Run: 2026-02-20-01KHXPD5Y2NSAKDF114403WDR5

The Raven's Nest hummed with the low murmur of conversation and the clink of glasses. The dim light cast long shadows across the worn wooden floor, and the scent of aged whiskey mingled with the faint tang of rain from outside. Aurora Carter, her black hair damp from the evening drizzle, pushed open the door and stepped inside, her bright blue eyes scanning the room. She hadn't been here in years, but the place was unchanged, a sanctuary of nostalgia in the heart of Soho. She made her way to the bar, her boots echoing slightly on the wooden floor. The bartender, a man with a neatly trimmed beard and grey-streaked auburn hair, looked up as she approached. His hazel eyes met hers, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. "Well, look what the cat dragged in," Silas Blackwood said, his voice a low rumble. He leaned against the bar, his slight limp barely noticeable. "Aurora Carter, as I live and breathe." Rory smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Silas. It's been a while." "Too long," he replied, his gaze flicking to the small crescent-shaped scar on her left wrist. "What brings you back to the Nest?" She shrugged, her fingers tracing the rim of a coaster. "Just passing through. Thought I'd stop in, see if the old place still stood." Silas chuckled, pouring her a whiskey without asking. "Still take it neat, I presume?" "Some things never change," she said, taking the glass from him. The whiskey burned her throat, familiar and comforting. Silas leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. "You know, I always wondered what happened to you after... well, after everything." Rory's fingers tightened around the glass. "You mean after Evan?" Silas nodded, his expression unreadable. "Yeah. After Evan." She took a deep breath, her eyes flicking to the old maps and photographs on the walls. "I left. Went to London, started over. Tried to put it all behind me." "Did it work?" Silas asked, his gaze searching her face. Rory met his eyes, her own reflecting a mix of pain and resilience. "Some days, yeah. Other days, not so much." Silas reached out, his hand covering hers. "You know, you don't have to carry it all alone. Not anymore." She looked down at his hand, then back up at him. "I know. It's just... hard, you know? To let go." Silas nodded, his thumb tracing the scar on her wrist. "I get it. But you're not that scared girl anymore, Rory. You're stronger now." She smiled, this time it reached her eyes. "Thanks, Silas. I needed to hear that." He squeezed her hand, then let go. "Anytime, kid. Anytime." They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the weight of the past hanging between them. But there was also a sense of hope, of new beginnings. "Hey, Silas," Rory said, her voice soft. "Do you remember that time we snuck out to the rooftop and watched the sunrise?" Silas laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "How could I forget? Your dad was livid when he found out." Rory grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Yeah, well, it was worth it. That was one of the best nights of my life." Silas looked at her, his expression serious. "You know, Rory, you deserve to have more nights like that. Nights filled with joy and laughter, not regret and pain." She looked down at her glass, her fingers tracing the rim. "I know, Silas. I just... I don't know how to let go of the past." Silas reached out, his hand covering hers. "You take it one day at a time, kid. One day at a time." Rory looked up at him, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thanks, Silas. I don't know what I'd do without you." He smiled, his eyes warm. "You'll never have to find out, kid. I'll always be here for you." They sat in silence for a while longer, the weight of the past still hanging between them. But there was also a sense of hope, of new beginnings. And for the first time in a long time, Rory felt like maybe, just maybe, she could let go of the past and embrace the future. Silas looked at her, his expression serious. "You know, Rory, you deserve to have more nights like that. Nights filled with joy and laughter, not regret and pain." She looked down at her glass, her fingers tracing the rim. "I know, Silas. I just... I don't know how to let go of the past." Silas reached out, his hand covering hers. "You take it one day at a time, kid. One day at a time." Rory looked up at him, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thanks, Silas. I don't know what I'd do without you." He smiled, his eyes warm. "You'll never have to find out, kid. I'll always be here for you." They sat in silence for a while longer, the weight of the past still hanging between them. But there was also a sense of hope, of new beginnings. And