Faith in the Shadows

The waves crashed softly in the distance, a rhythmic reminder of calm beyond the chaos in her mind. Lyra’s fingers dug into the warm sand, her chest still tight from adrenaline that hadn’t fully faded. She could feel Kira’s presence beside her—steady, unwavering—but something in her friend’s expression made her pause.

Kira didn’t speak for a long moment, her eyes shadowed with something darker, a