The morning air felt tense, thick with an unease that seemed to settle around our camp like a storm waiting to break.

The sun had barely risen, casting long, eerie shadows across the ground. We’d survived another night, but the peace we’d found in sleep was only temporary.

Today, we had a mission—a purpose to move us forward—but something felt off, like the steady rhythm that had held us together was starting to fracture.

Mascot was up before everyone else, organizing supplies with quiet efficiency. He moved with that calm, focused intensity that had become second nature to him, every action deliberate, like he was already envisioning the journey that lay ahead. I respected his strength, his clarity, the way he could shoulder the responsibility of leadership without question.

I guess that's what comes with working under Eden for a long time.

But I could sense something deeper, something harder taking root in him, as if each step toward Eden was eroding the Mascot I knew.

Jacob watched him, his gaze sharp and unsettlingly dark. He’d been quiet all morning, but the way he looked at Mascot told me there were words unsaid, emotions barely contained, simmering beneath the surface. The energy between them felt charged, electric, and I knew it was only a matter of time before the tension between them exploded.

Ethan stood guard near the edge of the camp, his focus unyielding, his presence solid and comforting. He had an instinct for knowing when something was about to break, and he seemed to sense the impending confrontation just as keenly as I did.

Clara and Seth were talking in low voices nearby, a steadying force in the midst of our fraying group. But even their usual banter was muted, each of us caught in the shadow of what lay ahead.

I took a steadying breath, stepping forward to break the silence. “We need to move soon,” I said, my voice quiet but firm. “Every moment we waste here gives Eden an advantage.”

Mascot looked up, his eyes meeting mine with that same fierce determination. “We’re ready. We just need to finalize the route and stick to it. The sooner we put distance between us and this place, the better.”

But as he spoke, Jacob scoffed under his breath, his posture stiffening. “Are we really doing this?” he muttered, just loud enough for everyone to hear. “Are we just going to follow Mascot’s every command, like he’s the only one who knows what he’s doing?”

Mascot’s eyes narrowed, his gaze shifting to Jacob. “If you have something to say, Jacob, just say it. I don’t have the time or the patience for passive-aggressive complaints.”

Jacob’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. “My complaint isn’t passive,” he snapped. “You’ve been treating us like pawns, Mascot. Like we’re just here to play out whatever strategy you’ve cooked up in that head of yours.”

Mascot straightened, his expression hardening. “Someone has to take charge. If you can’t handle that, then maybe you’re the one who doesn’t belong here.”

Ethan stepped forward, his hand raised in a calming gesture. “Hey, we’re all on the same side here. Let’s not lose focus.” But neither Mascot nor Jacob seemed to hear him.

Their focus was locked onto each other, an unspoken challenge sparking between them. “You think you’re the only one who understands how dangerous this is?” Jacob said, his voice low, dangerous. “You think you’re the only one who understands what we’re up against? Because you once served him?”

Mascot’s expression darkened, a muscle twitching in his jaw. “I know we all have lost special to us. And I know that if we don’t keep our heads on straight, we’re all going to lose a hell of a lot more. So don't play that card of reminding me of my past.”

The words hit like a blow, and I saw Jacob flinch, his face twisting with anger. “Keeping your head on straight doesn’t mean bulldozing over the rest of us, Mascot. Maybe if you actually listened for once, you’d realize we’re all just as invested in this as you are.”

Mascot’s fists clenched, his knuckles whitening. “Listening to you would get us killed,” he snapped. “You’re too impulsive, too hot-headed. If we followed every instinct you had, we’d be dead ten times over.”

A tense silence settled between them, the air crackling with the intensity of their anger. I could feel it like a physical force, pressing down on all of us, making it hard to breathe. I took a step forward, my heart pounding.

“Both of you, stop,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended. “We’re supposed to be working together, not tearing each other apart. Eden is the enemy here, not each other.” But it was as if they were beyond hearing, their anger feeding off each other, growing darker and more volatile with every word.

Mascot’s eyes flashed blue, his voice cold and cutting. “If you can’t handle following orders, Jacob, then maybe you’re not cut out for this. Maybe you should go back to whatever hole you crawled out of and leave the real work to those of us who can handle it.”

