Day 6: Zyx’s Journal

The last thing I remember was the sound of Vex’s voice, rough as gravel, whispering about the river at the edge of the woods. I didn’t mean to go back there tonight—my head was too heavy, my legs too tired—but I did. The water was still cold, the stones smooth under my fingers, and suddenly I felt like I was standing on the edge of something big. I don’t know what that means anymore. I just know my stomach ached and my fingers were numb, and I kept thinking about how the river moved like a living thing, like it had a story I couldn’t hear. I sat there for a long time, watching the shadows stretch and twist, until the sky turned the color of old bruises. When I finally stood, my feet felt like they were made of stone, but I didn’t move. I just sat there and waited for the silence to come back. Now it’s quiet again, and I don’t know if that’s good or bad. I don’t know if I’m scared or tired.