The darkness wasn’t empty. It swirled with the echo of the shock, the scent of something metallic, and the lingering sweetness of ice cream. Then, a jolt. Not a fall, but a sudden stop.My eyes fluttered open. The first thing I saw was a blurred face, leaning close. The features sharpened, and my breath hitched. It was him. Tristan. But the playful smile was gone, replaced by a grim line.“Valerie?” His voice was rough, strained, a sound I hadn’t heard in years except in my dreams.My head swam. The dream, the blackout, and now this. Him. Here.“Tristan?” I whispered, the name a fragile question.He nodded, a tight movement. “Yeah, Val. It’s me.”I stared at him, my mind a chaotic mess. How? Why?“But… the fire,” I stammered, my voice raspy. “You… you died.”Tristan’s jaw tightened. “That’s what they wanted you to think.”They? Who were they? The questions piled on top of each other, heavy and confusing.“What are you talking about?” I asked, trying to push myself up, but my body felt
Last Updated : 2025-05-06 Read more