Aria's POV
I stare at the mysterious text on my phone.
Welcome back to the land of the living, Aria. We need to talk about what you've become. Tomorrow night. 247 Cathedral Street. Come alone. C
My hands shake. Someone knows I died. Someone knows I came back different.
Who is C?
Before I can think about it more, Dad calls from downstairs. Aria! Dinner in twenty minutes!
Dinner. Right. The welcome-home celebration he insisted on having.
I want to stay in my room and hide. But that would look suspicious. So I change into a simple dress and head downstairs, my heart pounding with every step.
The dining room table is set for six people. Crystal glasses. Silver forks. Candles flickering in the center. Dad went all out.
You look beautiful, Dad says, pulling out my chair. Just like your mother did.
My mother died when I was ten. Sometimes I forget Dad lost someone too.
Who else is coming? I ask, even though I'm terrified I already know.
Just close family. I wanted to keep it small. Dad checks his watch. They should be here any
The doorbell rings.
My stomach drops.
Dad goes to answer it. I hear voices in the hallway. Familiar voices that make my skin crawl.
Then they walk in.
Celeste wears a red dress and my favourite necklace the one Mom gave me before she died. The pearl one I've had since I was a kid. She stole it.
And on her finger: a massive diamond ring.
Behind her, Julian looks like he stepped out of a magazine. Perfect hair. Perfect smile. Perfect mask hiding a murderer.
Aria! Celeste rushes over with fake tears in her eyes. Oh my God, I still can't believe you're awake!
She hugs me tight. I smell her perfume the expensive kind she always buys with Dad's money. The number on her wrist burns bright: $2.3 million.
Hi, Celeste, I say, my voice flat.
She pulls back, studying my face. Are you okay? You seem... different.
I was in a coma for four months. Of course I'm different.
Julian steps forward and takes my hand, bringing it to his lips like some old-fashioned gentleman. We were so worried about you.
His number glows above his head: $890,000.
I yank my hand away. I'm fine now.
Let's sit! Dad says cheerfully, oblivious to the tension. I had Chef prepare all of Aria's favourites.
We sit. I'm across from Celeste and Julian. They hold hands on top of the table, their engagement rings catching the candlelight.
My engagement ring. The one Julian gave me before he killed me.
So, Dad says, serving soup. Celeste and Julian have some exciting news to share.
No. Please no.
Celeste beams. We're getting married! Next month. We didn't want to wait any longer.
The room spins. They're getting married. The people who murdered me are planning a wedding.
Congratulations, I force out.
We want you to be there, of course, Julian says smoothly. We know it might be strange, given our history. But we've both moved on. We hope you can too.
Moved on. Like he didn't propose to me. Like he didn't look into my eyes and promise forever. Like he didn't hold me down and watch me die.
I'm happy for you both, I lie.
Dad raises his glass. To new beginnings!
We all clink glasses. I watch Celeste and Julian over the rim of mine. They're so confident. So sure they got away with it.
Celeste leans forward. Oh, Aria, I hope you don't mind I've been using your old room. Dad said it was okay since you were... well, since we didn't know if you'd wake up.
And I've been working in your old position at Castellan Industries, Julian adds. Your father needed someone to step in. I hope that's alright.
They didn't just kill me. They erased me. Took my room, my job, my life.
Of course, I say sweetly. I'm glad someone could fill in.
Through dinner, I watch them. Really watch them.
Celeste touches her necklace constantly. Her number flickers slightly whenever Dad mentions the company or business connections. She wants something beyond money. Recognition maybe. Fame.
Julian's number stays steady at $890,000. He keeps glancing at Dad, calculating. He wants control of Castellan Industries. The company is worth millions, but he specifically wants $890,000 worth of it. A controlling share maybe?
Aria? Dad touches my arm. You haven't eaten much. Are you feeling okay?
Just tired. It's been a long day.
Of course! You should rest. Dad pats my hand. We're just so grateful you're home.
Celeste dabs at her eyes with a napkin. We thought we'd lost you forever. When you collapsed at your engagement party She chokes up convincingly. It was so sudden. So scary.
Collapsed. There's that word again.
What do the doctors think happened? Julian asks casually. Too casually. Do they know what caused the... incident?
He's fishing. Trying to find out if anyone suspects poison.
They're still running tests, I say. But they think it might have been something I ate or drank.
Julian's smile freezes for half a second. Really? That's... concerning.
Isn't it? I look him dead in the eye. I'm trying to remember what I had that night. At the party. Someone gave me champagne, I think. Or was it wine?
You don't remember? Celeste asks quickly.
It's all fuzzy. But I'm sure it'll come back to me eventually. I smile. The doctors say memories can return suddenly. In pieces or all at once.
The color drains from Julian's face. Good. Let him sweat.
Dad clears his throat. Well, the important thing is you're safe now. We'll make sure nothing like that ever happens again.
The rest of dinner is torture. Celeste talks about wedding plans. Julian discusses business. Dad beams like everything is perfect.
I count the minutes until I can escape.
Finally, after dessert, Celeste and Julian stand to leave.
We should do this again soon, Celeste says, hugging me at the door. She whispers in my ear: I'm glad you're back, sis. I really am.
Liar.
When they're gone, Dad turns to me with a huge smile. That went well! I'm so happy we're all getting along.
All I can do is nod.
Upstairs in my room, I collapse on the bed. My phone buzzes. Another text from the unknown number:
I saw you at dinner through the window. You're very good at hiding what you know. But they'll figure it out eventually. Meet me tomorrow. I can help you. C
My blood runs cold.
Someone was watching the dinner. Watching me.
Who is C? How do they know about me? About what I can do?
I'm about to text back when I hear a sound outside my window.
A tap. Like someone throwing pebbles.
I freeze.
Another tap.
Slowly, I walk to the window and pull back the curtain.
A figure stands in the garden below, half-hidden in shadows. Tall. Wearing dark clothes.
They look up.
Even in the darkness, I can see their eyes. Gray, like storm clouds.
They lift one hand in a small wave.
Then they turn and disappear into the night.
My phone buzzes again:
Tomorrow, Aria. 247 Cathedral Street. 8 PM. Don't be late. And don't tell anyone. Not even your friend with the red hair. C
He knows about Lyra.
He was watching us.
He's been watching everything.
Tomorrow night, I'm supposed to meet a stranger who knows I died, knows I came back different, and knows things about my life that no one should know.
I should be terrified.
But instead, I feel something else.
Curiosity.
Because whoever C is, they might have answers.
And I desperately need answers.
I look at my blank wrist where a price should be written.
Who are you? I whisper to the empty room. And what do you want from me?
The wind rattles my window like a response.
Tomorrow night, I'll find out.
Timeline: Day 1, Night