JUST A DREAM
1105 Words
The air outside was sharp, cold, and biting. Elena’s breath formed clouds as she hurried along the quiet streets, clutching her coat tightly around her. Every step made her heart race faster, and every sound — a distant car, the whisper of wind — made her flinch.
She had arranged the meeting. The sender’s message had been simple, precise, and impossible to ignore: Tomorrow. Afternoon. Meet me. She didn’t know who it was, but she had learned to trust her instincts — and now, her instincts screamed that she could not delay.
Homegirl’s calm voice echoed in her earpiece, a soft counterpoint to the tension in her chest. “Elena, remain observant. Do not engage until you are ready. Remember your plan.”
“I know, Homegirl,” Elena muttered, her voice tight. “But I have a feeling I’m about to meet someone dangerous.”
The café where they were to meet appeared ahead, quiet and mostly empty. Elena stepped inside, scanning every corner, her eyes sharp, calculating. Her fingers hovered near her bag, ready, alert.
A chair across the room creaked as someone moved. Elena’s eyes locked on a figure already standing by the window, silhouetted against the winter light. She felt her stomach twist.
The person turned, and her breath caught.
It was the bride. The runaway bride — the one who had vanished on the wedding day, leaving chaos behind. Her hair was styled carefully, her expression composed, but her eyes were sharp, calculating, and cold.
Elena swallowed, forcing herself to remain calm. She had prepared for anything, trained herself for confrontation, and yet the sight of this woman — poised, deliberate, untouchable — made her pulse spike.
The bride’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile. “Elena Hayes,” she said, her voice smooth, almost mocking. “We finally meet.”
Elena’s fingers tightened around her bag strap. She nodded slowly, keeping her tone measured. “Yes. It seems we do.”
“I’ve been trying to reach you,” the bride continued, walking closer. “I see you handle things efficiently. Very impressive.”
Elena raised an eyebrow. “I manage situations. That’s my job.”
The bride tilted her head, as if assessing her. “Your job seems to include protecting people. Protecting… him.”
Elena stiffened slightly but didn’t show it. She knew this was the bait. The bride wanted a reaction. She wanted Elena to give herself away.
“I protect no one unless I choose to,” Elena said carefully.
The bride’s smile widened, revealing a subtle edge of amusement. “Interesting. So, this is why Josh hasn’t seen you yet. I wondered how someone could handle the wedding chaos and remain… unnoticed.”
Elena’s mind raced. Every word the bride spoke carried layers, subtle threats hidden beneath politeness. She had to stay calm. She had to appear in control.
“I don’t know what you’re implying,” Elena replied evenly. “But I don’t involve myself in other people’s business.”
The bride leaned slightly closer, her tone dropping. “Oh, I think you do. I’ve been watching. You handle him, don’t you? Protect him, manage the situation, all while staying… invisible. Clever.”
Elena’s jaw tightened. She kept her face neutral, but her mind was spinning. This woman was dangerous — precise, smart, and unpredictable. Every word, every movement seemed designed to unsettle her.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Elena said softly, almost as a warning. “And I don’t want trouble.”
The bride chuckled lightly, the sound sharp in the quiet café. “Trouble? No, Elena. I’m here for curiosity. I want to see who is capable enough to handle what I left behind.”
Elena’s stomach twisted. She understood now. The bride had left chaos intentionally, testing people, leaving destruction in her wake — and now, she had come to see who could manage it.
“Curiosity is dangerous,” Elena said, voice firm. “Especially when it involves people who don’t deserve it.”
The bride’s eyes flicked, sharp, calculating. “I suppose. But curiosity has its advantages. It reveals truth. Strength. Cleverness. And you… you’ve impressed me.”
Elena blinked. She didn’t let the compliment settle. She knew better. It was a weapon, disguised as admiration.
“You should leave, then,” Elena said, rising slightly. Her stance was careful, deliberate. “Before this becomes something you’ll regret.”
The bride smiled, but there was no warmth in it. “Regret is relative, Elena. I think we’re just getting started.”
Elena’s pulse quickened. She could feel the tension in the room, sharp and electrifying. Every instinct told her to act, to leave, to plan her next move — and yet she couldn’t. She had to understand the bride’s intentions first.
“I have nothing to give you,” Elena said evenly. “No information. No cooperation.”
The bride’s eyes narrowed slightly. “We’ll see.” She paused, letting the silence stretch. “Tomorrow, the world will shift slightly, and you will see why I came back.”
Elena’s mind raced. She didn’t understand fully, but the warning was clear. This woman had a plan, one that involved Josh, one that Elena had to protect him from. She had to anticipate, strategize, and remain steps ahead.
“You should leave now,” Elena repeated, voice firm. “Before things get… unpleasant.”
The bride laughed lightly, a sound like ice breaking. “Unpleasant, perhaps. But necessary. We will meet again. Soon.”
Before Elena could respond, the bride turned and walked toward the door, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. Every step echoed, a reminder of the power and presence she carried.
Elena remained where she was, chest tight, mind spinning. Homegirl’s soft hum was a quiet reminder of calm, but Elena knew that the storm had only just begun.
As the café door closed behind the bride, Elena’s phone buzzed. She picked it up, hands trembling slightly.
Unknown number:
See you soon.
—and woke up.
She sat upright in bed, breath sharp, heart pounding violently against her ribs. Her sheets were tangled around her legs, her hair damp with sweat.
“Homegirl,” she whispered.
“Yes, Elena.”
She pressed a hand to her chest. “I had a dream.”
“I detected elevated heart rate and stress indicators. Would you like grounding assistance?”
Elena exhaled slowly. “No. I’m okay.”
She looked around her room. Quiet. Still. Real.
“It was just a dream,” she said aloud.
But her chest still felt tight.
- Writer
