Chapter 102: Echoes

NYRA

“Arrg."

The pain came first the moment I woke up that morning..It wasn’t sharp or sudden, not the kind that forced a cry out of me but it was there regardless as a deep, pressing ache settled somewhere behind my eyes.

I groaned softly, my fingers twitching against the sheets. For a moment, I didn’t move beyond that as I played back the moments again slowly this time.

For what felt like a while I took a deep breath in lost In thought. I wasn't in that moment aware of my surroundings just yet as I just existed in that strange space between sleep and waking, where everything felt distant and unclear.

My eyes snapped open when I remembered where the pain came from. My breath hitched sharply as I pushed myself upright too quickly, the room tilting around me as a wave of dizziness crashed through my head.

I pressed a hand to my temple immediately, squeezing my eyes shut as the pain flared stronger.

“God…” I muttered under my breath.

My heart was racing now. As if it was trying to make up for the moments it had been still.

The memory didn’t fade as it came back to my memory. Again just like the previous day I could see Aria collapsing and that sickening sight of blood spreading too quickly.

My stomach turned as I swung my legs over the side of the bed, forcing myself to stand despite the way my body protested.

My knees felt weak, unsteady beneath me, but I steadied myself against the edge of the bed until the ground stopped shifting.

I needed to see if she was fine now. I told myself. My steps toward the bathroom were slow at first. Worth each steps that I took it felt like I was trying to outrun the images replaying in my mind.

The door shut behind me with a quiet click.

The silence inside felt different as I moved to the sink, gripping the edge of it as I looked at my reflection.

I barely recognized myself. My hair was a mess, strands falling loosely around my face.

My skin looked pale, drained of its usual warmth, and my eyes… My eyes gave everything away. The fear and the confusion along with things I couldn't remember just yet.

I exhaled slowly, my grip tightening against the porcelain before I leaned forward and turned the tap on.

Cold water rushed out, and without hesitation, I cupped some into my hands and splashed it against my face.

The chill helped but it was not enough to clear my thoughts, but enough to calm me and to remind me I was awake and that this was real.

My breathing steadied slightly as I reached for a towel, patting my face dry before letting it fall back against the counter. For a moment, I just stood there trying to piece together something that made sense. But nothing did.

Nothing except one thing.

I straightened slowly, my gaze hardening.

“It was her…” I murmured.

The thought didn’t feel like a guess. It didn’t feel uncertain..It sat in my chest with a quiet, unwavering certainty that made my jaw tighten.

Samantha. The name alone stirred something bitter inside me and I can't tell why I just couldn't get it off.

I pushed away from the sink and moved toward the bath without hesitation. At that moment, all I needed was clarity. I needed the haze gone completely.

The water ran quickly, steam rising as I stepped under it moments later.

The heat hit my skin instantly, loosening tension I hadn’t even realized I was holding for what felt like a long minute my shoulders dropped.

My eyes closed and for a brief moment, there was nothing but the sound of water.

No thoughts, No memories…Just silence.

But it didn’t last. It never did as Aria’s face came back again.

My eyes snapped open, my breath catching as my hands curled at my sides.

“I hope she is alright,” I whispered.

My voice sounded different in the enclosed space as the water kept running, but I barely noticed it anymore.

I shut the water off abruptly..The silence that followed felt louder than the rushing stream.

I stepped out, drying myself quickly, my movements quicker now. By the time I pulled on fresh clothes, there was no hesitation left in me..Only anger simmering quietly beneath the surface. I reached for the door and pulled it open and stopped.

Rowan was there standing just a few steps inside the room. My brows drew together, surprise flickering only briefly before something harder replaced it.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice steady despite the storm inside me.

He didn’t answer immediately as his gaze moved over me quickly, assessing and searching for something I couldn’t quite place.

There was a look of concern on his face.

“You collapsed,” he said finally. “You should still be resting.”

I let out a quiet, humorless breath. “Resting?” I repeated. “Aria is—”

My voice caught, just for a second, but I pushed through it. “What happened to her?”

There it was…The only question that mattered at that moment.

His expression shifted slightly. “She’s alive.”

I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath until that moment. It left me slowly.

“But she’s still unconscious.”

The relief didn’t settle the way it should have.

If anything, it made everything worse.

My fingers curled at my sides. “What did you find?” I asked.

He held my gaze. “Nothing conclusive yet.”

That didn’t sit right with me.Not at all…So

I took a step closer.

“It was Samantha.”

The words came out without hesitation. His expression didn’t change immediately, but something in his eyes sharpened.

“Inconclusive,” he repeated calmly.

I stared at him. “What?”

“There’s no evidence pointing to her.” He repeated.

The shift in me was immediate that was filled with disbelief. Then frustration.

“Are you serious right now?” I asked, my voice dropping.

“I’m being logical.”

I let out a short laugh, empty of humor.

“Logical?” I echoed. “She was there.”

“That doesn’t prove anything.”

“It proves enough,” I shot back.

His jaw tightened slightly. “It doesn’t,” he said more firmly.

I shook my head slowly, disbelief settling deeper. “You’re defending her.”

The accusation hung between us.

“I’m not defending anyone.” he sighed deeply.

“It sounds like it.”

Silence fell around the room as it suddenly felt a bit ense. Charged with everything neither of us was saying.

I stepped back, putting space between us.

“You didn’t see it,” I said, quieter now but no less intense. “You didn’t see the way she looked.”

“That still isn’t evidence.”

“It’s enough for me.” I insisted.

He didn’t respond immediately and that…That was enough.Enough to confirm what I was already thinking.

My expression hardened completely. “Right,” I muttered.

I turned away before he could say anything else.

“Nyra—”

“I don’t want to hear it,” I cut in sharply.

My hand reached for the door.

“If you’re going to stand there and pretend this is nothing, then don’t.”

“I’m not pretending anything.” He said.

“Then act like it.”

The door opened. I didn’t look back but I stood there for a minute.

“You’re choosing the wrong side,” I said quietly and then I was gone.

The door shut behind me harder than necessary, the sound echoing faintly in the space I left behind.