Run: 2026-02-19-01KHTRM9KGJQPS8292TM9S4QCS

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 faces of patrons scattered across the bar. Silas stood behind the counter, polishing a glass, his hazel eyes scanning the room with a practiced ease. He caught sight of Rory as she slipped through the door, her straight black hair framing her bright blue eyes, a stark contrast to the muted tones of the bar. Rory took a moment to absorb the familiar surroundings. The walls, lined with old maps and black-and-white photographs, whispered stories of the past. She felt a pang of nostalgia, a bittersweet reminder of the life she had left behind. She approached the bar, her heart racing slightly. “Evening, Rory,” Silas greeted, his voice steady, though a hint of warmth crept in. He set the glass down and leaned against the counter, his grey-streaked auburn hair catching the light. “Si,” she replied, a smile breaking through her initial apprehension. “It’s been a while.” “Too long,” he said, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her. “You look... different.” “Yeah, well, life has a way of doing that.” She shrugged, trying to dismiss the weight of his gaze. “How’s the bar?” “Still standing, somehow.” He chuckled, but the sound held a trace of something deeper. “You know how it is. People come and go, but the stories? They linger.” Rory nodded, her fingers tracing the small crescent-shaped scar on her left wrist, a habit she had developed over the years. “I’ve got a few stories of my own now.” “Care to share?” Silas leaned in, his interest piqued. “Not tonight.” She glanced around, avoiding his penetrating gaze. “Just... catching up.” “Right.” He straightened, the momentary connection slipping away. “What brings you back to Soho?” “Just delivering some food. Part-time gig at Golden Empress.” She gestured vaguely, her voice steady despite the flutter in her stomach. “You know how it is.” “Still hustling, I see.” Silas’s expression softened, but a shadow crossed his face. “You always were good at that.” “Yeah, well, it’s not like I had much choice.” She forced a laugh, but it felt hollow. “What about you? Still running this place?” “More or less.” He gestured to the bar, the patrons lost in their own worlds. “It’s a front, really. Keeps me connected.” “Connected to what?” Rory raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “Old friends, old enemies.” He paused, his gaze drifting to the back room, hidden behind a bookshelf. “You know how it goes.” “Right.” She shifted, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them. “I remember.” “Do you?” Silas’s voice dropped, a challenge lacing his tone. “Do you really?” Rory’s heart raced. “I remember the good times, Si. The laughter, the plans we made.” “And the plans that fell apart?” His eyes darkened, the warmth replaced by something colder. “You vanished, Rory. Just like that.” “I had my reasons.” She clenched her jaw, the memories flooding back—Evan’s anger, the suffocating weight of expectations. “You know that.” “Do I?” Silas leaned closer, his voice low. “You left without a word. No explanation, no goodbye.” “I was trying to survive.” Her voice trembled, but she held his gaze. “You don’t know what it was like.” “Then tell me.” He crossed his arms, the challenge clear. “What was it like?” Rory took a deep breath, the air thick with tension. “It was suffocating. I felt trapped, like I was drowning. I had to get out.” “And you thought disappearing was the answer?” Silas’s brow furrowed, disappointment etched on his face. “You could have reached out.” “I didn’t know how.” She looked away, the shame creeping in. “I thought I could handle it on my own.” “Clearly.” He scoffed, the bitterness in his tone cutting deeper than she expected. “And now? You think you’ve got it all figured out?” “I’m trying.” She met his gaze, defiance sparking in her eyes. “I’m not the same person I was back then.” “Are you sure about that?” Silas’s voice softened, but the challenge remained. “You still run from things, Rory. You always have.” “Maybe I do.” She clenched her fists, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “But I’m not that scared girl anymore. I’ve fought for everything I have.” “Fighting doesn’t mean you’ve won.” He leaned back, studying her. “You’ve changed, but have you really grown?” Rory’s breath caught in her throat. “What do you want from me, Silas?” “Just the truth.” He shrugged, his expression unreadable. “You’re here now. What do you want?” “I want...” She hesitated, the weight of his question pressing down on her. “I want to reconnect. I want to know if we can still be friends.” “Friends?” He raised an eyebrow, skepticism lacing his tone. “After all this time?” “Why not?” She leaned forward, desperation creeping into her voice. “We had something good once. I miss that.” “Do you?” Silas’s gaze pierced through her, searching for something hidden beneath the surface. “Or do you miss the idea of it?” Rory opened her mouth to respond, but the words caught in her throat. She felt the truth of his question, the weight of the years pressing down on her. “Maybe I miss both,” she finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “But I want to try. I want to see if we can find our way back.” Silas studied her, the silence stretching between them like a chasm. The bar buzzed around them, but in that moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the world. “Alright,” he said finally, his voice steady. “Let’s see where this goes.” Rory’s heart lifted, a flicker of hope igniting within her. “Really?” “Yeah.” He nodded, a hint of a smile breaking through. “But it won’t be easy. We’ve both changed.” “I know.” She smiled back, a genuine warmth spreading through her. “But I’m willing to try.” “Good.” Silas raised his glass, a silent toast to the past and the uncertain future. Rory lifted her own, the clink of glass echoing in the dim light. The weight of time and unspoken regret lingered, but for the first time in years, she felt a glimmer of possibility.