The Last Light

Bound by secrets

Morning sunlight spilled weakly through the curtains, striping the floor of Novera’s room. The pendant on her desk pulsed faintly, a soft rhythm that almost matched her heartbeat. She had barely slept — dreams of Tavros’s shadow in the mist still haunted her.When she arrived at school, the corridor buzzed with noise, but it all felt distant. Miss Shirley’s sharp voice snapped through the air, making a group of students straighten instantly. “Eyes on your books! Not on the window!” she barked. She was known for her strictness — every student feared her temper.As Novera walked in, Miss Shirley’s tone softened, she said to Novera, “I hope you are alright now and you can pay attention in class.”She assured her that everything was alright and there was no need to be sympathetic.By lunchtime, the weight in Novera’s chest grew heavier. She needed to tell someone — not everyone, but them. She motioned for Veyra and Arlo to follow her to the old art room, a quiet sanctuary smelling of paint and turpentine.Novera sat on a stool, fingers twisting together. “You two… you’re the only ones I can tell this to.”Veyra leaned forward, frowning. “Tell us what?”“I wasn’t just sick,” Novera began, her voice trembling. “The doctors said the leukemia might come back. Worse. I don’t know how long I have.”The room fell silent.Arlo froze, his hand tightening on the edge of the table. “No… they’ll treat it again, right? They have to.”Novera shook her head weakly. “Not this time.”Veyra’s face drained of color. “Wait— you knew?” she asked, her voice rising in disbelief. “Your mom told me not to say anything! She said you didn’t know yet!”Novera looked down, tears pooling in her eyes. “My brother told me about it in the hospital. I didn’t want anyone to look at me differently.”Veyra covered her mouth, eyes glistening. “You’re unbelievable,” she whispered, half angry, half heartbroken. “You kept that from us?”“I had to,” Novera said softly. “Please — if anyone asks, just tell them I went to stay with my mom at the hospital. I don’t want pity.”Veyra nodded slowly, wiping her cheeks. “Fine. But next time, you tell us first.”Arlo finally spoke, his tone quiet but steady. “We’ll keep your secret, Novera. You don’t have to carry it alone anymore.”Novera gave a shaky smile. “Thank you.”For a moment, silence settled again. Then, as she looked at Arlo, her mind drifted — remembering the first time he’d asked her out. She had turned him down then, not because she didn’t like him, but because of the scars her past relationships had left behind.She’d been hurt before — by people who promised forever but left found that the were liars. That fear had built walls she didn’t even realize were still standing.Now, looking at Arlo’s quiet concern, she wondered if maybe — just maybe — this time could be different.The tension eased a little when Arlo cleared his throat awkwardly. “Actually… I was going to ask you something before all this.”She blinked. “What is it?”He hesitated, scratching the back of his neck. “The school fair’s next week. Maybe you’d want to go? With me. Just as friends — or whatever you’d like it to be.”Novera’s lips curved faintly. “You’ve been working up the courage for weeks, haven’t you?”Arlo turned red. “Maybe.”Veyra smirked. “Finally! Took you long enough.”Novera chuckled quietly. “Alright, Arlo. I’ll go. But if you drag me onto the spinning wheel, I’m walking home.”He grinned. “Deal.”For a brief moment, the heaviness lifted — replaced by warmth and the comfort of friendship.That evening, Novera found her mother sitting in the dimly lit living room. The air felt thick, filled with the scent of old wood and rain. On the table sat a small wooden box — its carvings faded with time.Her mother’s voice trembled. “There’s something you need to know. About Tavros.”Novera’s pulse quickened. “What about him?”Her mother opened the box. Inside were a few old baby clothes, a folded letter, and a photograph of a couple holding a small boy — Tavros.“He wasn’t born into this family,” her mother said quietly. “We adopted him before you were born. After your father and sister died in that accident when I was still pregnant with you, I couldn’t stand the silence of this house and the stress of taking care of you alone, also knowing fully well that you will demand for a sibling. I thought bringing in another child might fill the emptiness.”Novera’s eyes widened. “You mean Tavros came before me?”Her mother nodded, tears glinting. “He was found on the church steps during your dad and sister’s funeral. There was no note, just this pendant beside him.”She smiled faintly. “I felt that it was a comforting gift from above.”Novera looked down at the glowing charm resting against her chest.“Strange things happened around him,” her mother continued. “Lights flickered, whispers filled the rooms. Later, I learned that his real mother was part of an ancient order — guardians of something called The Veil of Souls. I kept it from you because I didn’t want it to take you too because of the bond you have with Tavros.”The pendant pulsed softly, as if remembering.Novera lifted it in her palm. “But it already has,” she whispered.Her mother’s breath caught. “Novera, no—”“If Tavros is trapped in the Veil,” she said firmly, “then that’s where I’ll go.”That night she called her friends and told them what she was about to do. They decided to meet up at the old bridge near the forest edge.That night, under the silver glow of the moon, Novera met Veyra and Arlo at the old bridge near the forest edge. Mist curled around their ankles, and the pendant’s faint blue light shimmered through the fog.Arlo adjusted his backpack. “You’re really doing this?”“I have to,” Novera said. “He’s my brother — no matter where he came from.”Veyra rolled her eyes, trying to hide her fear. “Then we’re coming. Someone has to keep you alive.”Novera smiled softly. “You two are insane.”“Yeah,” Veyra said, grinning through her tears, “but we’re your kind of insane.”As dawn broke, the pendant glowed brighter, its light carving a path through the trees.Novera took a deep breath. “If this is how I spend the rest of my time,” she whispered, “then let it be for him.”And with that, the three stepped into the forest — into the mist, the whispers, and the secrets waiting to be found.