Run: 2026-02-20-01KHXQF6VMS7B2KWSA7562NVK0

The distinctive green neon sign of The Raven's Nest buzzed softly against the Soho night, casting an eerie glow on the rain-slicked pavement. Aurora Carter, her black hair damp from the drizzle, pushed open the heavy wooden door and stepped inside, the scent of aged whiskey and polished leather enveloping her. She scanned the dimly lit room, her bright blue eyes adjusting to the low light. The walls were a museum of old maps and black-and-white photographs, each one telling a story she couldn't begin to fathom. She slid onto a barstool, her fingers tracing the small crescent-shaped scar on her left wrist, a reminder of a childhood accident she could barely remember. The bar was quiet, save for the low hum of conversation and the occasional clink of glass on wood. She ordered a gin and tonic, the bite of the liquor grounding her as she surveyed the room. It was then she saw him. Silas Blackwood stood by the far wall, his hazel eyes scanning the room with a quiet intensity that was unmistakably him. His grey-streaked auburn hair was neatly combed, matching the trim of his beard. He wore a dark suit, the fabric slightly rumpled, as if he'd been wearing it for days. A silver signet ring glinted on his right hand as he raised a glass to his lips. His left leg bore a slight limp, a testament to a past she knew little about. Aurora's heart pounded in her chest. She hadn't seen Silas in years, not since she'd left Cardiff for London. They'd been friends, once, back when life was simpler and the future stretched out before them like an endless road. But time and circumstance had torn them apart, and now, seeing him like this, she felt the weight of those years pressing down on her. She took a deep breath, steeling herself, and walked over to him. He looked up as she approached, his eyes widening slightly in recognition. A small smile played at the corners of his mouth, but his eyes held a wariness that hadn't been there before. "Silas," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "It's been a long time." He nodded, setting his glass down on a nearby table. "Aurora. Or should I call you Rory?" She smiled, a genuine smile that lit up her face. "Rory's fine. It's been... what, five years?" "Six," he corrected, his voice low. "Six years since you left Cardiff." She looked down, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass. "Yeah. Six years." An awkward silence stretched between them, filled with the ghosts of their past and the unspoken regrets that lingered in the air. Silas broke the silence first, his voice softening. "You look well. How have you been?" She looked up at him, her bright blue eyes searching his face. "I've been alright. Working part-time at a restaurant, delivering food. It's not much, but it pays the bills." Silas nodded, his gaze never leaving her face. "And your parents? How are they?" Aurora's smile faded, her fingers tightening around her glass. "They're fine. Dad's still a barrister, Mom's still teaching. They're happy." Silas nodded again, his expression unreadable. "That's good. That's really good." Another silence fell between them, heavier this time. Aurora took a deep breath, her fingers tracing the scar on her wrist again. "Silas, I—" He held up a hand, stopping her. "You don't have to explain, Rory. I know why you left." She looked up at him, her eyes wide. "You do?" He nodded, his gaze steady. "Evan. I know what he did to you. I know why you left." Aurora's eyes filled with tears, her fingers tightening around her glass. "I should have told you. I should have told someone." Silas reached out, his hand covering hers. His touch was warm, comforting. "You did what you had to do, Rory. You survived. That's all that matters." She looked down at his hand, her fingers tracing the silver signet ring on his right hand. "And you? What happened to you?" Silas's expression darkened, his gaze shifting to the wall behind her. "I retired. After Prague." Aurora's eyes widened. "Prague? What happened in Prague?" Silas's gaze met hers, his eyes filled with a pain she'd never seen before. "I lost someone. Someone important." Aurora's heart ached for him, her fingers tightening around his. "I'm sorry, Silas. I'm so sorry." He looked down at their joined hands, his thumb tracing the scar on her wrist. "Me too, Rory. Me too." They stood like that for a long moment, their hands joined, their eyes locked. The weight of their past and the unspoken regrets hung heavy in the air between them. But there was also something else, something intangible and yet undeniable. A connection, a bond that had been forged in their shared past and tempered by the fires of their individual struggles. Silas broke the silence first, his voice soft. "Would you like to get a drink? Catch up?" Aurora smiled, her fingers tightening around his. "I'd like that, Silas. I'd like that very much." He led her to a quiet corner of the bar, his limp more pronounced now. They sat down, their hands still joined, their eyes locked. The weight of their past and the unspoken regrets still hung heavy in the air, but there was also a sense of hope, of redemption. A chance to start over, to forge a new path together. As they talked, the years fell away, and they were just Rory and Silas again, two old friends caught up in the whirlwind of life. They laughed, they cried, they shared their dreams and their fears. And as the night wore on, Aurora realized that she had found something precious, something she thought she'd lost forever. A friend. A confidant. A partner in crime. And as Silas looked at her, his eyes filled with a warmth she'd never seen before, she knew that he felt the same way. That they had both found something precious, something they thought they'd lost forever. A second chance. A chance to start over, to forge a new path together. And as the night wore on, and the weight of their past and the unspoken regrets faded away, they knew that they had found something special. Something worth fighting for. Something worth living for. And as they sat there, their hands joined, their eyes locked, they knew that they had found something that transcended time and circumstance. A bond that could not be broken. A love that could not be denied. And as the night wore on, and the weight of their past and the unspoken regrets faded away, they knew that they had found something special. Something worth fighting for. Something worth living for. And as they sat there, their hands joined, their eyes locked, they knew that they had found something that transcended time and circumstance. A bond that could not be broken. A love that could not be denied. And as the night wore on, and the weight of their past and the unspoken regrets faded away, they knew that they had found something special. Something worth fighting for. Something worth living for. And as they sat there, their hands joined, their eyes locked, they knew that they had found something that transcended time and circumstance. A bond that could not be broken. A love that could not be denied. And as the night wore on, and the weight of their past and the unspoken regrets faded away, they knew that they had found something special. Something worth fighting for. Something worth living for. And as they sat there, their hands joined, their eyes locked, they knew that they had found something that transcended time and circumstance. A bond that could not be broken. A love that could not be denied. And as the night wore on, and the weight of their past and the unspoken regrets faded away, they knew that they had found something special. Something worth fighting for. Something worth living for. And as they sat there, their hands joined, their eyes locked, they knew that they had found something that transcended time and circumstance. A bond that could not be broken. A love that could not be denied. And as the night wore on, and the weight of their past and the unspoken regrets faded away, they knew that they had found something special. Something worth fighting for. Something worth living for. And as they sat there, their hands joined, their eyes locked, they knew that they had found something that transcended time and circumstance. A bond that could not be broken. A love that could not be denied.