SHADOW UNCOVERED
273 Words
Ava's words hung in the air like a challenge, and Lyra felt her walls crumbling. Zephyr's hand on her knee was a grounding force, but she couldn't shake the feeling of being exposed.
"What do you think you know?" Lyra asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ava leaned back, a sly smile spreading across her face. "I know you submitted a piece that wasn't entirely... yours. And I know why you did it."
The café's noise faded into the background as Lyra's heart sank. How did Ava find out? The memory of that night was a tangle of emotions – desperation, fear, and a dash of recklessness.
Zephyr's eyes snapped to hers, a question in their depths. Lyra felt her face heat up, a mix of shame and defiance rising in her chest.
"That's not true," Lyra said, her voice a little too loud.
Ava raised an eyebrow. "Don't lie, Lyra. I have proof." She pulled out her phone, scrolling through photos. "See? This is you, working on the piece. And this... this is the original artwork, created by someone else."
Lyra's world was spinning. How did Ava get these photos? And what did she want in return for her silence?
Zephyr's voice was gentle. "Lyra, what happened? You can trust me."
Lyra's eyes dropped, her voice barely audible. "I was desperate. I needed the recognition, the scholarship. I didn't think I'd get caught."
Ava's smile grew wider. "And now, you're getting recognition. But for something that's not entirely yours. What will your fans say if they find out?"
The threat hung in the air, and Lyra knew she was in trouble.
- Writer
