⸻ ❛𝐖𝐑𝐀𝐏 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐌𝐄 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐄 𝐈 𝐃𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐎𝐒!❜
Rory Hargrove is obsessed to uncover the truth behind Barbara Holland's disappearance, while facing her brother's enemy and buried secrets from...
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OUTSIDE, THE RAIN HAD STOPPED, BUT THE HUMIDITY STILL CLUNG TO THE AIR —thick, heavy, like the monstrous feeling tearing through Rory's heart. It festered inside her, an anxious storm brewing in her chest. She felt dazed, as if struck by lightning.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed with Nova on her lap, Rory wrapped her arms around the cat's warm body, feeling the soft black fur rub against her skin.
A dim, golden glow from the bedside lamp cast gentle shadows across the small room.
"Are you feeling better?" Harrington's voice, usually firm when speaking to others, softened into something almost tender when he addressed Aura.
He sat cross-legged on the plush cushions scattered across Rory's rug, directly in front of her narrow bed.
Aura lifted her blue eyes to meet his gaze, making no effort to hide the storm of emotions clouding them.
Answering his question felt impossible.
Steve reached up, brushing damp strands of Rory's hair away from her face with his fingertips. It wasn't rainwater that clung to her, but the lingering warmth of a recent shower. Her oversized gray t-shirt draped loosely over her frame, absorbing the weight of her thoughts.
"There's no way I can feel at peace knowing that something else—something terrible—is inside Billy." Her voice was barely above a whisper, her eyes fixed on the floor as she bit her lip. "Steve, I have to do something." She felt weak, drained—her powers always left her vulnerable. But standing by and doing nothing wasn't an option. "I know there's something I can do. I can go to him, force the Mindflayer out of him the same way I made it open the portal—"
She leaned forward, determination flickering in her eyes, while Nova curled deeper into her lap, a picture of serenity—the complete opposite of her owner's inner turmoil.
"Love, a simple command wasn't enough to drive the Shadow Monster out of Will. You know it's more complicated than that..." Steve spoke gently, his hand resting on her knee in a quiet attempt to soothe her.
"Then let's make it work." Rory's response was immediate, her voice steadier now. "We find a way to lure it somewhere hot, trap it—"
As expected, even though Aura was physically exhausted, her mind refused to rest—always in motion, like a relentless storm. But the turmoil that had consumed her over the past few days wasn't healthy. He wanted to see her happy, light, at peace—something that felt impossible given everything that had happened. Still, he needed to make sure she stayed as calm as possible, to keep her from making rash decisions or taking dangerous risks.
