Lia’s POV
Lia stood in the shadows, watching as Briar and Angelo fought through their pasts. She felt the weight of their burdens pressing down on her own chest, a mix of empathy and fear curling in her gut.
For so long, she had been the observer—the one who stood on the sidelines and watched others grapple with their demons. But now, the trial was only a step away for her too.
Her gaze flicked over to Max, who had remained quiet beside her, his brow furrowed in concentration.
There was a certain strength to him that she envied. He seemed to have everything under control, but Lia knew better. He was just as lost as the rest of them, hiding his own fears beneath a layer of indifference. She could feel the energy between them, thick and unspoken.
What was he thinking?
“Do you think we’ll make it through?” Lia asked, her voice quieter than she intended. She wasn’t sure if she wanted an answer, but it was as if saying it out loud made it all the more real.
Max’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, his lips curling into a small, unreadable smile. "We don’t have a choice, Lia."
Her heart fluttered at his words, an unexpected wave of reassurance washing over her.
There was something about Max that made her believe she could face her own past—if only she could gather the courage to confront it. But could she? What was her trial going to look like?
“Stay close,” Max added, his voice quieter now. There was a flicker of something in his eyes—something more vulnerable than she had ever seen. "We'll face it together."
Max’s POV
Max was silent, his mind racing as he watched Briar and Angelo endure the trial of their pasts. His chest tightened as he realized they were just a few steps ahead of them in this cursed journey.
He felt the pull of his own memories, threatening to rise up and overwhelm him. For so long, he had buried those memories, shoved them into the back of his mind, hoping they would stay there.
Lia’s voice cut through the air, her question hanging between them like a delicate thread.
"Do you think we’ll make it through?"
He glanced at her, studying her face for a moment before he spoke.
There was a vulnerability in her eyes that he wasn’t used to seeing. It reminded him of something—someone—but he quickly pushed the thought away. Now wasn’t the time.
“We don’t have a choice,” he said, his tone steady, though he felt anything but certain inside. "We’ll find a way. We always do."
Max’s words were as much for himself as they were for Lia.
Deep down, he wasn’t sure if they could really overcome what awaited them, but he couldn’t afford to show doubt. Not now. Not when Lia was depending on him.
Her eyes softened slightly, but she didn’t respond.
Instead, she took a small step closer, her presence grounding him in the moment.
Max couldn’t help but feel an unexpected connection between them, a bond that had grown stronger through their shared struggle. It was like the universe had tied their fates together, whether they were ready for it or not.
As Briar and Angelo's trial seemed to come to an end, the air grew still, heavy with anticipation. Max knew it wouldn’t be long before they had to face their own trials—whatever they may be.
And when that time came, he wasn’t sure how he would survive it. But for now, all he could do was stay by Lia’s side, protect her from whatever darkness might be waiting.
"Stay close," he repeated, his voice low.
Lia nodded, her expression determined. "I will."
Lia’s POV
The air felt different now thick with tension, like the world was holding its breath.
Lia couldn’t help but glance at Max, her heart racing. She hadn’t realized just how close they were, standing together like this. There was something unspoken between them, something that felt both fragile and strong at the same time.
She had always kept her distance from others, but with Max, it was different. There was a familiarity to him that she couldn't place, like she had known him forever.
As they stood there, she could feel the pull of her past, lingering just at the edge of her consciousness. It had always been there, shadowing her every step. She had thought she could outrun it, but now, with the trial looming over her, she wasn’t sure if she could keep hiding from it anymore.
She clenched her fists, trying to steady her breathing. Whatever was coming next, she had to be ready. She couldn’t let fear control her. Not again.
Max’s voice broke through her thoughts, low and steady, as if he could read her mind.
"You don't have to face it alone, you know."
She looked up at him, startled by the sincerity in his voice. For a moment, her defenses slipped, and she let herself believe him. Maybe he was right. Maybe they didn’t have to face this alone. Maybe, just maybe, they could help each other through it.
“I know,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I think... I think I’m scared."
Max didn’t respond right away.
Instead, he reached out, his hand brushing against hers in a gesture that was simple yet meaningful.
The touch was warm, grounding, and for the first time in a long while, Lia felt like she wasn’t standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting to fall.
“I’m scared too,” Max admitted, his voice quiet, almost hesitant. "But we don’t have to face it alone.
Not if we don’t let ourselves."
Lia’s breath caught in her throat as she looked into his eyes.
For a moment, everything else faded away. It was just the two of them, standing in the midst of uncertainty, their connection strong and undeniable.
Max’s POV
Max’s heart was pounding in his chest as Lia spoke.
There was a vulnerability to her that he hadn’t expected, and it caught him off guard. He had always thought of her as strong, unshakable, someone who could face anything without breaking.
But in this moment, he saw a side of her that made him want to protect her even more.
He had his own fears, his own burdens, but right now, all he could focus on was Lia.
She was the only thing that felt real in this chaos, and he found himself reaching for her, not just out of a sense of duty, but because he wanted to.
“I’m scared too,” he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.
It was the truth, even if it didn’t make sense.
How could he be scared when he had always prided himself on being in control? But facing this trial, knowing what it would reveal about him, made him feel small, vulnerable.
But maybe that wasn’t a bad thing.
Maybe, for once, it was okay to feel something other than anger and resentment.
Lia’s fingers brushed against his again, and Max’s chest tightened. He could feel her hesitation, her fear, but there was also something else—a strength he couldn’t quite name, something that matched his own.
She was right. They didn’t have to face this alone.
They didn’t have to carry the weight of their pasts by themselves.
Max looked down at their intertwined fingers, the simple connection bringing him more comfort than he thought possible.
He didn’t know what would come next, or what they would have to face in the trial, but he knew one thing for sure: whatever it was, they would face it together.
And that, for now, was enough.