Chapter 28— Trapped, and Listening
Lyra's POV
The halls of Saint Valley feel strange today, almost unfamiliar. The chatter of students, the squeak of sneakers on the polished floor, the faint hum of lockers opening and closing — all of it presses against my chest.
I move carefully, head down, backpack tight against my shoulders, trying to keep my world small, controlled.
I pass the music room — the one we used to hang out in all those years. I pause for a heartbeat, memories pressing in.
Laughter, whispered secrets, the warmth of the group sitting cross-legged on the floor. A pang twists in my chest. I look away, forcing my feet forward.
And then… a sudden push from behind.
I stumble forward, arms flailing, and before I can react, the door slams shut behind me. The lock clicks.
My heart hammers. "What… what the—?" I whirl around. The small, dark room feels enormous all of a sudden. Panic curls in my stomach, a cold, twisting snake. I fumble for the light switch, fingers trembling. The fluorescent bulbs flicker to life.
And then I see them.
Aveline. Evan. Cassian. Soraya. Saphira. All of them, standing there like shadows in the sudden brightness. My breath catches. My hands shake. My legs feel like lead.
"Lyra…" Evan steps forward, hands slightly raised, careful. "Please… just… let us explain."
I take a hesitant step back, pressing myself against the wall. "Explain? Explain what?" My voice trembles.
Soraya moves closer, voice soft but firm. "Everything. We know we hurt you. We know we betrayed you. We… we need you to hear us, even if it's hard."
I shake my head, backing toward the other side of the room. "I don't… I don't want to hear anything. You lied. You used me. You—"
Cassian cuts in, his voice sharp but panicked. "Lyra, if you run away, we can't make you listen. And…" His eyes dart to Evan, to the others. "…we'd have no choice but to tie you to that chair."
My stomach drops. My hands fly to my mouth. "What?! No! You wouldn't—"
Evan swallows hard, voice low, careful. "It's not a threat, Lyra. We just… we can't let you leave again without hearing us. We need you to understand. Please. Just… sit."
I glance at the chair in the corner. My breath catches, fear twisting in my chest. But somehow, the weight of their presence — the guilt, the desperation in their eyes — presses on me differently. Trembling, I sink slowly onto the edge of the chair, gripping the sides as if it's the only thing holding me upright.
Soraya kneels beside me, eyes soft. "We didn't mean for any of it to hurt you. The bet… adding you to the group… it wasn't supposed to… We just… we messed up."
Saphira's voice shakes. "We never wanted to see you like this. Please… we want you to understand, to hear us."
Evan steps closer, careful, but his gaze is steady, imploring. "Lyra… I loved you. I still do. None of this — the bet, the whispers, the lies — was about not caring for you. We just… we didn't know how to handle it. And we were stupid. All of us. But I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. I want to make it right, even if it takes time."
I blink rapidly. Tears blur my vision. My chest tightens as the sob I've been holding back for weeks finally rises. It's messy, loud, uncontrollable. I bury my face in my hands.
"I… I trusted you. I loved you… all of you. And you… you used me," I whisper through ragged breaths.
Their voices soften, cracks in their armor showing. Cassian steps forward, voice low. "We know. We're sorry. Every single one of us. We can't undo it, but… please let us try to make it right."
I can't stop crying. Each word is a dagger, each apology a tiny, awkward bandage over the gaping wound. Evan kneels in front of me, careful not to crowd. "I know it might take a long time. I know forgiveness isn't… simple. I just… want you to know I'll wait. For however long it takes."
I look up, meeting his eyes. Pain, regret, hope… all of it reflected back at me. My chest loosens slightly. I sniffle, shaking my head, trying to collect myself. "I… I can't promise anything yet. It might take a long time. I don't know if I can forgive you all. Or you, Evan."
He nods, slowly, accepting. "I know. And that's okay. I'll wait. I'll do whatever it takes."
Soraya and Saphira shift slightly, nodding. "We just… want you to know, Lyra, we love you. Not because of the bet. Not because of anything else. You're… you. And we don't want to lose you."
I take a deep, shaky breath. The anger is still there, sharp beneath the tears. But for the first time, the walls I've built feel… slightly porous. My heart aches, yes, but a small, fragile hope starts to form. Maybe it's not gone. Maybe it can grow again.
I press my hands to my face one last time, wiping the tears, letting them fall freely. "It's… it's going to take time. I don't know if I'm ready yet. But… I'll listen. That's all I can do right now."
Evan nods, a small, relieved smile tugging at his lips. "That's enough. That's all I ask."
The room feels quieter suddenly, softer. The fear, the tension, the panic — it's still there, yes, but mingled now with something else: tentative understanding, fragile trust, and the first glimmer of forgiveness.
And for the first time since I walked into this room, I let myself breathe.