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Jepex sat in the corner of his fox farm, watching as the foxes scurried around, their soft paws rustling the grass. They darted around eachother, noses twitching as they eyed the axes lying on the ground. It was always amusing, seeing them pick up the tools, carrying them in their mouths like prized treasures.
As he waited for the foxes to do their thing, he absentmindedly unwrapped a candy bar, the familiar crinkle of the wrapper momentarily grounding him. He wasn’t even sure why he brought it with him today, but he figured something sweet might help calm his nerves. Lately, with everything going on—the killing, the plans, the constant grind—his mind had been slipping back into old places, memories that he would rather keep buried. Eating helped, sometimes. A small reminder that things were different now.
But the fear, the guilt—it never really went away.
He took a bite of the candy bar, the chocolate melting in his mouth, but before he could even enjoy the taste, a voice cut through the moment.
“Hey, Jepex!” Zam called, dropping down into the farm with his usual carefree energy. He spotted Jepex immediately, eyes catching the candy bar in his hand. With a smirk, he added, “Ooh, what’s that? A snack?”
Jepex offered a small, tense smile, trying to keep things casual. “Yeah, just something sweet. Waiting for the foxes to—”
But before he could finish, Zam dashed forward with a playful laugh, swiping the candy bar right out of Jepex’s hand. “Too slow! Guess it’s mine now!” Zam joked, already turning to run in the other direction, his steps light and teasing.
The world around Jepex seemed to freeze.
In an instant, his chest tightened, breath hitching as panic flared. It wasn’t about the candy bar. It was never just about the food. His mind spiraled back, faster than he could stop it—back to the days when food was something you fought for, something that could be snatched away at any moment, leaving you cold, starving, and desperate. Those days when survival meant nothing was certain, when losing even a single meal felt like losing everything.
“Zam—” Jepex’s voice cracked, but it wasn’t loud enough. The panic surged through him, and before he knew it, he was on his feet, moving faster than his body had ever intended. “Zam, give it back!”
Zam, still grinning, didn’t catch the shift in Jepex’s tone right away. “Relax, I’m just messing around. I’ll give it back in a sec,” he said over his shoulder, but when he turned around again, his playful expression faltered.
Jepex’s face was pale, eyes wide and filled with something Zam didn’t understand. He wasn’t just annoyed—he was terrified. The way Jepex’s body was shaking, the way he was struggling to breathe—this wasn’t just about a candy bar.
Zam froze, his hand still holding the now half-eaten candy, and the smile that had been on his face just moments ago disappeared completely.
“Jepex?” Zam asked quietly, slowly lowering the candy. “Hey, man, I was just kidding. I didn’t mean—”
But Jepex wasn’t listening. His breaths came out ragged, shallow, his fists clenched at his sides like he was preparing to fight something invisible. The panic was overtaking him, swallowing him whole, dragging him back to places he never wanted to revisit. His heart raced in his chest, a crushing weight that seemed to steal the air from his lungs.
“I—I can’t…” Jepex stammered, his voice barely a whisper now, eyes darting around as if searching for something, anything, to anchor himself to.
Zam’s eyes widened in alarm. This wasn’t right. Jepex wasn’t supposed to react like this. He had seen him fight mobs without breaking a sweat, raid enemy bases with a calm precision, but this? This was different. This was something else. Something worse.
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry,” Zam said quickly, his voice softening as he slowly approached, the candy bar held out in front of him like a peace offering. “Here, it’s yours. I didn’t mean to—”
But before he could finish, Jepex flinched back, his whole body trembling, and Zam knew he was out of his depth.
“Mapic!” Zam called, his voice echoing through the fox farm. “Mapic, get over here, quick!”
It wasn’t long before Mapic’s familiar footsteps approached from the entrance, his eyes narrowing in confusion when he saw the scene. Jepex was standing, frozen, his breathing uneven, while Zam held out the candy bar, looking more panicked than Jepex had ever seen him.
“What the hell happened?” Mapic asked, moving toward Jepex, his voice low and steady.
Zam’s words tumbled out in a rush. “I—I was just messing around. I took his candy bar, you know, as a joke. But then he freaked out, and I don’t know why—he just… he’s not okay.”
Mapic’s face darkened with understanding almost immediately. He stepped closer to Jepex, placing a hand on his shoulder, his touch gentle but firm.
“Jepex, it’s okay,” Mapic said quietly. “You’re here, with us. You’re safe.”
Jepex’s eyes flickered toward Mapic, his breathing still uneven but slowing slightly at the sound of his friend’s voice. “I—I’m sorry. I just—” He struggled to form the words, his mind still trapped in that chaotic, fearful place.
Mapic shook his head. “You don’t need to apologize. You’re okay.”
Zam stood there, guilt twisting in his gut. He had no idea what Jepex had gone through, but it was clear that something much deeper was going on. This wasn’t just about a stupid candy bar. He had triggered something, something that wasn’t his to joke about.
“I’m sorry, Jepex,” Zam said softly, his voice thick with regret. “I didn’t know. I didn’t mean to—”
“It’s… it’s fine,” Jepex muttered, though the shakiness in his voice made it clear that it wasn’t. He wiped at his face with the back of his hand, trying to compose himself, but the lingering panic still buzzed beneath the surface. “I just… it’s stupid.”
“It’s not stupid,” Mapic cut in gently but firmly. He glanced at Zam, offering a silent nod of understanding before turning his focus back to Jepex. “You’re not there anymore, Jepex. This isn’t like before. You’re safe now. No one’s taking anything from you.”
Jepex nodded slowly, though it felt more like an attempt to convince himself than anything else. The weight of his past was still there, still pressing down on him in ways he couldn’t control. But with Mapic’s hand steady on his shoulder, and even Zam standing there, regretful and concerned, it felt just a little bit lighter.
Mapic squeezed his shoulder one last time before gently taking the candy bar from Zam’s hand and offering it back to Jepex. “Here. It’s yours.”
Jepex hesitated for a moment before taking it, his fingers brushing the wrapper as if testing the reality of the situation. He let out a shaky breath, the tension slowly easing from his frame.
“Thanks,” he whispered, his voice still quiet but steadier now.
Zam watched him carefully, still unsure of what exactly had triggered the reaction but knowing one thing for certain: he wasn’t going to make that mistake again.
“I’m really sorry, man,” Zam said again, his voice sincere. “If I’d known—”
“It’s fine,” Jepex said, managing a small, tired smile. “Just… don’t run off with my food next time.”
Zam nodded, his smile returning cautiously. “Deal.”