Run: 2026-02-17-01KHMPHAA5HGKTMFNXJ8ZCPWSS

The Raven's Nest hummed with the low murmur of conversation, the clinking of glasses punctuating the air like distant chimes. Aurora Carter leaned against the bar, her bright blue eyes scanning the dimly lit room, taking in the familiar chaos of Silas Blackwood’s establishment. The walls, adorned with old maps and black-and-white photographs, whispered stories of a time long past, much like the memories that flickered in her mind. She absently traced the small crescent-shaped scar on her left wrist, a remnant of childhood mischief, as she waited for Silas to pour her a drink. “Rory!” Silas called, his voice a warm rumble that cut through the haze of the bar. He emerged from behind the counter, his grey-streaked auburn hair catching the soft glow of the green neon sign above the entrance. “What’ll it be tonight?” “Just a gin and tonic, Si,” she replied, her voice steady despite the flutter of nerves in her stomach. It had been a long day of deliveries, and the weight of her thoughts pressed heavily on her shoulders. She watched as he poured the drink, his movements precise and practiced, a testament to the years he had spent in the field and behind the bar. As he slid the glass toward her, she caught a glimpse of the silver signet ring he always wore on his right hand. It gleamed in the low light, a symbol of the man he had been and the life he had chosen. Silas had always carried himself with a quiet authority, a presence that demanded respect without uttering a word. But tonight, there was something different about him, a weariness that lingered in the corners of his hazel eyes. “Everything alright?” she asked, concern creeping into her voice. “Just the usual,” he replied, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “You know how it is. The world keeps spinning, and I’m just trying to keep up.” Rory nodded, but her gaze drifted to the entrance as the door swung open, letting in a gust of cool night air. A figure stepped inside, silhouetted against the streetlights. For a moment, she thought it might be a trick of the light, a ghost from her past. But as the figure moved closer, her heart sank. It was Evan. He looked different, older, perhaps even more worn than she remembered. The sharp lines of his face had softened, but the arrogance still clung to him like a second skin. She felt a rush of emotions—anger, fear, regret—swirling within her like a tempest. She turned her back to him, hoping he wouldn’t notice her, but the universe had other plans. “Rory?” Evan’s voice cut through the noise, smooth and insistent. She felt the heat of his gaze on her, and her stomach twisted. “Is that really you?” Silas’s expression shifted, a flicker of recognition crossing his features as he glanced between them. “I think it’s time for me to check on the back room,” he said, his tone casual but his eyes sharp. He stepped away, leaving Rory to face the man who had once held so much power over her life. “Evan,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She forced herself to turn around, to meet his gaze. “What are you doing here?” “I could ask you the same,” he replied, a smirk playing on his lips. “I didn’t expect to find you in a place like this. You’ve changed.” “People do that,” she shot back, her heart racing. “What do you want?” He stepped closer, the scent of his cologne wrapping around her like a noose. “I just wanted to see how you’ve been. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” “Five years,” she said, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. “Not that I’ve been counting.” Evan chuckled, a sound that sent a chill down her spine. “You always did have a flair for the dramatic. But really, Rory, I’ve missed you. We had something special, didn’t we?” “Special?” she echoed, incredulous. “You mean the way you made me feel like I was nothing? The way you controlled every aspect of my life until I couldn’t breathe?” His expression hardened, the charm slipping away like a mask. “You’re being dramatic again. I was trying to help you. You were lost.” “Lost?” she repeated, her voice rising. “I was trying to find myself, and you were suffocating me.” Evan stepped back, his eyes narrowing. “You think you’re better than me now? Just because you’ve moved to London and found a new job?” “I’m not better than you,” she said, her voice low but firm. “I’m just… different. I’ve learned to stand on my own two feet.” “Is that what you call it?” he sneered. “Running away? Hiding in a bar?” Rory felt the heat of anger rise within her, but she forced herself to breathe. “I’m not hiding. I’m living. Something you wouldn’t understand.” “Living?” he scoffed. “You think working as a delivery person is living? You’ve wasted your potential, Rory. You could have been so much more.” “More than what? More than a pawn in your game?” She shook her head, the memories flooding back—his manipulation, the way he twisted her words, the way he made her doubt herself. “I’m not your project anymore, Evan.” “Maybe not,” he said, his voice dropping to a low murmur. “But I still care about you. I always have.” “Care?” she laughed, a bitter sound that echoed in the dim light. “You don’t get to care about me after everything you did. You lost that right the moment you chose control over love.” Silas reappeared, his presence a welcome interruption. “Everything alright here?” he asked, his eyes flicking between them, assessing the tension that crackled in the air. “Just catching up,” Evan said, his tone smooth again, but Rory could see the tension in his jaw. “Right,” Silas replied, his gaze lingering on Rory. “Well, if you need anything, you know where to find me.” As Silas moved away, Rory felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. She turned back to Evan, her heart pounding. “I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to relive the past.” “Then let’s talk about the future,” he suggested, his voice softening. “We could start over. I’ve changed too, you know.” “Changed?” she echoed, skepticism lacing her words. “You think a few years can erase the damage you’ve done?” “Maybe not erase, but we can move forward. Together.” Rory shook her head, her resolve hardening. “I’m not that girl anymore, Evan. I’ve fought too hard to reclaim my life to let you back in.” He stepped closer, desperation creeping into his voice. “Rory, please. I’m not the enemy here. I want to help you.” “Help?” she spat, the word bitter on her tongue. “You don’t know the meaning of the word. You only want to control me again.” Evan’s expression faltered, and for a moment, she saw a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes. “I’m not trying to control you. I just want a chance to prove that I’ve changed.” “Prove it?” she challenged, her heart racing. “You think I’m going to take your word for it? After everything?” “Then what do you want from me?” he asked, frustration seeping into his voice. “What can I do to show you that I’m different?” “Leave me alone,” she said, her voice steady. “That’s the only thing you can do.” Evan’s face fell, the mask of confidence slipping away. “Rory…” “Goodbye, Evan.” She turned away, her heart pounding in her chest as she walked back to the bar, the weight of the past heavy on her shoulders. Silas watched her approach, concern etched on his face. “Everything alright?” he asked again, his voice low. “Just… a blast from the past,” she replied, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m fine.” “Are you?” he pressed, his gaze searching hers. “You don’t have to pretend with me.” Rory took a deep breath, the tension in her chest easing slightly. “I know. It’s just… complicated.” “Life usually is,” Silas said, his tone gentle. “But you’re stronger than you think, Rory. You’ve come a long way.” “Thanks, Si,” she said, her voice softening. “I just wish it didn’t feel so heavy sometimes.” “Time has a way of weighing us down,” he replied, his eyes thoughtful. “But it also gives us the chance to rise again. You’re not that girl anymore, and you don’t have to carry the past with you.” Rory nodded, the truth of his words settling in her heart. She glanced back at Evan, who stood alone, a shadow of the man she once knew. The weight of unspoken regret hung between them, but she felt a flicker of hope ignite within her. She was not defined by her past, nor by the choices of others. She was Aurora Carter, and she was ready to embrace the future.