I freeze when his name hits my ears—Kael. It's been years, but I know him instantly. His presence sends a ripple of dread through me, and I curse the fact that he can track me even in the densest crowds.
His dark eyes study me, unblinking, as though he's been waiting for this moment his whole life. I want to say something, but my throat is tight, and all the words I've rehearsed in my head vanish into the still air.
Kael takes a step closer, his gaze unwavering. He knows too much about me—more than I want anyone to know. His power, the one he's kept hidden for so long, allows him to see the future. And from what I've gathered over the years, it's not a future I want to see unfold.
"You don't have to run," Kael says, his voice low, almost soothing. He has that effect on people, like he knows exactly what to say to make you listen, to make you trust him. And I hate it. "I know you're afraid, but you're running toward the wrong thing."
I shake my head. "I'm not running from you."
"Then why do you hide?" he presses, his expression unreadable. "Why keep yourself locked away?"
"Because I have nothing left to lose." The words are sharp, but I can't hold back the bitterness that seeps into my voice.
He steps closer still, his eyes searching mine, as though trying to find something that's been buried for a long time. "I've seen your future, Lyra."
A cold shiver races down my spine. I try to back away, but my feet are glued to the ground. "You don't know me, Kael."
"I know more than you think," he replies, his tone unwavering. "And I know what you're trying to avoid. You can't outrun this."
My heart clenches. "What are you talking about?"
His lips twitch in a wisp of a smile, the kind that's not meant to reassure but to remind me of how little control I have over my own fate. "You're running from the inevitable. From a destiny you can't escape."
The world feels like it's closing in on me. The familiar ache in my chest begins to throb, the feeling that something inside me is slowly turning cold. I can't stop myself from reaching for it—my heart, the stone that's creeping through the edges of my soul.
Kael seems to notice. His eyes soften. "Lyra, your Gift is both a blessing and a curse. But you don't have to carry it alone."
"How can you possibly understand what this feels like?" I snap, my frustration boiling over. "You don't know what it's like to lose a piece of yourself every time you take someone's power."
"I know more than you think." His voice hardens. "And I know what's coming. The Revenants aren't the only ones who want to use you, Lyra. You're the key to stopping everything. The world is on the brink, and your power is the only thing that can save us."
I take a step back. "I'm not a hero, Kael. I never asked for this."
"But you can't ignore it anymore," he says, his tone gentle but firm. "Your heart is already breaking. You can't keep running from what's inside you. The choice is yours, Lyra. The fate of everything rests on what you do next."
I swallow hard, my breath shallow. I feel the weight of his words settle into my chest like an anchor, pulling me down into the depths of a destiny I can't avoid.
And yet, part of me still wants to believe I have a choice. That I can outrun the inevitable. That I can keep my heart from turning to stone.
But Kael is right about one thing—no matter how fast I run, the future is already written. And it's a future that will cost me everything.
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