for the first time in a long time, Rory felt like maybe, just maybe, she could let go of the past and embrace the future. The door to the bar swung open, and a gust of cold air rushed in. Rory looked up, her eyes widening as she saw who it was. Evan, her ex, stood in the doorway, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on her. He smiled, a slow, predatory smile that sent a shiver down her spine. "Well, well, well," he said, his voice dripping with false charm. "If it isn't little Rory Carter. I thought I'd never see you again." Rory stood up, her chair scraping against the floor. "What are you doing here, Evan?" He walked towards her, his eyes never leaving hers. "I could ask you the same question. But I already know the answer. You're here to see Silas, aren't you? Your dear old friend." Rory's hands clenched into fists at her sides. "That's none of your business, Evan. Now leave, before I call the police." Evan laughed, a harsh, bitter sound. "Oh, Rory. Always so quick to run to the authorities. But you know what? I'm not here to cause trouble. I'm just here to talk." Rory's eyes narrowed. "Talk? About what?" Evan's smile faded, his expression turning serious. "About us, Rory. About what happened between us. I think it's time we had a little chat, don't you?" Rory's heart pounded in her chest, but she refused to show her fear. "There is no 'us', Evan. There hasn't been for a long time. Now leave, before I make you." Evan's eyes flashed with anger, but he took a step back. "Fine, Rory. But this isn't over. Not by a long shot." With that, he turned and walked out of the bar, the door slamming shut behind him. Rory let out a shaky breath, her hands trembling. Silas stood up, his expression concerned. "Are you okay, kid?" Rory nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah. I'm okay." Silas reached out, his hand covering hers. "You know, Rory, you don't have to face him alone. I'm here for you, remember?" Rory looked up at him, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thanks, Silas. I don't know what I'd do without you." He smiled, his eyes warm. "You'll never have to find out, kid. I'll always be here for you." They sat in silence for a while longer, the weight of the past still hanging between them. But there was also a sense of hope, of new beginnings. And for the first time in a long time, Rory felt like maybe, just maybe, she could let go of the past and embrace the future. The door to the bar swung open again, and a gust of cold air rushed in. Rory looked up, her eyes widening as she saw who it was. Evan, her ex, stood in the doorway, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on her. He smiled, a slow, predatory smile that sent a shiver down her spine. "Well, well, well," he said, his voice dripping with false charm. "If it isn't little Rory Carter. I thought I'd never see you again." Rory stood up, her chair scraping against the floor. "What are you doing here, Evan?" He walked towards her, his eyes never leaving hers. "I could ask you the same question. But I already know the answer. You're here to see Silas, aren't you? Your dear old friend." Rory's hands clenched into fists at her sides. "That's none of your business, Evan. Now leave, before I call the police." Evan laughed, a harsh, bitter sound. "Oh, Rory. Always so quick to run to the authorities. But you know what? I'm not here to cause trouble. I'm just here to talk." Rory's eyes narrowed. "Talk? About what?" Evan's smile faded, his expression turning serious. "About us, Rory. About what happened between us. I think it's time we had a little chat, don't you?" Rory's heart pounded in her chest, but she refused to show her fear. "There is no 'us', Evan. There hasn't been for a long time. Now leave, before I make you." Evan's eyes flashed with anger, but he took a step back. "Fine, Rory. But this isn't over. Not by a long shot." With that, he turned and walked out of the bar, the door slamming shut behind him. Rory let out a shaky breath, her hands trembling. Silas stood up, his expression concerned. "Are you okay, kid?" Rory nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah. I'm okay." Silas reached out, his hand covering hers. "You know, Rory, you don't have to face him alone. I'm here for you, remember?" Rory looked up at him, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thanks, Silas. I don't know what I'd do without you." He smiled, his eyes warm. "You'll never have to find out, kid. I'll always be here for you." They sat in silence for a while longer, the weight of the past still hanging between them. But there was also a sense of hope, of new beginnings. And for the first time in a long time, Rory felt like maybe, just maybe, she could let go of the past and embrace the future.