Pearl slipped out of her house just as the sun dipped behind heavy clouds. The summer heat gave way to a sudden, thick humidity that made the air heavy with anticipation.
The old school library stood quiet and empty, a safe place she hoped to uncover hidden files about her dad, the Order, or even Vansh past.
She pushed open the creaky door, heart pounding in a mix of fear and excitement.
Rows of dusty books and forgotten records lined the shelves. She pulled out an old filing cabinet tucked in a shadowy corner — hoping to find something no one wanted her to see.
Just as she was rifling through papers, the first drops of rain began to tap against the windows — slow at first, then a sudden downpour that drummed loudly on the roof.
Pearl froze. The library was supposed to close hours ago. She was alone — or so she thought.
A familiar voice cut through the silence.
"Looking for trouble again?"
She spun around.
There was Vansh, standing in the doorway, rain soaking his hair and jacket. His expression was unreadable — part irritation, part relief.
Before she could speak, he gestured toward the window.
"You're not getting home like this."
Without waiting for an answer, Vansh pulled out his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
"Come on."
He led her through a back exit — into the rain-soaked streets — and before she could protest, whisked her away to a hidden spot: an old, abandoned train car nestled behind the school grounds.
Inside, the air was dry and cool. Vansh lit a small lantern, casting flickering shadows on the cracked walls.
He looked at her, voice low.
"You shouldn't be here, Pearl. You're digging too deep."
She met his gaze, stubborn and fierce.
"And you're not telling me why."
For a long moment, silence hung between them — heavy with all the words they weren't saying
The rain hammered against the old train car's metal walls like a storm trying to break free. Inside, the flickering lantern barely kept the shadows at bay.
Pearl pulled Vansh jacket tighter around her, but it didn't stop the fire burning inside her eyes.
"Why won't you just tell me?!" Her voice cracked with frustration, her fists clenched at her sides. "Why are you hiding everything? Don't you realize I deserve the truth? After everything I've been through—after the fire, after losing my family—I deserve something from you!"
Vansh jaw tightened. His eyes flickered with pain — but also something deeper, something raw.
"You think it's that simple?" His voice was low, almost a growl. "You want the truth? Fine. But be careful what you ask for, Pearl. Because once you have it, there's no going back."
Pearl took a step forward, invading his space. The rain outside matched the storm inside her chest.
"I'm done waiting for you to decide if I'm worthy of the truth. I'm done pretending you're my enemy when you're the only one who ever mattered."
Vansh breath hitched. For a moment, the walls he built started to crumble.
"You don't know what I've done," he whispered, voice cracking. "What I had to do to keep you alive. And it's killing me that you might hate me when it's over."
Pearl's eyes softened, the fury melting into something dangerous and tender all at once.
"Then don't keep me in the dark. Let me hate you after I know the whole story. But don't push me away with silence."
For a heartbeat, they just stood there — the rain's fury outside, the storm between them, and the fragile thread pulling them closer.
Vansh finally reached out, brushing a wet strand of hair from her face.
"Maybe… maybe I'm scared you'll hate me too much."
Pearl's breath caught.
The enemy lines blurred.
And somewhere between the rain and the lantern's glow, the impossible started to feel real