before the strom
[That Night — An Abandoned Rooftop by the River]
The city glittered in the distance, reflected in the dark water like broken pieces of glass. They sat on an old, rusted rooftop, the hum of traffic below them like a lullaby.
The air smelled of rain and electricity. The storm was coming — but not just the weather. They both felt it.
Samaira Sterling FL
(whispering)
This… this is my favorite place now.
Adrien Gilbert ML
(smiling faintly)
Even though it’s falling apart?
Samaira Sterling FL
Maybe because of that. Perfect things make me nervous. This place… you… you’re real.
She leaned against him, head resting on his shoulder.
Samaira Sterling FL
I don’t want to go back, Liam.
Adrien Gilbert ML
Then don’t.
She closed her eyes, trying to imagine a life where that was possible. No arranged marriage. No cold mother’s orders. No headlines.
Samaira Sterling FL
(quietly)
What if they find me?
Adrien Gilbert ML
Then we run. As far as we can. In that old van Noah’s fixing up. No maps. No names. Just road and sky.
Samaira Sterling FL
(Smiled through the ache in her chest.)
Promise me… one last night. Pretend it’s ours.
Adrien Gilbert ML
(touching her face gently)
I promise.
[Later — Under a Blanket of Stars]
They lay side by side, the world a quiet hum around them.
Samaira Sterling FL
Tell me a story.
Adrien Gilbert ML
About what?
Samaira Sterling FL
About us. Somewhere far away. Where no one knows my name.
Adrien Gilbert ML
(smiling in the dark):
Alright… there’s a girl with wildfire in her eyes, and a boy with nothing but a heart too big for his chest. They live in a tiny beach town, run a bookstore-slash-café where no one cares who you used to be. Every night they watch the sun melt into the ocean, and every morning they wake up free.
Samaira Sterling FL
(reached for his hand in the dark, fingers weaving with his.)
That’s the only story I want.
Adrien Gilbert ML
Then let’s make it real.
They fell asleep like that — hearts tangled, the stars their only witnesses.
[Morning — The First Rays of Trouble]
A car engine roared nearby. Black SUVs. Suits.
Vivienne Sterling’s people.
Guard (into a radio)
We found her. Prepare to move in.
Unaware, Aurora stirred, sighing contentedly.
The storm had come.
Comments
TheNihilist
How can you end a chapter like that?! I need to know what happens next!
2025-04-14
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