CHAPTER SEVEN
Lily avoided her room the next day.
She didn't trust it anymore.
Instead, she stayed out longer than usual, walking without direction, letting the noise of the city fill her head. It was easier outside. Nothing watched her here. Nothing waited.
At least… that's what she told herself.
By the time she reached the bus stop, the sky had started to dim. A few people stood nearby, scrolling through their phones, talking quietly, living normal lives.
Lily kept her distance.
Her hands were in her pockets.
Warm again.
She ignored it.
A bus pulled up. The doors opened with a hiss. People stepped forward.
Lily followed.
Inside, it was crowded. She stood near the back, holding onto a metal pole. The bus jerked forward, and she tightened her grip.
Her fingers brushed the metal.
The warmth spread instantly.
Lily stiffened.
"No," she whispered under her breath.
The pole vibrated slightly.
She let go.
Too late.
The overhead lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
A few people looked up.
Lily's heart started racing.
"Not here," she muttered.
The lights steadied.
She exhaled.
Then—
They burst brighter.
Too bright.
A woman near the front gasped. "What's wrong with the lights?"
The bus jolted.
The driver cursed under his breath.
Lily stepped back, shaking her head. "Stop… please stop…"
The lights flickered wildly now.
Fast.
Uncontrolled.
Her chest tightened.
"I didn't mean to," she whispered.
The metal pole rattled.
The windows trembled slightly.
"Hey—what's going on?" someone shouted.
Panic spread quickly.
People started looking around.
Lily felt it again—that same pull. That same pressure inside her chest.
Too much.
"I can't—"
The lights went out completely.
Darkness.
A few people screamed.
The bus screeched to a stop.
Silence followed.
Then slowly… the emergency lights flickered on.
Dim.
Unsteady.
Lily stood frozen.
No one was looking at her directly—but it felt like they would. Like they could.
She backed toward the door.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Then the doors opened.
She stepped out—
And ran.
She didn't stop until she reached an empty street.
Her breathing was uneven.
Her hands shook.
"I didn't touch anything," she whispered. "I didn't—"
But she had.
She knew it.
The streetlights above her flickered.
Lily froze.
"No… not again…"
One of them went out.
Then came back on.
Brighter than the others.
Like it was… reacting.
Lily stepped back.
Fear settled deep in her chest.
"This isn't normal," she said.
"No," a voice answered quietly. "It isn't."
Lily turned sharply.
Lucien stood a few steps behind her.
Still.
Watching.
She frowned immediately. "Did you follow me?"
"No," he said. "I felt it."
"That doesn't make sense."
"It doesn't have to," Lucien replied.
Lily shook her head. "Something's wrong with me."
Lucien's gaze softened slightly. "No. Something is changing."
"I almost caused an accident," she snapped. "People were there."
"And no one got hurt," he said calmly.
"Not this time."
Silence.
Lily looked away, frustrated. "I can't control it."
"I know."
She looked back at him. "Then fix it."
Lucien paused.
"It doesn't work like that," he said.
"Then what am I supposed to do?" she asked.
He stepped closer.
Not too close.
Just enough.
"You learn," he said. "Or it gets worse."
Lily let out a shaky breath.
"I don't want your kind of help," she said.
Lucien nodded slightly. "I expected that."
"Then why are you still here?"
He looked at her.
"Because even if you don't trust me," he said quietly, "you're already part of this."
That didn't comfort her.
At all.
The streetlight above them flickered again.
Lily stepped back.
"I need space," she said.
Lucien didn't argue.
"I'll be close," he said instead.
That annoyed her.
But also…
It didn't feel entirely bad.
She turned and walked away.
This time, she didn't look back.
Lucien stayed where he was, watching her disappear into the night.
His expression darkened slightly.
Because now—
It wasn't just Rowan.
The world itself was starting to notice her.