Chapter 3

MysticMuse

@Mystic_Muse

Chapter 2: Rebuilding the Past

The room fell silent as Kriya stepped further inside, her presence stirring a mix of nostalgia and tension. Her eyes met Rey’s, and for a moment, it felt as though the years apart had melted away. They were back at St. Louis — the same place where they had danced, laughed, and fought side by side.

Kriya cleared her throat, breaking the silence. “I didn’t expect you to come,” she said, her voice soft but guarded.

Rey stood still, unsure how to respond. His mind raced — should he apologize for the past? Pretend nothing had changed? He wasn’t sure anymore.

“I didn’t expect you to come either,” he replied, his words lingering in the air.

Swayam and Sharon exchanged a quiet glance in the background. They had both known this moment would come — the reunion of old friends, lovers, and rivals. But even they couldn’t have predicted how raw it would feel.

Sharon was the first to break the tension, her tone light but sincere. “Look, this isn’t just about us. It’s about what we were, what we became… and how far we’ve all come. We’ve changed — but we’re still family.”

Kriya nodded, taking a steady breath. “I know. And that’s why I’m here. I think it’s time to face everything — the past, the mistakes… and maybe, start something new.”

Rey studied her carefully, searching for the truth in her voice — and the girl he used to know beneath the woman she’d become.

“You think we can just pick up where we left off?”

Her smile was soft, touched with sadness. “I don’t know. But I think it’s worth trying.”

Swayam stepped forward, his voice calm and reassuring. “We may have taken different paths, but the heart of this place — it’s still the same.”

Rey felt the weight of their words settle into something lighter — not certainty, but a spark. A chance.

For the first time in a long while, he felt a flicker of hope.