Chapter 8: Dimming Light
300 Words
The days that followed felt… wrong. Everything in Aeris’s life suddenly seemed out of place, out of balance. School, her friends, even the small, comforting routines she’d always relied on now felt foreign. And the only thing that seemed to make sense was Lucian.
But now, after the encounter with Vance, Aeris had more questions than answers.
Every time she tried to get closer to Lucian, to understand the secrets he held, he pulled away. He was more distant than ever, and though he’d told her to stay away from Vance, Aeris couldn’t help but feel that there was more at play—something bigger than either of them.
One afternoon, after a tense silence between them during a literature project, Aeris found herself standing in front of Lucian after class. Her heart raced, a mix of frustration and worry churning inside her.
“Lucian, please. I need to know what’s going on. I don’t understand any of this. What was that all about with Vance? Who is he?” Aeris’s voice trembled slightly as she forced herself to speak, the words rushing out before she could stop them.
Lucian’s eyes darkened, and for a moment, Aeris thought he might snap at her. But instead, he sighed deeply, his shoulders slumping in defeat.
“I’ve been trying to keep you safe, Aeris,” Lucian said, his voice strained. “From him. From everything. But I can’t keep you in the dark forever.”
Aeris’s heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean?”
Lucian took a deep breath, his gaze flickering to the ground. When he spoke again, his voice was low, almost as if he were talking to himself more than to her.
“I’m not who you think I am,” he whispered.
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To be continued…
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