Run: 2026-02-19-01KHTRHZZ1H5HC72Z99M9058BE

The Raven's Nest hummed with the low murmur of conversation, the clinking of glasses punctuating the air like a heartbeat. Dim light flickered from the green neon sign outside, casting a soft glow on the worn wooden bar. Silas stood behind the counter, polishing a glass with a practiced hand, his hazel eyes scanning the room. The walls, adorned with old maps and black-and-white photographs, whispered stories of a time long past. Rory pushed through the heavy door, the familiar scent of aged wood and spilled spirits wrapping around her like an old coat. She paused, taking in the scene, her bright blue eyes darting across the faces of strangers. The bar felt like a refuge, a place where she could momentarily forget the weight of her past. She spotted Silas, his grey-streaked auburn hair catching the light, and a smile tugged at her lips. “Rory!” Silas called, his voice warm and inviting. He set the glass down and leaned against the bar, a grin breaking across his face. “Look at you! It’s been ages.” “Too long,” she replied, stepping closer. The years melted away as she took in his familiar features, the neatly trimmed beard, the slight limp that had become part of his character. “How’s the bar treating you?” “Same old, same old. You know how it is.” He gestured to the patrons, a mix of locals and tourists. “Keeps me busy. What about you? Still delivering takeout?” “Yeah, it pays the bills.” She shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant, but the weight of her words hung in the air. “I’m still figuring things out.” Silas studied her, his expression shifting from jovial to serious. “You look... different. Stronger, maybe.” Rory chuckled, but the sound felt hollow. “Guess I’ve had to be.” “Life has a way of doing that.” He leaned in, lowering his voice. “You okay? Really?” She hesitated, the memories of Evan flashing through her mind like a bad dream. “I’m fine. Just... moving on.” “Good.” Silas nodded, but his eyes betrayed concern. “If you ever need to talk, you know where to find me.” “Thanks, Si.” She appreciated the offer, but the thought of opening up felt daunting. Instead, she changed the subject. “What’s new with you? Any more secret missions I should know about?” He chuckled, the sound rich and warm. “No more missions. Just keeping the peace in my little corner of the world.” “Peace? In Soho?” She raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on her lips. “You must be doing something right.” “Or something wrong,” he replied, his tone light but his gaze serious. “You never know who’s watching.” Rory glanced around the bar, the shadows dancing in the corners. “I suppose that’s true. But I’m not looking for trouble.” “Good. Trouble has a way of finding you, though.” He paused, his expression shifting. “You remember that summer we spent in Cardiff? The one with the bonfire on the beach?” “Of course.” A smile broke through her facade. “You almost set your hair on fire trying to roast marshmallows.” “Hey, I was young and reckless.” He laughed, but the sound faded as he continued. “We were all young and reckless back then.” “Yeah.” The weight of nostalgia settled between them, heavy and bittersweet. “Things were simpler.” “Were they?” Silas leaned back, crossing his arms. “Or were we just too naive to see the complications?” Rory’s smile faltered. “Maybe a bit of both.” “Life has a way of complicating things.” He studied her, his eyes searching. “You’ve changed, Rory. I can see it. You’re not the same girl who ran away to London.” “Neither are you.” She shot back, her voice sharper than intended. “You’re not just a bartender anymore, Si. You’re... something else.” “Something else?” He raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “What do you mean?” “You know what I mean.” She leaned in, lowering her voice. “You’ve got this whole network of contacts. You’re not just pouring drinks.” Silas shrugged, a nonchalant gesture that didn’t quite mask the tension in his shoulders. “It’s just a bar, Rory. People come and go. I’m just here to serve them.” “Right.” She rolled her eyes, but the smile didn’t return. “And I’m just a delivery girl.” “Is that all you want to be?” His gaze pierced through her defenses. “Just a delivery girl?” “I’m not looking for anything more.” She crossed her arms, a defensive posture. “I’m just trying to survive.” “Surviving isn’t living.” He leaned closer, his voice low. “You have so much potential, Rory. Don’t waste it.” “Easy for you to say.” She pulled back, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “You’ve got your life figured out. I’m still picking up the pieces.” “Are you?” Silas’s tone softened, but the challenge lingered. “Or are you just afraid to put them back together?” Rory clenched her jaw, the familiar anger rising. “You don’t know what I’ve been through.” “Maybe not.” He held her gaze, unwavering. “But I know you. I know the girl who dreamed big and wanted more than this.” “Dreams don’t pay the rent.” She shot back, her voice rising. “I can’t afford to dream.” “Then what are you doing here?” Silas gestured around the bar, the patrons oblivious to their conversation. “You’re better than this place, Rory.” “Better than this place?” She laughed, but it sounded hollow. “I’m just trying to find my way.” “Then let me help you.” His voice dropped, sincerity etched in every word. “You don’t have to do this alone.” Rory’s heart raced, the weight of his offer pressing down on her. “And what? Become part of your secret world? I don’t know if I can handle that.” “Maybe it’s time to find out.” He leaned back, his expression softening. “You’ve always been stronger than you think.” “Maybe I don’t want to be strong anymore.” She looked away, the vulnerability creeping in. “Maybe I just want to be normal.” “Normal is overrated.” Silas chuckled, but the laughter faded. “You’re not normal, Rory. You never were.” “Thanks for the reminder.” She shot him a glare, but the tension between them shifted, a fragile understanding forming in the air. “Just think about it.” He leaned closer, his voice low. “You have a choice. You can keep running, or you can face what’s ahead.” Rory took a deep breath, the weight of his words settling in her chest. “I’ll think about it.” “Good.” Silas smiled, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. “That’s all I ask.” As the conversation hung in the air, the bar continued to buzz around them, a world of noise and laughter that felt distant. Rory glanced around, the faces blurring into a haze. She felt the pull of the past and the uncertainty of the future, the weight of time pressing down on her shoulders. “Hey, Rory?” Silas’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Yeah?” “Whatever you decide, just know I’m here.” He offered a reassuring smile, the warmth of their friendship wrapping around her like a familiar embrace. “Thanks, Si.” She nodded, the words feeling inadequate. But in that moment, she realized that maybe, just maybe, she didn’t have to face the future alone.