About 25 minutes in, I caught up to Nico. For a while, we were both quiet. Neither of us had anything to say to the other. Until, Nico said, “You know, I was kind of hoping we could all be friends. But now…” His voice trailed off. “Now you want to kill me, you hate me, I’m a terrible person, I cost you your spot on the team, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Right?” I finished for him. He looked down, not replying. That was an answer enough. We continued walking in silence. “I am so mad at you right now, Elias,” he said. “I have been working for this for so long, you come here, and mess it all up. Being part of this team was the only thing keeping me safe. I have no other ties to T.R.I.B.A.U.M., and now it’s gone. They’re going to make me leave. And even if they don’t, I’m going to feel like I should. I’m not helping with anything now. I’d just be something else to deal with. The leaders have been trying to help as many people as they can, but the majority of Salef are still in their houses, while the demons and Elite are roaming around freely. This was my life. My family doesn’t know where I am. They’re all at home. They all think that I got attacked by demons in the first fight. If I go home now, they’re going to want answers, and I can’t give them those. Elias, you have no idea what it’s like, being separated from your family not just by distance, but by all the secrets you know you can’t tell them,” Nico ranted.
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“I do know what it’s like,” I said quietly. “What?” he snapped. “I do know what it’s like,” I said again. Nico clenched his hands into tight fists. “You can’t just let me talk for one minute about everything I’m going through! No, you need to make it about you, because you know how everyone is always feeling. You’ve been through it all, you know exactly how everything feels for everyone. Because it’s all the same to you. You had to deal with the Elite, and sure, they were terrible to you, but that was one thing that happened to you. I can guarantee that you have secrets, but I can also guarantee that some are different from mine. You can’t know what it’s like, because you are not me!” Nico shouted.
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I looked down, shakily breathing. “Nico, I didn’t mean it like that,” I said. “I know you didn't, but that’s how I heard it. I’m going to wait here for a little while. Please keep walking. I don’t want to be near you anymore,” he replied, setting down his bag. “Fine,” I spat, and I kept on hiking. There was probably another half hour left in the hike.157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMheQVKbwMJ
