🌌Chasing My Northern light 🌌

Chapter Two: Shadows Beneath the Snow

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The next few days were filled with an uncharacteristic buzz of excitement for Luna. Every text exchange with Raven felt like a bridge to a new reality, pulling her away from the mundane routines of her small-town life. She began researching photography techniques late into the night, scribbling notes and sketching ideas for future shoots. Raven’s charisma and genuine interest in her work made her believe that perhaps, just perhaps, the dreams she had kept buried might actually see the light of day. 

They decided on a second shoot, this time at an abandoned rail station just outside of town—a relic of a bygone era, nestled between the snow-covered woods. Luna loved how the old architecture, half-buried beneath layers of snow, could create a hauntingly beautiful backdrop. Raven agreed. 

It was dusk when Luna arrived at the station, the last slivers of sunlight streaking through the skeletal trees. Her breath puffed in clouds before her as she adjusted her camera bag and scanned the area. The building, with its crumbling bricks and frost-covered windows, exuded an eerie charm. It was perfect. But there was no sign of Raven yet. 

She busied herself by setting up her equipment, occasionally glancing toward the woods, half expecting him to emerge from the shadows like some romantic figure from a fairytale. But as the minutes ticked by, her excitement began to mix with a slight unease. Just as she pulled out her phone to text him, she heard the crunch of footsteps behind her. 

“Sorry I’m late,” Raven’s voice cut through the crisp air. He stepped out of the woods, his dark coat blending with the twilight. “Lost track of time.” 

Relief washed over her, but there was something different about him tonight—an edge she hadn’t noticed before, like a predator moving just beneath the surface. Still, his smile was warm, and the glint in his blue eyes was as captivating as ever. 

“Ready?” he asked, brushing snow from his shoulders with a casual elegance. 

Luna nodded and raised her camera. “I was thinking we could start near the broken platform,” she suggested, her nervousness dissolving as she slipped into her creative rhythm. 

Raven followed her to the old platform, where the snow lay untouched. The wooden beams groaned beneath their feet as they stepped into the space, but it held. Luna adjusted her lens, catching the way the dying light framed Raven’s silhouette against the skeletal remains of the rail station. 

“Look off to the side,” she instructed softly. Raven complied, tilting his head slightly, the shadows deepening the angles of his face. The camera shutter clicked, capturing the moment perfectly. 

As they moved through different poses and locations, a strange sense of familiarity settled between them. Luna felt as though she had known Raven far longer than just a few days. The way he seemed to anticipate her thoughts, the way his presence eased her anxieties—it was uncanny. She couldn't help but wonder if this connection was coincidence or something more. 

They took a break, sitting on a rusted bench that stood crooked beneath the weight of snow. Raven leaned back, his arms spread across the bench’s backrest, watching Luna with a curious expression. 

“Why photography?” he asked, his voice low and soothing. 

Luna hesitated for a moment, unsure how to explain the pull it had over her. “It’s like… when I look through the lens, the world makes sense. Even if it’s just for a moment.” She paused, her breath fogging in the cold air. “Everything feels chaotic in life, but photography—it's my way of holding on to those fleeting moments.” 

Raven nodded thoughtfully. “That’s beautiful. But it seems like you’re always holding yourself back.” 

His words struck a nerve, cutting through her like the icy wind. “What do you mean?” 

“You have this incredible talent, but you’re still here, working at a convenience store and taking photos in the same small town. It’s like you’re waiting for permission to live the life you want.” 

Luna stiffened. “It’s not that simple. I can’t just leave.” 

“I know,” Raven said softly, his gaze never leaving hers. “But maybe it’s time to stop waiting for everything to fall into place.” 

Luna looked away, his words stirring something deep within her. She had spent so long making excuses—blaming responsibilities, finances, and fear. But what if he was right? What if she didn’t need permission to chase her dreams? 

The conversation hung in the air as they resumed their shoot. Yet, as the evening wore on, an unspoken tension began to creep into Luna’s mind. It wasn’t just Raven’s words that unsettled her—it was something more elusive. Every glance, every movement seemed too perfect, too rehearsed, as if Raven were following a script only he knew. 

At one point, she caught him staring at her, his expression unreadable. “You okay?” she asked, trying to shake off the odd feeling. 

He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Of course.” 

They wrapped up the shoot as the night deepened. Snowflakes drifted lazily from the sky, and the forest around them grew darker, quieter. Luna packed her equipment, her heart still racing from the thrill of the shoot and the strange energy she couldn’t fully place. 

“Same time next week?” Raven asked as they reached the edge of the woods. 

Luna hesitated, unsure of what to say. Something about this whole encounter felt... off. But then, she shook off the thought. She was overthinking things, as usual. 

“Yeah,” she replied with a smile. “Next week.” 

They parted ways, Raven disappearing into the forest’s shadows. Luna stood there for a moment, the cold biting at her skin, and watched until he was out of sight. 

As she walked back to her car, she couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder, the feeling of being watched settling like a weight on her chest. The snow crunched under her boots, the sound unnervingly loud in the stillness. For the first time in a long while, she felt something she hadn’t expected—fear. 

When she reached the parking lot and slid into the warmth of her car, she let out a shaky breath. She stared at her reflection in the rearview mirror, her heart still pounding. Maybe it was just the intensity of the evening. Or maybe… there was more to Raven than he was letting on. 

As she drove home through the quiet streets of Girdwood, Luna couldn’t shake the feeling that she had stepped into something far bigger than she understood. And somehow, she knew—this was only the beginning.