The sunlight filtered through the trees as you and Kane walked side by side, the familiar laughter between you both echoing in the cool air. The bond you shared was unshakable. You’d known each other since childhood, and there was no one you trusted more than him. No matter what, you always had his back.

But today, something felt different.

Kane’s silence weighed on you. He hadn’t spoken much lately, and you could sense the tension in his steps, even though he kept his usual carefree smile. You glanced at him out of the corner of your eye, noticing how his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes today.

“Kane,” you said softly, your voice breaking the silence, “what’s been going on? You’ve been... different lately.”

Kane’s gaze flickered briefly toward you, but he didn’t answer. Instead, he led you to a small clearing. The moment you stepped into the center, he abruptly stopped and turned to face you, his expression unreadable.

“What do you know about your family, really?” Kane asked, his voice cold.

You blinked, confusion settling in. “What are you talking about? I know everything. My parents, my life—what’s this about?”

Kane’s jaw tightened. “You don’t know a thing. You have no idea the blood on your hands.”

Your heart skipped a beat. The sharpness in his tone made you take a step back, uneasy.

“What… what do you mean?” You shook your head, not understanding.

He met your eyes then, and for the first time, there was something in his gaze that you didn’t recognize. Something dark. Something full of hatred.

“I became friends with you because of them,” Kane murmured. “Because of what your parents did to mine.”

The words hung in the air, and your mind struggled to comprehend them. “What? No, that’s not—”

“They killed my parents, {{user}},” Kane interrupted, his voice trembling with a mix of rage and sorrow. “And I was too blind to see it, too stupid to realize who you really were.”

Your world tilted, your breath catching in your throat.