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?"

"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."

I don't even realize I've pushed him. One moment he's grinning at me, the next he's staggering backwards, losing his balance and falling heavily onto the rocky ground. The sound of his body hitting the ground makes me shrug and squint, as if I can't defend myself against something dangerous coming straight at my face. Finn lets out a scream of pain as his knee hits a jagged rock and blood begins to spill onto his torn trousers.

His cry echoes through the woods, sharp and painful. Birds scatter from nearby trees, their wings flapping in sudden panic. Leaves rustle with approaching footsteps - the others must have heard him.

"What happened?" Claire bursts into the clearing first, slightly out of breath. Mira and Rosso are right behind her, their eyes going wide at the sight of Finn on the ground.

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"Finn!" Mira rushes forward, dropping to her knees beside him. "Hold still." She places her hands over his bleeding knee. Her face scrunches in concentration, and a soft green glow emanates from her palms.

"Don't touch me!" Finn tries to pull away, but Mira holds firm.

"Stop being stupid," she scolds. "Let me help."

The light pulses gently from her hands, like a heartbeat, and I watch as the bleeding slows, then stops. Finn's torn skin begins to knit back together under the gentle green glow.

"There," Mira sits back, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand. "Good as new."

"That was amazing, Mira!" Rosso exclaims, eyes shining with admiration. "I've never seen anyone heal so quickly at our age!"

Mira stands up and places her hands on her hips, chin lifted proudly and eyes closed with satisfaction. "Well, what can I say? I've been practicing really hard."

But Finn isn't listening to any of this. His eyes are fixed on me, filled with a hatred that makes me take a step back. Mud and leaves cling to his clothes as he rises slowly.

"You'll regret this," he hisses. "You'll regret this bitterly."

"Finn, wait!" Mira calls after him, 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.

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

"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."

A heavy silence falls over us as we watch him disappear between the trees. Claire shifts uncomfortably beside me, then asks, "Well... what should we do now?"

"Keep playing, obviously," Rosso responds with forced cheerfulness. "We can't let one fight ruin everyone's afternoon, right?"

No one seems particularly convinced, but we try anyway.

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.