Crossed Spells

Chapter 9: Confrontation in the Shadows (Part 2)

Aria's heart was pounding as she made her way through the crowd of students filling the hallway. She could hear Lucas's voice calling her, getting closer and closer. Part of her wanted to stop, turn around, and finally face what had happened in the library. But fear was stronger. She kept moving forward, desperately seeking an exit.

Lucas, on his part, was determined not to let her escape this time. He had waited all week, respecting her need for space, but he couldn't bear this situation any longer. They needed to talk, to understand what was happening to them. He quickened his pace, weaving between students, keeping his eyes fixed on Aria's blonde hair that disappeared and reappeared in the crowd.

Suddenly, Aria spotted a half-open door. Without thinking, she rushed in, finding herself in an empty classroom. She quickly closed the door behind her, leaning against the cool wood, eyes closed, trying to calm her breathing.

A few seconds later, she heard footsteps stop in front of the door. Her heart skipped a beat when she heard Lucas's voice, muffled but clearly audible.

"Aria? I know you're in there. Please, open the door. We need to talk."

Aria remained motionless, hoping against hope that Lucas would eventually give up and leave. But the seconds ticked by, and she could still sense his presence on the other side of the door.

"Aria," Lucas continued, his voice softer this time. "I know you're scared. I am too. But we can't go on like this. We need to understand what's happening to us."

These words touched something in Aria. The fear was still there, but she suddenly realized she was tired of running. Tired of pretending nothing had happened. With a deep breath, she turned and slowly opened the door.

Lucas stood there, an expression of relief mixed with apprehension on his face. For a long moment, they looked at each other in silence, each searching for words.

"Come in," Aria finally said, stepping aside to let him pass.

Lucas entered the classroom, glancing around to make sure they were alone. He gently closed the door behind him, then turned to Aria.

"Thank you," he said. "I know this isn't easy for you."

Aria nodded, crossing her arms as if to protect herself. "What exactly do you want to talk about, Lucas?"

Lucas took a deep breath. "About what happened in the library," he finally said. "About our powers. About how you've been avoiding me since that day."

Aria looked away, fixing her gaze on an invisible point on the wall. "I'm not avoiding you," she murmured, but her voice lacked conviction.

"Aria," Lucas said softly, taking a step towards her. "You know that's not true. You've been avoiding me for a week. I understand that you're scared, but we're in the same situation. We can help each other."

Aria looked at him, surprised by his understanding. She had spent so much time running that she had almost forgotten that Lucas was going through the same thing she was. "You're right," she finally admitted. "I just... I don't know how to handle all of this."

Lucas nodded, understanding. "Neither do I, to be honest. But I think we have a better chance of understanding if we work together."

He held out his hand, palm up. Slowly, the shadows in the room began to gather around his hand, dancing and swirling as they had in the library.

Aria watched, fascinated. Even though she had already seen Lucas use his powers, it was still impressive. Almost despite herself, she held out her own hand. A soft glow began to emanate from her fingers, intensifying until a small sphere of light floated above her palm.