Jacob’s face twisted with fury, his hands balling into fists. “You arrogant—” Before he could finish, he lunged forward, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat. Mascot didn’t back down; he stood his ground, his expression hardening as he braced for impact.

For a moment, it looked like they were actually going to come to blows, their bodies tense, coiled like spring-loaded traps.

“Enough!” I shouted, stepping between them, my heart racing. “This isn’t helping anyone. If you want to fight, save it for Eden.” Neither of them moved, their faces inches apart, their breaths coming fast and hard. I could feel the barely restrained fury radiating off both of them, a clash of wills that had been building for far too long.

Ethan moved closer, his hand resting on Jacob’s shoulder, a quiet but firm presence. “We’re all on edge,” he said softly. “But we need each other if we’re going to get through this. Don’t let Eden tear us apart before we even get a chance to face him.”

Slowly, Jacob stepped back, his gaze still locked onto Mascot’s. “This isn’t over,” he muttered, his voice low and dangerous. Mascot didn’t respond, but his expression spoke volumes.

I let out a shaky breath, relief and frustration mingling as the confrontation subsided. But I knew this wasn’t the end. The anger between them was like a ticking bomb, one that could go off at any moment, and the fallout could destroy us all.

As we packed up and prepared to leave, the silence between Mascot and Jacob was a constant, heavy presence. Every glance, every movement seemed charged with the weight of their unresolved tension, and it made the air feel thick, suffocating.

Ethan fell into step beside me as we set off, his gaze thoughtful. “Do you think they’ll be able to work it out?” I glanced back at Jacob and Mascot, both of them walking in silence, their expressions grim.

“I hope so,” I said quietly. “Because if they don’t, I’m not sure we’ll survive what’s coming.”

Ethan nodded, his face hardening. “We’ll have to keep an eye on them. If things escalate again…” His voice trailed off, but I understood. If they couldn’t find a way to settle their differences, it could jeopardize everything we’d fought for.

We were a team, a family, but even families had their breaking points. The journey felt heavier with every step, each of us weighed down by the tension simmering beneath the surface.

Clara tried to make up for the silence but even her usual small talks couldn’t cut through the cloud hanging over us. Hours passed, the silence stretching, until finally, we stopped to rest by a stream, the sound of running water a welcome reprieve from the quiet that had settled over us.

Mascot knelt by the edge of the water, filling his canteen, his gaze distant. Jacob stood a few feet away, his arms crossed over his chest, his face hard and unreadable. I approached them cautiously, my heart pounding. “Look, whatever’s between you two… we need to resolve it. We can’t go into this divided.”

Mascot looked up, his expression softening just a fraction. “I know, Tasha. But some things… they don’t just go away.”

Jacob’s gaze hardened. “Maybe they would if you’d stop acting like you’re the only one who matters.” Mascot’s face twisted with anger, and he took a step toward Jacob, his fists clenching.

“Say that again,” he dared, his voice low and dangerous. Jacob didn’t back down.

“You heard me.” For a moment, I thought they were going to come to blows, the fury between them like a live wire, ready to ignite. The rest of us held our breath, watching as the distance between them seemed to shrink, as their anger reached a dangerous peak.

But before either of them could make a move, Ethan stepped between them, his voice calm but firm. “Enough,” he said, his gaze hard. “We have bigger enemies out there, and they’re not waiting around for us to solve our issues. Whatever’s going on between you two, handle it later—privately, if you need to—but not here. And definitely not now.”

Mascot’s jaw worked, his fists slowly relaxing as he took a deliberate step back. He shot a cold glare in Jacob’s direction, as if to say that this was far from over, but he respected Ethan’s word.

Jacob muttered something under his breath, but he didn’t push any further. Instead, he turned sharply on his heel, distancing himself from Mascot with rigid, purposeful strides.

As the group collectively exhaled, I felt the pressure of their confrontation weighing me down. This wasn’t just a clash of egos—it was a rift that ran deeper, it still boiled down to me.

The journey would continue, but the silence that followed was even more heavy than before, filled with words unspoken and tempers restrained. I knew, deep down, that the next confrontation might not end with words or a simple intervention.

And with every step we took, I could only hope that our bond was strong enough to withstand the darkness that awaited us.

But for now, all I could do was walk forward, a constant prayer in my heart that somehow, someway, we’d survive this point together.