievements. I’d push her buttons just to see her react, just to see that spark of defiance in her eyes, just to see how I could make her body react to me. What is wrong with me that I want to do the same now? Just because I can.
Emerging from the refreshing embrace of the waterfall’s pool, I find myself once again on the shore, the wetness sticking to my skin. As I turn back towards Mahalia, I can’t help but notice the way her eyes follow my every move, curiosity, and, dare I say it, a hint of fascination dancing in her gaze.
I take my time drying off, fully aware of her attention. The dampness clings to my body, accentuating the lines of my muscles. It’s not lost on me that this is a teasing opportunity—one that I’m not about to let slip away.
With deliberate slowness, I run my fingers through my wet hair, pushing it back from my forehead. Droplets of water cascade from my rusty red locks, glistening in the soft light filtering through the trees. I can practically feel the heat of Mahalia’s gaze on me.
“Enjoying the show?” I quip, a mischievous grin playing on my lips as I turn to face her.
Mahalia’s cheeks flush with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance, and she quickly averts her gaze. “Don’t flatter yourself, Kit. I was just trying to figure out if you’ve grown up at all since high school.”
I chuckle, the sound rich with amusement. “Well, that’s for you to decide, isn’t it?” I take a few steps closer to her, deliberately moving with a casual, predatory grace. “Do you think I’ve changed, Mahalia?”
She narrows her eyes at me, her defensive posture giving way to a more guarded expression. “Maybe a little, but you’re still the same Kit I remember—arrogant and full of himself.”
I feign offense, placing a hand over my heart. “Ouch, Mahalia, that hurts. I thought we were bonding here, sharing a moment by the waterfall.”
She rolls her eyes, not entirely immune to the playful banter. “This isn’t bonding, Kit. This is just you being... you.”
I can’t help but laugh at her response, finding her continued resistance oddly endearing. “Fair enough,” I concede, taking a step back and giving her some space. “But don’t worry, Mahalia. You’ll see that I’ve changed in more ways than one.”
I stare at Mahalia, her eyes filled with a mix of surprise and confusion as if she can’t quite believe what’s happening. There’s a charged silence between us, the air thick with anticipation. I can’t explain the sudden impulse that drives me to get closer to her, to close the distance that separates us. It’s as if the years of longing and tension have finally caught up to me, and I can’t resist the magnetic pull drawing me towards her.
As I stand before her, our bodies almost touching, I reach out and gently cup her cheek, my thumb tracing a soft path along her skin. Her breath hitches, and her gaze flickers between my eyes and my lips, uncertainty warring with desire. I know she’s tied up here which makes this a little weird, but I can tell she’s into this as well.
