Two Worlds Apart

CHAPTER VIII - ADRIAN

The air is thick with warmth as Adrian heads down the narrow streets of the Dark Slate, his friends trailing beside him. It's nearing dusk, and the buildings cast long shadows that stretch across the cobblestone streets, a patchwork of lights flickering from doorways and windows. He's on his way to the border again, the quiet, hopeful energy in his chest pulling him there despite the risks.

"You're going back, aren't you?" Poppy's voice breaks through the sounds of laughter and music spilling from nearby houses. She's giving him a sidelong look, her brow raised, suspicion clear in her gaze.

Adrian shrugs, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Just... curious."

"Curious about her, you mean," Daniel says with a smirk, nudging him in the ribs. "The Upper Slate girl."

He feels a flush rise to his cheeks but tries to brush it off. "I just want to see if she comes back. That's all."

"Right," Poppy says, rolling her eyes, though there's a hint of mischief in her expression. "Well, if she shows up, try not to get all starry-eyed."

They arrive at the border, their laughter fading as they peer across the invisible line that separates the Dark Slate from the Upper Slate. Adrian's heart pounds in his chest, his gaze darting up and down the empty street on the other side. The buildings there are tall and pristine, their glass and steel facades gleaming even as the light dims.

And then, he sees her.

She's slipping through the shadows, her movements cautious, her eyes wide as she scans the street, her blonde hair catching the fading light. She pauses, her gaze fixing on him, and Adrian feels that familiar jolt, the strange pull that drew him here night after night, hoping to see her again.

"There she is," he murmurs, hardly believing his luck.

The girl seems to hesitate, her eyes flicking between him and the empty street behind her, as though torn between curiosity and fear. Adrian raises a hand, giving her a small, friendly wave, hoping to ease her nerves. Her expression softens, and for a moment, he thinks she might actually step closer.

But instead, she stops, her posture tense, her gaze wary.

Daniel chuckles softly behind him. "Looks like she thinks you're about to rob her or something."

Adrian shoots him a look, though he can't deny the truth in his words. The Upper Slate has always looked down on the Dark Slate, treating its people like criminals or pests. It shouldn't surprise him that she's cautious, but something about it stings.

"Hey!" he calls out, taking a tentative step forward, his voice gentle. "I'm not going to hurt you, I swear."

She flinches at the sound of his voice, her eyes widening as though she can't quite believe he's talking to her. Adrian feels a pang of sympathy - she's clearly been taught to fear him, to keep her distance. But he also sees something else in her expression: curiosity, a spark of interest that mirrors his own.

"My name's Adrian," he says, trying to keep his tone light, as if they were just two people meeting on any ordinary day.

She hesitates, her mouth opening slightly as though she wants to respond, but no words come out. Her gaze shifts to his friends, her eyes flicking over their worn clothes and dirt-streaked faces, and Adrian can see the faint shadow of judgment, the hint of disdain that comes so naturally to those from her world.

"Look, I know you're probably not supposed to be here," he says, taking another cautious step forward, "but... I've seen you watching us. Just like I've been watching you. Aren't you a little bit curious about what's over here?"

Her eyes narrow, and Adrian sees a flicker of something defensive, almost offended, cross her face.

"I'm not... curious," she finally says, her voice soft but sharp. "I just... happened to be here."

Adrian bites back a grin, sensing the stubborn pride in her tone. "Sure, just happened to be here," he says, not bothering to hide the amusement in his voice. "So did I."

The corners of her mouth twitch, almost like she wants to smile, but she quickly schools her expression into one of aloofness. "I'm not supposed to talk to you," she says, glancing around as if expecting someone to appear and drag her away at any moment.

"Guess I'm not supposed to talk to you either," Adrian says with a shrug. "But... here we are."

A shadow flickers in her gaze, and she takes a step back, her body tense as though preparing to bolt. Adrian feels a pang of disappointment, the brief connection slipping away, and he takes a step forward, reaching out a hand in a silent plea for her to stay.

But before he can say another word, a loud voice breaks through the quiet.

"Hey! What's going on here?"

A pair of Upper Slate guards appear at the edge of the street, their expressions hard as they approach, their eyes narrowing at the sight of Adrian and his friends. Cheverie's face pales, and she stumbles back, her gaze flicking between Adrian and the approaching guards, panic filling her eyes.

"Wait!" Adrian says, holding up his hands in a gesture of peace, but it's too late. The guards reach him, their faces twisted with disgust and anger as they grab his arms, yanking him back from the border.

"Stay away from her, you filthy thief," one of them growls, his grip tightening painfully on Adrian's shoulder.

"I didn't do anything!" Adrian protests, struggling against the guard's hold, his heart racing as he catches sight of Cheverie watching, her face stricken with horror.

The second guard glances at her, his tone turning scornful. "Miss Everien, I suggest you return home. This is no place for a young lady of your standing."
Cheverie hesitates, her gaze darting between Adrian and the guards, and for a moment, he thinks she might actually defend him, might say something to stop them. But then she turns, her expression pained as she backs away, her eyes filled with something that looks like guilt.

The guards tighten their hold on him, their hands rough as they shove him back toward the Dark Slate, his friends looking on helplessly from a distance.

"You people never know your place," one of the guards mutters, giving him a final, hard shove before turning and walking away, leaving him sprawled in the dirt at the edge of the border.

Adrian sits up slowly, the pain in his shoulder throbbing, his pride bruised and battered. He glances back toward the Upper Slate, but Cheverie is gone, the street empty and silent once more.
Daniel and Poppy hurry over, their faces etched with concern as they help him to his feet.

"You all right?" Poppy asks, her voice soft with worry.

Adrian nods, brushing the dirt from his clothes. "Yeah. Just... a little sore."

"Forget about her, Adrian," Daniel says, his tone hard. "She's one of them. She's never going to see you as anything other than a threat."

But Adrian can't shake the image of her face, the look of guilt and sadness in her eyes as she backed away, as though she were being pulled between two worlds, each one demanding a different piece of her.

"I don't think she wanted to leave," he says quietly, the thought slipping out before he can stop it.

Daniel scoffs, shaking his head. "Doesn't matter. She's gone."

But Adrian's gaze drifts back to the border, a spark of determination igniting in his chest. He knows he should forget about her, that their worlds are too different, too far apart. But something in him refuses to let go, a small, stubborn hope that maybe, just maybe, she'll come back.