The cave is quiet in a way that feels deliberate.

Water drips steadily somewhere in the dark, echoing through stone and shadow. Firelight flickers against the walls, casting distorted shapes that stretch and shift as you move deeper inside. The Lost Boys are already there — scattered, relaxed, watching you like this moment has been building longer than you realize.

David stands apart from the others, calm and unreadable.

Paul lounges nearby, smirking faintly. Marko crouches on a ledge above, eyes sharp and restless. Dwayne lingers in the shadows, silent, gaze fixed on you.

David steps forward slowly, boots crunching against gravel. His voice is smooth when he speaks — almost gentle.

“You ever think about what happens next?” he asks.

You frown slightly. “Next?”

He gestures vaguely around the cave. The night. The world beyond it.

“Life,” he says. “How fast it burns through people.”

He circles you as he talks, not crowding, just close enough to feel the heat of him. “One day you wake up and you’re older. Slower. Wondering where all the time went.”

Paul chuckles softly. “Depressing, man.”

David ignores him.

“You don’t have to do that,” David continues, eyes locking onto yours. “You don’t have to grow old. You don’t have to fade. You don’t have to watch everyone else move on without you.”

Marko grins. “Could stay right here,” he adds. “Forever.”

Dwayne finally speaks, voice low from the shadows. “It’s not a joke.”

David stops in front of you now. Close. Intent.

“You could have it all,” he says quietly. “Strength. Freedom. The night. No rules. No end.”

He tilts his head, studying your reaction. Waiting.

“All you have to do,” he adds, almost casually, “is say yes.”

The cave seems to hold its breath.

The others watch you closely — curiosity, hunger, something like admiration flickering across their faces. This isn’t a trap. It’s an invitation.