Whisper of Silence

I move between the trees like a shadow, my heart pounding in my chest. I've wandered further than usual, searching for the perfect hiding spot, when the sound of footsteps makes me whirl around.

There's Finn, just a few steps away. The light filtering through the leaves plays strange patterns on his face, making his usual smirk look more menacing than ever. My hands curl into fists without me meaning to.

"Found you," he says, but there's no joy in his voice. Only something cold, something mean. The same tone he used when he started sitting at the other end of the table during lunch.

"Fine," I respond, taking a step back. Every instinct tells me to run, but I force myself to stand my ground. "Now go find the others."

"You know something, Julie?" Finn advances slowly, crushing fallen leaves under his feet. Each crunch makes me flinch. "I've always thought there was something off about you. The way you act all perfect and special. How you always have to be Claire's favorite, how the adults treat you like you're so smart."

The words hit me like physical blows. I can feel something building inside me, hot and dangerous, like the time I saw him throwing rocks at Mrs. Hedda's cat. The forest seems to hold its breath. I've known Finn since we were little - we used to catch frogs together in the pond behind his house. But now there's something in his voice that makes him feel like a stranger.

"What are you talking about?" The words come out sharper than I intended, echoing between the trees.

"Oh, come on!" His smile widens, cruel and knowing. "Did you see yourself today? 'Oh, trading is so amazing, Sven! Show me more about the grain!'" He mimics my voice, making it high and squeaky. "Always trying to impress everyone, always hanging around Claire like you own her. You think you're so special, don't you?"

I can feel something building inside me, hot and dangerous. The forest seems to hold its breath. "You don't know what you're talking about, Finn."

"Don't I?" He steps closer, his freckled face twisted with anger. "Claire used to be friends with all of us before you started acting like... like you're better than everyone else. Like you're going to be something important in the village while the rest of us just play stupid games."

"STOP IT!"

I don't even realize I've pushed him. One moment he's sneering at me, the next he's staggering backward, losing his balance, falling into a mud puddle with a wet thud. My hands are trembling, but not from fear anymore - from rage, from frustration, from the unfairness of his words.

The silence that follows is deafening. Even the forest seems to hold its breath. A jay calls somewhere in the distance, the sound harsh and accusatory.

Finn rises slowly, mud dripping from his clothes, his face a mask of pure anger. "You'll regret this," he hisses. "You'll regret this bitterly." Mud trickles down his cheek like dark tears.

"Finn, wait!" Mira appears from nowhere, her voice worried. "She didn't mean..."

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Finn's cry echoes among the trees as he runs away, leaving muddy footprints behind him.

I stand there, frozen, my heart hammering against my ribs. The reality of what I've done slowly sinks in. I've never pushed anyone before, never lost control like this. His words still ring in my ears, hitting too close to truths I didn't want to face.

Rosso appears shortly after, looking nervously between me and the direction Finn disappeared in. "Maybe... maybe we should talk to him?"

"Yes," Claire says softly, squeezing my shoulder. "It can't end like this. Finn can be an idiot, but he's our friend."

But when Mira and Rosso reach him, Finn is adamant. "I don't want anything to do with her anymore," he says, trembling with anger. "If you want to play with the weirdo, go ahead."

The rest of the afternoon passes in a tense atmosphere. They try to resume the game, but it's like a dark cloud has settled over us. I keep rubbing my hands on my dress, as if trying to wipe away what I did, but the feeling won't go away. Something has broken today - not just between me and Finn, but inside me too.

"Claire," I whisper, my voice sounding strange even to myself, "we need to go home. Something's wrong."

Claire looks at me, puzzled. "Are you sure? We're having fun... more or less."

I remain still for a few seconds, staring at the ground. My right hand goes to nervously stroke my left elbow - a gesture Claire knows well. It's what I do when I'm truly worried about something. The whispers might be gone, but something else has taken their place - a growing certainty that danger is approaching.

Claire studies me carefully. I know she sees it - the fear I'm trying to hide, the trembling I can't quite control. I'm usually the strong one between us, the one who doesn't scare easily. Seeing me like this, so visibly disturbed, must be rare. And worrying.

"Okay," Claire says simply, without asking any more questions. "Let's go."

We walk away in silence, leaving Mira and Rosso looking perplexed. I feel the weight of their stares on my back, and I can't help but wonder if I'll ever see all my friends together again, like before. But there's something bigger worrying me, something dark that seems to be getting closer and closer, like a shadow that grows at sunset.