The beach II
1035 Words
They arrived at the beach later than expected.
From a distance, Aurora could already see the glow of a campfire flickering against the darkening sky. A tent had been set up, music playing softly from a speaker nearby. George’s friends were already there.
Aurora stepped out of the car, the salty sea breeze brushing against her face, and followed George toward the group.
Her heart skipped when she recognized them.
Harry Grey—the popular musician who had risen to fame almost overnight.
Bella Dickson—his girlfriend, equally famous, equally admired.
They were the golden couple of her school.
“Hey, guys,” George said, lifting the grocery bags. “Sorry we’re late. We stopped by a store.”
As he dropped the bags near the cooler, a sudden chill ran down Aurora’s spine.
A blue screen snapped into view.
[Card Holder Detected]
[Name: Harry Grey]
[Time Remaining: 37 hours]
Aurora froze.
Her gaze snapped to Harry.
Him?
Her chest tightened. This was the first cardholder the system had shown her—and he was standing right in front of her, laughing, breathing, alive.
“This is Aurora,” George said, gesturing toward her. “Aurora, these are my friends.”
He pointed to the tall Black guy with a low cut and a trimmed mustache.
“That’s Henry.”
Then to the couple.
“That’s Harry… and his girlfriend, Bella.”
Harry didn’t even look their way. His eyes were fixed on the sea, expression distant.
Bella, however, stared openly.
“Well, isn’t that Aurora Fregly?” she said, lips curling. “The Fregly?”
Henry blinked in surprise. “Wait—that Aurora?”
“We’ve heard a lot about you,” he added, then turned away.
Aurora swallowed.
“Why did you bring her here?” Harry suddenly asked, snapping out of his thoughts. His tone held unmistakable disdain.
“My mom told me to,” George replied casually as he unpacked the drinks.
The words stung.
Aurora clenched her fists.
“Well,” Henry said, breaking the tension, glancing at Aurora, “I don’t think she’s that ugly.”
Laughter erupted.
Aurora’s jaw tightened. She shoved her hand into her hoodie pocket, gripping the shortbread she’d bought earlier like a lifeline.
“So,” Bella asked lazily, “how exactly did your mom even meet her?”
George and Aurora exchanged a glance.
Both opened their mouths at once.
“You say it,” Aurora muttered, backing off.
“We’re family friends,” George said smoothly. “She’ll be staying with us for a while.”
Bella nodded, resting her head on Harry’s arm.
“Well, that’s not why we’re here,” Henry said with a grin. “Let’s have some fun.”
“Truth or dare,” Bella said immediately, straightening up.
She grabbed an empty beer bottle and placed it on the cooler lid.
“Rules are simple,” she said, spinning it. “After two truths, the next one has to be a dare.”
The bottle spun… and stopped at George.
“Truth or dare?” Bella asked.
“Dare.”
Bella gasped dramatically. “I dare you to kiss me.”
The beach fell silent.
George stiffened. Aurora’s eyes widened. Henry frowned.
All eyes slowly turned to Harry.
Harry blinked. “What?”
Aurora stood up before she could stop herself. “That’s not okay. He’s your boyfriend.”
Henry scoffed. “Yeah. That’s messed up.”
Bella’s eyes snapped to Aurora. “And who are you to speak?”
Aurora instantly regretted it.
“Don’t forget why you’re here,” Bella continued coldly. “George didn’t even want you here—his mom forced him. Who would willingly hang out with an ugly girl like you?”
The words hit like knives.
Aurora’s vision blurred.
“I’m leaving,” she said shakily, standing up.
George looked up. “You can’t. I’m not leaving yet—and I don’t know how you plan on getting home.”
Aurora hesitated, then slowly sat back down.
Bella smirked.
“Why all the tension?” Harry finally asked, grabbing another beer. “Aren’t we here to relax?”
“Are you even paying attention?” George snapped. “You’ve been out of it all night.”
“There are things on my mind,” Harry said calmly, leaning back. “Bigger than this.”
“I’ll take her home,” Henry suddenly said, standing up.
Bella scoffed.
Aurora let out a quiet breath of relief.
“See you,” Henry said, smiling at Aurora as he walked toward his car.
She followed him.
Henry’s BMW hummed softly as they pulled onto the road.
“Sorry about that,” he said after a moment.
“It’s fine,” Aurora replied, staring out the window. “I’m used to it.”
Henry glanced at her. “I feel like there’s more to how you met George.”
“No,” she said quickly. “It’s just like he said.”
Henry didn’t push.
“You know,” he said instead, “if you hit the gym, your looks would improve.”
Aurora forced a small smile and looked away.
Silence filled the car.
Soon, they pulled up in front of George’s house.
“Thanks,” Aurora murmured as she stepped out.
“Wait,” Henry said. “I didn’t get your contact.”
He handed her his phone through the window.
She hesitated, then typed it in.
“Aurora, right?” he asked with a smirk.
She nodded.
“We’ll talk,” he said before driving off.
Aurora watched the car disappear down the road.
As she turned toward the house.
Aurora collapsed onto her bed, exhaustion weighing heavily on her.
Before she could close her eyes, the system screen flickered back to life.
[Quest Reminder]
Kill a Card Holder
[Time Remaining: 34 Hours]
[Failure = Death]
Fear wrapped tightly around her chest.
She only knew one cardholder.
Harry Grey.
She turned to her side, heart pounding.
“I can’t kill George’s friend,” she whispered.
Her eyes drifted shut.
“I hope the Time Tower gives me another option,” she murmured. “Because I can’t do this.”
- Writer
