Velora couldn't stop thinking about one thing.
"You survived something you shouldn't have."
Her father's words replayed in her mind like a broken record.
Survived what?
And why did he say it like survival was a mistake?
The house felt different the next morning.
Too quiet.
Too careful.
Her father avoided her eyes.
Her mother didn't.
Her mother watched her constantly.
Not in a protective way.
In a calculating way.
At lunch, her mother sat across from her.
Smiling.
"You've been distant lately," she said gently.
"I've been confused," Velora replied.
"About?"
Velora studied her carefully.
"About what happened years ago."
For the first time—
Her mother's spoon stopped mid-air.
Just for a second.
Then she placed it down calmly.
"Past is past," she said softly.
"That night wasn't just past," Velora whispered. "It was important."
Her father's jaw tightened.
"You don't remember clearly," he said. "You were unconscious."
Unconscious.
Again.
Always unconscious.
Like they preferred her that way.
That evening, Velora searched her memory harder.
She closed her eyes.
Forced herself to focus.
And suddenly—
A flash.
Rain.
Sirens.
Someone shouting her name.
Velora.
Bleeding.
Standing in front of her.
And then—
A gunshot.
Her eyes snapped open.
Her breathing turned uneven.
Gunshot.
There was a gunshot.
The room temperature dropped suddenly.
"You're remembering," Riven Ash's voice echoed.
He appeared near the door.
But weaker.
Like something was draining him slowly.
"You stood in front of me," she whispered.
He didn't deny it.
"You weren't the target," he said quietly.
"Then who was?"
He stepped closer.
"The bullet wasn't meant for you."
Her heart pounded violently.
"Then why did you—"
"Because you were in the way."
Silence.
Her hands trembled.
"You took it."
He didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
The truth was written all over his eyes.
"You died for me," she whispered.
His jaw tightened.
"They were never supposed to call the police."
The room froze.
"They?" she repeated.
He looked conflicted.
"They ruined everything."
"Who called them?"
Before he could answer—
Her bedroom door opened suddenly.
Her mother stood there.
Without knocking.
Velora jumped.
River ash disappeared instantly.
Her mother's gaze moved around the room.
Like she felt something.
"You shouldn't lock your door," she said softly.
"I was just thinking."
Her mother stepped inside slowly.
Her expression was warm.
But her voice—
Slightly sharper.
"You've been asking too many questions lately."
Velora swallowed.
"Don't I deserve answers?"
Her mother's smile didn't fade.
"You deserve peace."
"That's not the same thing."
For a moment—
The mask slipped.
Just slightly.
Her eyes hardened.
"You're alive because we made difficult choices," she said quietly.
We.
Not I.
Not your father.
We.
"What choices?" Velora demanded.
Her mother stepped closer.
Close enough that Velora could see something she had never noticed before.
Fear.
Not of Velora.
But of the past.
"Some truths," her mother whispered, "should stay buried."
A sudden loud sound came from downstairs.
A door slamming.
Her father shouting something angrily.
Her mother's face changed instantly.
Back to sweet.
Back to calm.
"We'll talk later," she said gently.
And walked out.
Velora stood frozen.
Her heart racing. Riven Ash reappeared faintly in the corner.
"She's more dangerous than he is," he said quietly.
And for the first time—
Velora believed him.