Not Perry.
Something else.
She stepped out into the fading light, rain beginning again, her reflection caught in the puddle by her feet.
Two worlds — one real, one hidden — were beginning to merge.
And neither Clara's smiles nor the city's illusions could stop it.
The rain had stopped by the time classes ended. The wet pavement glistened beneath the sunset, and the faint scent of blooming lilies drifted through the air.
Emily stepped out of the classroom, adjusting the strap of her bag. The other students whispered as she passed, their eyes filled with curiosity and envy. She had gotten used to it — the stares, the murmurs, the polite smiles that hid judgment.
"Emily," a familiar voice called behind her.
She turned.
Clara stood a few steps away, her smile warm, eyes shimmering like glass. Beside her stood a tall young man — refined, composed, and strikingly handsome. His black uniform fit him perfectly, his tie knotted with careful precision.
"Emily," Clara said sweetly, "this is Adrian. My—" she hesitated briefly, "—friend. We were just heading to the car."
The pause wasn't lost on anyone watching.
Adrian's gaze met Emily's, unreadable for a long second. "It's been a while," he said finally. His voice was calm, deep, practiced.
"Has it?" Emily asked softly. "I suppose it has."
His brows furrowed faintly. Something in her tone — polite, detached, almost indifferent — unsettled him. He had expected anger, maybe tears. Not this calm.
Clara looped her arm through his and smiled brightly. "Adrian helped me with a project earlier. He's always so considerate."
Emily's lips curved slightly. "He must be."
Her eyes, cool as moonlight, lingered on him for a heartbeat before she turned away.
The silence that followed her departure was oddly heavy. Adrian's chest tightened in a way he couldn't explain. Clara squeezed his hand, forcing a laugh.
"She's probably just overwhelmed," she said softly. "It's not easy coming back after all those years."
Adrian nodded absently, but his eyes still followed Emily's retreating figure until she disappeared down the hallway.
---
That night, Emily stood before the full-length mirror in her room. The city lights flickered beyond the window, scattering gold across her reflection.
Her fingers brushed her bracelet. The faint hum was back — a warning whisper beneath her skin.
She met her own gaze in the mirror.
But for a moment, the reflection didn't move.
The figure in the glass smiled a second too late.
Her eyes narrowed. "You shouldn't be here," she murmured.
The reflection rippled faintly, the image of her face flickering like a candle flame — then it vanished.
Silence returned. Only her heartbeat and the quiet hum of the city remained.
A faint knock sounded on her door.
When she opened it, she froze. Perry stood there, leaning casually against the wall, his hair damp from the rain. His usual calm carried a quiet tension.
"You shouldn't ignore signs like that," he said simply, his gaze flicking toward the mirror behind her.
She didn't ask how he knew. "And what if I choose to?"
"Then I'll have to keep watching," he replied. His tone was light, but his eyes held something sharper — as if he already knew part of the truth.