Between two realities

✨three✨

reached for the keys in her backpack, she noticed the slight tremble in her hands—but she shook it off.

“Took you long enough.”

The sarcastic voice of her foster sister rang out as she opened the door.

Mackie Vale stood at a towering height of 5'6. She was a brunette with a perfect face, perfect legs, and an attitude far less pretty than her appearance.

Lyra lowered her head slightly.

Explaining that it took longer walking than driving an high-end car would only make things worse. She had learned that long ago.

Giving Mackie the satisfaction of superiority was always easier.

“Where is my laundry?” Mackie asked, hands on her hips.

“In the washing machine,” Lyra replied curtly, her head still lowered.

“That’s hand-wash only, you bimbo. I was very clear that you should use your hands!” Mackie snapped, visibly annoyed.

Lyra stayed silent.

No explanation would save her.

Mackie was about to continue when her phone rang. One glance at the caller ID and her expression shifted instantly.

She shot Lyra one last glare before walking away.

A soft, honey-toned “hi babe” followed as she disappeared into her room.

Lyra exhaled quietly and walked to her own room.

Sometimes… she honestly preferred the noisy life at the orphanage.

At least there, people were real.

No masks. No performances.

The Valves had adopted her three years ago.

She had been ecstatic.

For the first time, she thought she had found a family after everything she had lost.

After all, no one wanted a fifteen-year-old girl.

But the Valves had looked at her like she mattered.

So she followed them.

She called them mum and dad.

But reality had been cruel.

Only when the cameras flashed and the press gathered did she understand.

Mr Valve had held her shoulder tightly, smiling for the cameras.

A “good family story,” they had called it.

A campaign.

They never wanted her.

They wanted the title.

Lyra shook the thought away.

It didn’t matter anymore.

They gave her food. Shelter. Clothes.

That was enough.

She lay on her bed, her mind drifting back to the dream… and the strange sky from earlier that afternoon.

“I’ll just close my eyes for a second…”

When she opened them again, the room was dark.

No one had called her for dinner.

She checked her phone.

12:07 a.m.

She sighed and got up.

The hallway lights were still on as she stepped out.

“Oh… you’re awake.”

The voice startled her slightly.

Jules.

The only son of the Valves.

He stood in the living room, tall—around 6'2—with dirty blonde hair and a calm expression. Out of everyone in the house… he was the only one who treated her like family.

He smiled faintly.

Lyra relaxed a little and walked over, noticing the pizza on the table.

“Here,” he said, handing her a slice.

She took it immediately, biting into it.

“I thought you wouldn’t be back for another two months,” she said mid-chew.

Jules made a face at her talking with her mouth full, but didn’t complain.

“Yeah… I came back early. Needed a break.” He shrugged. “More like hiding from an angry ex. Trisha didn’t take the breakup well.”

Lyra chuckled softly.

Then Jules tilted his head slightly.

“Hey… did you notice what happened this afternoon? The sky thing.”

Lyra froze for a fraction of a second.

“No,” she said quickly.

Too quickly.

Her voice came out sharper than she intended.

Jules studied her for a moment, then shrugged.

“Alright then. I’m heading to bed. Eat the rest or put it in the fridge.”

He stood and walked away without waiting for a response.

Silence returned.

Lyra stared at the pizza.

“Maybe it was just my imagination…” she whispered.

“I can’t control the weather.”

A shaky breath.

“Probably just that stupid dream… I’m sleep deprived.”

She took another bite.

Later, she finished eating, drank a glass of water, and headed back to her room.

The house went dark.

Too dark.

“Seriously?” she muttered. “Now?”

The lights had gone out.

She cursed under her breath and felt her way down the hallway.

Then—

She saw it.

A ripple.

Not light. Not shadow.

Something in between.

Like reality itself had split open.

A thin glowing line cut through the air.

On the other side—

A forest.

The same one from her dream.

Silent.

Endless.

Alive.

And in it—

The creature.

Its golden eyes locked onto her immediately.

It made a sound.

Not quite a roar.

Not quite a call.

Something like a chirp… distorted by distance.

And then—

She heard it.

Her name.

Lyra froze.

Her breath caught.

The world around her felt unreal, like it was slipping away at the edges.

Slowly, instinctively, she reached out toward the line.

Toward the other side.

But before her fingers could touch it—

It vanished.

The lights flickered back on.

The hallway was normal again.

Empty.

Still.

But Lyra stood frozen in place.

Because she knew, with terrifying certainty…

That wasn’t a dream.

And it wasn’t gone.