Different in the Dark

Chapter 2: A Deadly Dance

*ONE YEAR LATER*

The campfire crackled beneath the glittering stars. Amaya closed her eyes and breathed in the soothing scent of burning wood.

She felt his eyes on her, like irresistible whispers brushing against bare skin. She opened her eyes to find him grinning at her. His smile was a masterpiece.

"What?" she asked, heat rushing to her face. She wanted to avert her eyes, but his were magnets, drawing her in and consuming her attention.

"You," he replied, his eyes burning with awe and perhaps desire. He moved Amaya's hair behind her ear, his fingertips lingering at her jaw, neck, and shoulder. "You are exquisite. You play your role well, but you are anything but ordinary. You, my dear, are an anomaly," he said.

Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. "I think you're the only one who thinks that," she admitted.

"I'm the only one who knows," he corrected. "You know, sometimes I think I know you better than myself," said the boy with silver-blonde hair and golden eyes.

"Then, maybe it's my job to figure you out," she offered.

"If you ever do, tell me. Even if it's bad, I'd want to hear it from you." His expression was suddenly bare of amusement, his tone heartfelt.

Together, they sat across from one another, legs crossed, warmed by the fire, even in the dead of night. They looked into each other's eyes, breathing steadily with the flames. "I like this," he said. His hands rested on his knees, his shoulders relaxed, and his eyelids half-closed. "Your smile is infectious," he complimented.

"Then I'll stay by your side. That way, you'll always be smiling." She thought he looked perfect in the glow of the flickering flames.

Though, it felt like there was something she was forgetting. Panic echoed within her, lingering, pulsing--like a warning.

He leaned forward, light strands of hair falling into his eyes. Amaya held her breath. Her heart hammered against her chest, which rose and fell rapidly.

He murmured, "You shouldn't say things you don't mean."

"If you don't believe me, I'm not averse to spending the rest of my life proving it."

He chuckled. "Well, you are stubborn enough to go through all that just to make a point."

Amaya punched him lightly in the shoulder, laughing.

Then... she woke up.

🔥

Angel woke up from his dream lightheaded, heart racing. His eyes were wide with horror. He couldn't believe it. After all this time, the only face he ever saw in his dreams belonged to her. His worst enemy. His deepest obsession. Amaya.

She had dark, curly hair and a honey-brown complexion. Her skin glowed, her cheeks were rosy, and she had the most adorable freckles.

He ran a hand over his face, sitting up. He stared at the black, glossy marble floor of his bedroom. His hazy reflection stared back.

The door flew open, and Tobias burst in, eyes wide. "They're coming."

Angel's eyebrows rose. "Now?"

Tobias smoothed out his white button-down shirt. He adjusted his thin, black glasses. He took a breath. "It's okay. I can figure this out." He was talking to himself.

Angel was already throwing on a T-shirt, a leather jacket, and boots. "You mean, 'we.'"

Tobias looked up with startled, pale green eyes. "Yeah—yeah, I mean we. Coffee?"