Celestial: Fallen

Chapter 24-Shadows of Routine

The early morning air was still, punctuated only by the occasional rustle of the trees outside my window. My thoughts raced with the conversation from earlier, and sleep seemed like a distant dream. The nagging worry about the hunters had lodged itself in my mind, making it impossible to find any semblance of peace.

I rose from my bed, my steps careful not to make a sound. I approached the window, checking the lock twice and adjusting the curtain with a practiced hand. The darkness outside only deepened my unease, so I decided to head downstairs. Perhaps a distraction would help ease the anxiety that had taken hold.

As I opened my door, I was met with the sight of Nick emerging from his room. His sleepy eyes met mine, and he offered a puzzled smile.

"Hey, why are you up already?" he asked, his voice still thick with sleep.

I gave him a small smile, leaning against the doorframe. "Oh wait... you haven't slept yet, have you?" he added, noticing the fatigue in my eyes.

"I can't sleep. I'm scared," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Nick's expression softened, and he let out a sigh of sympathy. Without another word, he pulled me into a comforting embrace. I felt a wave of relief wash over me as I rested my head against his shoulder. For a moment, the fear seemed to melt away, replaced by the warmth of his presence.

"I'm sorry you have to go through this," he murmured softly.

I didn't respond verbally, but the comfort I felt in his embrace spoke volumes. The sense of safety was enough to make my eyelids grow heavy.

"Why don't we sleep in my room? I'll fetch Grae so we can all be together," Nick suggested.

I nodded, appreciating the offer. It was a small solace in the midst of our worries. I retraced my steps to my room, grabbing my pillow and blanket. Mom would need to go out for groceries, and Papa would have to go to his shop, leaving us alone in the house but also with the opportunity to find a bit of comfort.

I headed to his room. Grae was already there, looking up with sleepy eyes. Nick settled us all into his bed, and the shared warmth of our makeshift slumber party provided a much-needed sense of security. As exhaustion finally began to claim me, I allowed myself to drift off, hoping that dawn would bring clearer skies and peace of mind.

Days had passed swiftly, and with the end of vacation came the return to routine. My days were filled with caring for Grae and helping Mom with the never-ending list of chores around the house. Nick, on the other hand, was picked up every afternoon by Michael and Rafail. The secrecy of their errands was a constant source of unease, but I chose not to press him for details. I could sense that something was shifting beneath the surface of our lives, an undercurrent of change that was impossible to ignore.

My heart, once broken and now hardened by fear, had no space left for thoughts of the past. The dread of the unknown consumed me, eclipsing any lingering feelings I might have had. I tried to focus on the small comforts of our home, but an unsettling feeling clung to me like a shadow.

This afternoon, I found solace in the simple act of sipping coffee on the porch. The familiar surroundings of our yard offered a semblance of safety, a small sanctuary where I could momentarily let my guard down. I took a deep breath, letting the aroma of the coffee mingle with the scent of the earth, trying to ground myself.

Yet, the peace was fleeting. My eyes wandered across the yard, taking in the tranquility that seemed so out of sync with the turmoil within me. Our home, with its worn walls and familiar creaks, felt both like a fortress and a cage. The sense of protection was there, but it was overshadowed by an indefinable anxiety.

I absentmindedly touched the bracelet on my wrist, the cool metal a constant reminder of my own fears. It was a small, almost insignificant piece of jewelry, but it had become a comfort to me. It felt like a talisman against the encroaching uncertainty.

In a few days, Nick and I would return to the city to resume our studies at university. The thought of leaving the safety of home, even with its hidden fears, made my heart race. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was waiting for us, something that would challenge the fragile sense of normalcy we had managed to carve out.

The bracelet slipped between my fingers as I gazed out, lost in thought. I wasn't ready to admit how afraid I was, how deeply the uncertainty gnawed at me. But as I looked around at the yard, the familiar sights, and the comforting sounds of home, I found a small measure of courage. Perhaps, with each step we took into the unknown, we would find strength we didn't know we had.

I heard the familiar rumble of my Papa's truck approaching and quickly got up from my seat to open the gate for him. The sight of him pulling into the driveway, his truck rumbling to a stop, brought a wave of relief. He climbed out and greeted me with a warm, side hug.

"Arwen... how's your day?" he asked, his voice carrying a mix of curiosity and affection.

"I'm good, Pa. Grae is taking a nap, and Mom is watching some Korean drama in the living room," I replied, falling into step beside him as he made his way to the gate to close it.

"So, what are you doing out here?" he asked, his gaze sweeping over the quiet street. He gently urged me to follow him up the steps to the balcony.

"Just waiting for you and Nick while having some coffee. How was your day, Pa?"

His face brightened into a smile. "Everything's fine. Just the usual. Nothing to worry about."

He headed inside, and I lingered on the balcony, my thoughts still swirling. It was strange to see him so calm, almost accustomed to the constant undercurrent of danger. I supposed that when you lived with the threat of someone out there hunting you, a sense of normalcy had to be carved out somehow. Maybe he had grown used to it—or maybe he was just incredibly resilient.

The sudden ding of my phone snapped me out of my reverie. I glanced at the screen to see a message from Joshua.

Hey! Babe, how are you? When are you and Nick going back?

I put my phone down, letting my gaze drift over the neighborhood while taking a slow sip of coffee. The thought of replying with something more definitive crossed my mind—telling Joshua that I might not come back. But as much as I wanted to entertain that thought, the reality was different. I couldn't abandon my responsibilities or my commitments, no matter how much I wished to escape.

With a sigh, I tapped out a response.

Babe, we will be there before you know it.

The message felt like a small lie, a reassurance I needed to believe myself. The distance between our current reality and the future I hoped for seemed insurmountable, but for now, all I could do was hold onto the threads of normalcy and hope that, eventually, things would work out.