ALK THAT WASN'T S

streaks of gold and purple, when Sophia final

id, trying to sound firm. "It's a feat

Sophia. Inspiration comes from observing people. And s

t didn't walk away. That

at first. Not awkward silence, but charged s

ks, listening instead to the rhythm of the city-the low hum of traffic, the faint sou

ean broke

y, "how couples can look complet

ed. "What do

ed at the same time... and somehow, they click." He glanced at

on the notebook in her hand, pretend

s attract?" he continu

dn't a

y. "Or maybe we jus

hiver-not fr

ent blocks. The benches were mostly empty, and the autumn lea

e," he said, motioning to a

tled on the bench together-slightly too close

ng his legs, "I never thought a

p her voice neutral. "You're the one wh

an teach you about balance. Su

d at him. "Y

nd dangerous all at once

a compliment. Yet, somehow,

the couples on benches, the parents chasing toddlers, the teens skating clumsily o

ean stoppe

, noticing the unusual

quickly, but she

" she

ly to a young couple laughing on a blanket. "They look... normal. Simple. Happy. And you know

heart beat faster. She looked away, trying not to notice ho

research," she said qu

rd something else there. Something unspok

et. Dean leaned over the edge, sketching a rough outline of a c

good at that," s

er tone. "Thanks," he said. "You're... good at o

"What does

closing his sketchpad. "Ju

it. Every word, every glance, every subtle shift in h

time. The city seemed to pause

voice barely above the wind, "

hia asked, trying to keep

her chest tighten. "Yeah. With you. I thought it'

twisted. "It

said simply. "Ma

wanted to argue. She wanted to deny

ere the path narrowed between two bui

ovement at the far edge. A

" she wh

scanning the alleyway. "

each, hood up, hands buried in po

he messages, the strange notes, the sense of bei

r. "We can't let t

ing. But deep down, she

d against hers-not deliberately,

a fli

ice the unspoken, dangerous tensio

" Dean said qu

ed. "Yes

litted between lampposts. Every step felt

omething small but undeniable between them: trust. A conn

Dangerous. And e

lled by. The passenger window lowered slightly,

kly, it vanished i

stomach

h this time, but firmly. "They'r

d, heart hammering. "And I think.

but in the shadows, someone-or someth

heir deadlines, their drafts, or their slow

ed about st

btle, undeniable ways-but the lurking danger is closer than ever. S

moved briskly, staying near the glow of streetli

dental closeness earlier, but this-intentional, protective. Her pul

, voice low. "How do

"We keep moving. Stick together. Don't panic. And m

her. Panic had already found its way into her ch

arlier leaving puddles that reflected the neon signs. For a fleeting second, Soph

that?" she

to the same spot. "Y

the messages, the stranger in the café-made sense no

owed hard

lculating. Then he said quietly, "I don't know. But whoever this i

vier. Each shadow flicker, sharper. She gripped h

Hey," he said softly, "look at me. Breathe.

tight. "Dean, we don't ev

. The contact was brief, professional in intent, yet el

e said gently. "And p

ntirely. She pulled her hand from his, but the

r, where the streets were emptier, the

d him. "Stay close," he whispered. "If we split u

from fear. The words had laye

ou either," she said softl

But his eyes softened, holding hers just a fractio

up, hands in pockets, mov

ia f

instinctively. His presence was a shield, firm a

tening move, but enough to make Sophia's chest tighten. Dean's h

Dean's feet, then disappeared into t

e. Sophia leaned in. H

ritten in jag

too cl

eath c

d. "This isn't abou

k. "No. It's ab

scanned the street again, t

hung close, but there was another tension bet

y in her hand. Dean's sketc

ean... I don't know if I'm afraid of the

d out before she

ed. His brow furrowed slightly, and his mouth opene

" he whispere

t... something's happening. I don

gain-not in the protective stance of moments

t him

d the city's chaos-the shadows, the unknown threat-see

l away, but the warmth of his hand, the st

erently, "You're not alone. Not h

g like a storm. She wanted to believe

s quickly-the m

a scrape against metal-echoed fr

ound her hand instinctiv

ostile and alive. Every shadow seemed to move with intent. Ev

ner-hood up, taller this time, more delibe

ehind him. "Stay

loser. Just stood. Obser

eaved. "Who... w

e. His voice was low, steady, commanding: "Whatev

ed, and realized-terrifyingly, painfully-that no matter what danger lurk

m him.

ev

ing into the darkness, leaving only a

t up. Sophia

ds, writt

time-w

blood r

"They're not done.

ration, had shifted something small, fragile, an

asn't just around the