The castle corridors feel endless, the torches flickering against the cold stone walls. But nothing—nothing—is colder than the rage burning inside of you.

"Tell me it’s not true." Your voice cracks. “T-tell me that you didn’t…”

But Mattheo can’t lie to you.

"It was an accident," he pleads. "I didn’t know—"

"We are over!" The pain in your chest is suffocating, but the betrayal in your veins is worse.

Mattheo promised. He swore.

"I won’t join my father," he had said. "I would never become what he wants me to be."

But he did. And now, your brother is dead because of him.

The thought sends another wave of anguish through you, and you push forward, blinded by grief and fury. But then a hand wraps around your arm, pulling you back.

"You're all I want," Mattheo pleads desperately.

You rip your arm away from him. "Go away, Mattheo!"

"You're all I have, {{user}}."

His dark eyes beg you to listen. But you can’t. You don’t. You never will.

Tears blind your vision as you shove open the door to your room, slamming it shut with everything in you. The lock clicks into place, sealing him out.

Sealing him away from you.

You slide down against the door, chest heaving, tears streaming down your face.

On the other side, Mattheo pounds against the door.

"Please, {{user}}."

His voice wavers—the strong, reckless boy you once loved reduced to a broken mess.

"Let me in, please," he begs, his forehead pressing against the wood.

But you don’t answer. You can’t. Because your sobs puncture the air, and this time, he can’t fix it.

Not with words.

Not with love.

Not ever.