Peace Nook Novels & Stories

‎Peace, I was learning, had a rhythm. ‎ ‎It wasn’t loud. It didn’t announce itself with fanfare or declarations. It moved quietly through ordinary mornings and steady evenings, settling into the corners of rooms like sunlight. ‎ ‎Two weeks had passed since everything went silent. ‎ ‎No calls. ‎ ‎No threats. ‎ ‎No names whispered like curses. ‎ ‎The world hadn’t ended. ‎ ‎It had simply continued. ‎ ‎I stood near the window of Jayden’s office, watching the city breathe below. The glass reflected my silhouette back at me—calmer than I remembered. Stronger.

Sunlight, real and warm, not the harsh glare of interrogation lamps or the sickly fluorescence of safe houses, streams through the kitchen window. It catches the dust motes dancing above the sink, lands on Brielle’s hair as she hums softly, flipping pancakes. The scent of coffee and maple syrup hangs thick and domestic in the air. *Peace.* The word still feels foreign, ill-fitting in my mouth, like trying to chew velvet. Yet, here it is. Or was.

Chapter Ninety Six: Peace The room was quiet, the hum of the evening outside barely heard through the windows. Rachel sat on the bed, pulled her knees up close to her chest, and looked down at her hands. It had been an emotional day in surges which would leave one drained and still feel lighter than it had in weeks. She had heard Noah's words, taken the weight of his forgiveness, and finally-finally-allowed herself to believe that moving on was possible.

Gloss POV If there was one thing I had learned about peace, it was that it never lasted. Not with Dream. Not with me. Not with the universe apparently running on a subscription plan for chaos. The morning after our domestic towel war, I genuinely thought we might get a break. A quiet day. A normal day. A day where nobody tried to blow up the company, the system ghost didn’t whisper commentary like a bored narrator, and Dream didn’t look at me like I was both his salvation and his personal problem.

He hadn’t even hesitated. Nora had fallen asleep in the car. She was now curled up in the other bed, a stuffed sloth we'd gotten on the way tucked beneath her arm and glittery sneakers tossed carelessly on the floor. I smoothed her curls back from her forehead and watched her chest rise and fall. It hit me then—how fragile the line was between peace and panic. Between safety and fear. Between a soft bed and a sidewalk. And how easily any of us could fall. Renee cleared her throat. “You said you’re starting something… a place?”

I answered their questions. " Wow, what do you have against humans who are nice?". Nova raised another question.. " Nothing, " I laughed, " she's just too nice, peace is pretending ". I added.. We had enough time to explore around the place, we were near the children's ride when I had the urge to go to the toilet, I left Nova and Anna alone, promising to come back after using the ladies room.. I had finished using the ladies room and was about to come outside when I bumped into peace, she came and as usual had such a wide smile on her face..

Even Mateo made an appearance, dropping off a bottle of expensive whiskey with a gruff, “Don’t celebrate too hard.” By evening, it was just Noah and me again, curled up on the couch, a movie playing softly in the background. I traced idle patterns on his chest. “Think it’ll last?” Noah’s fingers stilled in my hair. “What?” “This.” I gestured vaguely. “The peace.” He exhaled, pulling me closer. “Nothing’s ever perfect.” I knew that. Knew there would always be threats, always be challenges. But for now— “It’s enough,” I whispered.

Silence answered. The wine glasses from breakfast sat rinsed by the sink. Nova's travel mug was half-full on the coffee table beside the book she'd been thumbing through, a battered poetry collection with dog-eared pages and wildflower petals marking her place. Her phone still blinked softly on the charger. Damian turned slowly, heart thudding harder now, not from fear, but something more primal. Wrong.

As it prolongs, you retaliate by pressing the pillow harder against your ears. Then It stops. A satisfied grin brushes your lips as you get yourself cozy again, the now soothing silence circling your room giving you full permission to slip your exhausted body into unconsciousness. Not a minute's passed and the once silent room soon echoes from the little ding- that surprisingly sounded much louder than normal- indicating that you just got a message. You grit your teeth. Whoever this person is obviously has a death wish. After adjusting to the afternoon sun, you reach out for your phone and harshly plop right back to bed.

- I mutter without removing the pillow from my face, and even the sound of my voice makes my head throb more from the pain. I realize that the damn thing is not near me, so, without much courage, I stretch my arm a little further, reaching for it on the little table beside my bed where the lamp is. I quickly press the on/off button and let out a heavy sigh that the noise has finally stopped.