Night of Falling Stars
387 Words
Two nights later, the entire town gathered near the riverbank.
Word had spread that a rare meteor shower would light up the sky.
Children ran across the grass with glowing sticks, couples spread blankets across the ground, and the air smelled like grilled corn and sweet snacks from nearby stalls.
But Allyah couldn’t relax.
She kept glancing at the sky.
Something felt… different.
Luke noticed.
“You okay?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “The stars feel louder tonight.”
Seren stood nearby, staring at the horizon.
“That’s because tonight is special.”
Allyah looked at her.
“How?”
Seren pointed upward.
“The meteor shower only happens once every twenty years.”
Luke’s eyes widened.
“That’s when the last group of Star Listeners appeared.”
Allyah’s heart skipped.
“You mean… us?”
Seren nodded.
“Exactly.”
The sky suddenly flashed.
A bright streak of light cut across the darkness.
The crowd gasped in excitement.
Then another.
And another.
Soon the sky was filled with glowing trails of falling stars.
Allyah’s breath caught.
“It’s beautiful.”
Luke smiled softly.
“Yeah.”
For a moment, everything felt peaceful.
Then the whispers began.
Not one.
Not two.
But dozens.
"Guard the light."
"The balance shifts."
"Beware the seeker."
Allyah pressed her hands against her ears.
“They’re so loud!”
Luke grabbed her shoulders.
“Focus on one voice.”
“I can’t!”
Seren suddenly looked alarmed.
“He’s here.”
Luke turned sharply.
“Who?”
Seren pointed toward the trees across the river.
A tall figure stood in the shadows.
Watching them.
Even from a distance, Allyah felt a strange energy radiating from him.
Luke stepped forward.
“Do you know him?”
Seren’s voice trembled slightly.
“Yes.”
“Who is he?”
Seren’s eyes never left the figure.
“The one who wants the stars’ power.”
At that moment, the mysterious man stepped into the moonlight.
And Allyah’s heart nearly stopped.
Because she recognized him.
“Ethan?”
Luke froze.
“You know him?”
Allyah nodded slowly.
“He used to be our classmate in high school.”
Ethan smiled faintly from across the river.
And the stars above flickered violently.
As if they already knew what was coming next.
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- Writer
