Pro liar

The walk back to the room was quiet, the halls dimly lit and empty. My steps echoed softly, a rhythm that matched the faint thudding of my heart. I kept my head down, avoiding eye contact with anyone I passed, which wasn't many people, thankfully.

Maya's barrage of questions had left me feeling rattled but oddly triumphant. I'd lied through my teeth, claiming I was cold and tired after the night in the cave, weaving my words like a seasoned storyteller. 

"Pro liar," I muttered under my breath, a faint smirk pulling at my lips. It wasn't something to be proud of, but it had worked. Maya had dropped it, and I'd escaped. Barely.

The truth was, I wasn't cold or tired. I felt hot, almost feverish, my body still buzzing from earlier. And sleep? That was going to be impossible. My nerves were frayed, my thoughts a jumbled mess of what had happened with Zaya and what it all meant.