When the Sun End

Chapter 5: Cracks in the Surface

Aeris had always been the quiet, observant type, content with watching life unfold around her. But ever since meeting Lucian, life had become anything but ordinary. The once simple, predictable days of high school had turned into something much more unpredictable.

It wasn’t just his dark, mysterious presence or his strange comments that intrigued her. It was the way he seemed to know things—things about her, things about the world, things that no one should know at their age.

Every conversation with him left her questioning herself.

"How long has it been since you truly lived?" Lucian had asked her one afternoon, his voice low and thoughtful. They were sitting on the rooftop again, the sun casting long shadows across the city below. His eyes were distant, as though he were searching for something beyond the horizon.

Aeris blinked, surprised by the question. “What do you mean?”

Lucian’s lips curled into a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "You’ve spent your whole life doing what’s expected of you. What about doing what you want for once? You’ve never broken the rules, never taken a chance."

Her stomach tightened. He was right. Aeris had never really taken a risk.

It was always about doing well in school, following the rules, making sure she stayed out of trouble. She had never strayed too far from the path laid out for her. But now, as Lucian’s words hung in the air, something inside her stirred—a spark of rebellion she didn’t know she had.

"Maybe I don’t need to," she said quietly, trying to shake off the discomfort his words had caused.

Lucian leaned forward, his gaze intense. "You’re wrong. Everyone needs to live, Aeris. Don’t let life pass you by while you’re busy trying to be perfect."

The silence between them stretched, heavy with unspoken truths. Aeris couldn’t help but wonder—what would happen if she did take a chance?

---

The next few days passed in a blur. Aeris went through the motions—attending classes, meeting with Lucian for their project, and avoiding the whispers that had begun to spread throughout school. Everyone had noticed Lucian’s presence. Some were fascinated by him, others were wary, but everyone agreed on one thing—he was different.

One afternoon, while walking home from school, Aeris was stopped by Mia.

"Aeris, can I talk to you?" Mia asked, her voice sounding more serious than usual.

Aeris paused, glancing over at her friend. "What’s wrong?"

Mia hesitated before speaking, her expression guarded. "I don’t know how to say this, but I’ve heard things about Lucian. Strange things."

Aeris frowned. "What do you mean?"

Mia lowered her voice, glancing around before speaking. "I heard he’s been in trouble before. Like, really bad trouble. They say he doesn’t stay in one school for long. Something about his family, but no one knows for sure."

Aeris’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be true? She had noticed the secrecy that surrounded Lucian. He was always alone, always distant from everyone else. But trouble?

She didn’t know what to think. She didn’t want to believe it.

But as the days went on, Lucian seemed to grow more unpredictable. He would disappear for hours, sometimes returning to school with an air of impatience and frustration. It was as if something dark and heavy was weighing on him—something that Aeris couldn’t understand.