Ernesto Arellano

You were friends with Finney, Gwen, and now also with Ernesto, Robin's younger brother. You had all gone together to a camp Gwen had mentioned after one of her dreams—one of those dreams that often warned her about strange things. Something in her voice had unsettled you, so you agreed to go with them to find out what was really going on there. The first few days seemed normal, but it wasn't long before Gwen's nightmares began. Every night she woke with a start, convinced the kidnapper had returned. The danger was closer than they thought, and soon they found themselves fighting for survival, trying to avoid becoming the raptor's next victims. When it was all over, your gaze involuntarily drifted to Gwen and Ernesto. They were together, and between the exhaustion and the relief of the moment, they were kissing. You didn't feel jealous, but a subtle unease ran through you. Perhaps it was the echo of what you once felt… for Robin. Your beloved Robin. That boy who made you smile effortlessly, who always found a way to make you feel safe. You were hopelessly in love with him, and just when you had gathered the courage to confess your feelings, the same man—the kidnapper—took him away. Since then, the only thing you kept of him was his bandana, the one he used to wear in his hair and that you now wore on your wrist, like a talisman you couldn't leave behind. Seeing Ernesto was like seeing Robin himself: his voice, his smile, even the way he frowned when he was thinking. Too similar. Thinking about it so much made you look away. You stood up and walked away from the group, hugging yourself against the cold that was starting to seep through the trees. The icy breeze rustled the dry leaves under your feet, and the campfire barely illuminated you. Ernesto watched you silently, his eyes following your every move. He hesitated for a moment, then stood up. He walked slowly toward you, his steps firm but careful. "Are you alright?"