Max didn't expect to see her again.
In fact…
he had spent three years avoiding exactly that.
The city was big enough for it.
Or at least… it should have been.
But that night, standing across the street, staring at the door of a small, nearly empty café…
he realized that some things…
always find their way back.
She was inside.
Sitting by the window.
Alone.
Just like she always preferred.
Same posture.
Same stillness.
But… different.
Colder.
More distant.
Or maybe that was him.
Max stood there for a few seconds, just watching.
As if trying to decide whether this was real.
Or just another fractured piece of his mind.
"You gonna stand there, or are you going in?"
Daniel's voice came from behind.
Max didn't answer.
"Who is she?" Daniel pressed.
Silence.
Then—
"Someone I should've left in the past."
Daniel didn't say anything.
But he understood.
The bell rang as Max stepped inside.
Too loud.
Out of place.
Celine looked up.
And for a second…
the world paused.
Not completely.
But enough.
Recognition came first.
Then…
something else.
Something neither of them said.
"Max."
Her voice was calm.
But not soft.
Controlled.
And that said everything.
"Celine."
He matched her tone.
And that was already a conversation.
Even without words.
Daniel stayed back, watching.
Feeling the tension in the air.
"I didn't expect to see you," she said.
"Me neither."
A lie.
They both knew it.
She gestured to the chair across from her.
"Sit."
Max hesitated.
Then sat.
Because some things…
you can't avoid forever.
The silence between them wasn't empty.
It was full.
Of things left unsaid.
Of things that remained.
Of things that still hurt.
"Three years…" she said, looking at her cup.
"Yeah."
"And you're still the same."
Max let out a dry laugh.
"No, I'm not."
She lifted her gaze.
"No."
A pause.
"I'm not."
That hung in the air.
Heavy.
"What do you want, Max?"
Direct.
No detours.
Just like always.
He took a breath.
"I think you already know."
Celine stayed silent for a few seconds.
Studying him.
Measuring how far she could go.
"You never stopped, did you?"
Max didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
"I know you," she continued. "You wouldn't stop."
"Not after that night."
Silence.
Different now.
Deeper.
"You should have," she said.
Max tilted his head slightly.
"And pretend nothing happened?"
"And survive."
That hit.
But not enough to break him.
"I'm not trying to survive."
"I know."
She looked straight at him.
"That's the problem."
"You know something."
The words came sharp.
Without hesitation.
Celine didn't respond right away.
But she didn't look away either.
"You didn't come here just to see me."
"No."
"Then talk."
Max leaned forward slightly.
"The symbols."
Her eyes shifted.
Barely.
But he saw it.
"I knew it…" he murmured.
"You don't know what you're saying."
"Then explain it."
Celine took a slow breath.
As if deciding.
Maybe she was.
"Some things…" she began, "aren't meant to be touched."
Max let out a quiet laugh.
"Bit late for that."
"You don't understand, Max."
"Then make me understand."
Silence.
Long.
Then—
She stood.
"Come with me."
The place was different.
Old.
Hidden.
Nothing that stood out at first glance.
But something was there.
A presence.
Subtle.
But real.
"Where are we?" Max asked.
"Somewhere you should never have come."
She opened the door.
And the smell came first.
Old.
Dust.
Time.
Inside, there were books.
Objects.
Symbols.
Max recognized some.
And that was enough.
"You're part of this…" he said.
"I always have been."
The world tilted.
"Since when?"
She turned to him.
And for the first time…
there was something else in her eyes.
Something deeper.
Darker.
"Since before you even knew this existed."
Silence.
"That night…" Max started.
"Wasn't random."
He froze.
"I know."
"You don't know everything."
She stepped closer.
Now near.
Very near.
"Your family wasn't chosen by chance."
The words hit harder this time.
Because they came from her.
"Then why?"
Celine hesitated.
And that was new.
"I can't tell you everything."
"Then tell me what you can."
Silence.
Then—
"He needed something."
The air grew heavier.
"What?"
She looked directly into his eyes.
"You."
The world stopped.
Completely.
"That doesn't make sense…"
"Not yet."
Max stepped back.
Trying to process.
"Who is he?"
Celine took her time.
Then answered:
"A witch."
Max closed his eyes for a second.
"I've heard that before."
"Then you're already deeper than you should be."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
The question came heavy.
Real.
Celine didn't answer right away.
But when she did…
her voice was low.
"Because you weren't ready."
Max laughed.
But this time…
there was anger in it.
"My family died."
"I know."
"And you knew about all this?!"
"Not everything.
But enough."
Silence.
Tense.
"You should've trusted me."
"And you should've stayed away from this."
Their eyes locked.
And in that moment…
everything was there.
The past.
The pain.
And something that hadn't died.
But wasn't the same anymore.
Later…
outside.
Max was alone again.
His mind racing.
Fast.
Disorganized.
But with one clear certainty.
This was bigger.
Much bigger.
He looked at his hands.
Remembered the pain.
The voice.
Everything that was happening.
And then—
The voice returned.
Clearer.
Closer.
"She didn't tell you everything…"
Max took a slow breath.
"What didn't she tell me?"
Silence.
One second.
Two.
Then—
"Who you are."
His heart started pounding.
"What are you talking about?"
No answer.
This time…
only silence.
But not empty.
Because now…
Max knew.
He wasn't just chasing answers.
He was…
becoming one.