THE MEETING
306 Words
Lyra's heart was a drumbeat as she pushed open the café door, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sweet pastries enveloping her like a warm hug. Ava's text had been a whisper in the dark, a summons she couldn't ignore. Zephyr's hand on her back was a steady presence, his eyes narrowed in concern.
"Hey, you okay?" he murmured, his voice a gentle hum in her ear.
Lyra nodded, trying to smile. "Yeah, just... let's get this over with."
Ava was already seated, sipping a latte, her eyes gleaming like embers in the dim light. Her gaze flicked to Zephyr, and for a moment, Lyra saw a flicker of intrigue, a spark of curiosity.
"Hey," Ava said, her smile a slow bloom. "Thanks for coming."
Lyra slid into the booth, Zephyr beside her, his thigh brushing against hers. Ava leaned in, her voice a husky whisper. "I know things, Lyra. About your past. About what happened."
Lyra's pulse skipped a beat. "What are you talking about?" The café's noise faded into the background, and all she could hear was the thound of her own heartbeat.
Ava's eyes locked onto hers, a hint of intensity in her gaze. "The incident at the art competition. The one you didn't win." Lyra's breath caught. That was a wound still raw, still festering. "I was there, Lyra. I saw what happened. And I know why you did what you did."
Zephyr's eyes darted between them, sensing the tension. Ava's words hung in the air, a tantalizing promise of secrets revealed. Lyra's mind was racing – what did Ava know? And what would she do with that knowledge?
The air was thick with anticipation, the city's pulse beating in time with Lyra's heart. She felt Zephyr's gaze on her, his eyes asking questions she wasn't ready to answer. Not yet.
- Writer
