Trusted

As they stepped out of the clinic, the warm sunlight enveloped them, casting a gentle glow over the bustling streets.

Mark and Lucia meandered through the crowds, their footsteps leading them to a quaint café tucked away in a quiet corner. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods wafted through the air, enticing their senses.

Over steaming cups of coffee and plates of savory food, Lucia's words spilled out in a nervous torrent. "Mark, I had a flashback last night." Her voice trembled, her eyes darting towards him with a mix of apprehension and curiosity.

Lucia's lungs expanded as she drew in a deep breath, her eyes fixed on Mark's intently. "I had a vision," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "Absalom, Ahab, Cain, and a few other demons...they were kneeling before me, calling me...queen." The word trembled on her lips, as if she feared Mark's reaction.

Her eyes darted towards him, searching for a glimmer of understanding. But Mark's expression remained impassive, his gaze unwavering.

Lucia's nerves fluttered like a trapped bird, her uncertainty visibly showing. She wasn't sure what to make of the vision herself, let alone how Mark would interpret it.

Mark's response was measured, his tone neutral. "You should be more open about your dreams and flashbacks, Lucia."

He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "But I'm guilty of the same thing, aren't I?" A hint of self-reproach crept into his voice, his gaze dropping to the table.

Lucia's eyes never left his face, her mind racing with questions. What was he hiding? What secrets lay behind those piercing eyes? But she only asked, "What do you really think of my...flashback dream?" Her voice was laced with a hint of trepidation.

Mark's gaze rose, his eyes locking onto hers. "I don't want to assume anything yet," he said, his voice low and cautious. "But I trust you,completely. I already entrusted my life to you last night, and you saved me. What more proof do I need of your good nature?"

His words were a balm to her frayed nerves, his trust a reminder of the bond they shared.

As they sat there, the café's bustle fading into the background, Lucia felt a sense of gratitude towards Mark.

Lucia's shoulders relaxed, her eyes softening as she smiled. "I guess you're right, Mark. I just...I don't know what to make of it myself."

After the meal they decided to leave the town.As they stepped out of the quaint café, the warm sunlight enveloped them once again, casting a golden glow over the bustling streets.

Mark and Lucia sauntered towards their car, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the pavement. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods still lingered in the air, a sweet reminder of their brief respite.

With a soft hum, the car's engine roared to life, and they pulled out of the parking spot, merging seamlessly into the flow of traffic.

The wheels whispered against the asphalt as they glided through the streets, the scenery outside their windows a blur of concrete and steel.

Mark's hands moved deftly over the wheel, his eyes fixed on the road ahead, while Lucia settled into the passenger seat, her gaze lost in thought.

The soft purr of the engine and the gentle rustle of the wind through the open windows created a soothing melody, a symphony of sound that seemed to match the rhythm of their heartbeats.

As they drove, the city gave way to suburbs, and eventually, the landscape shifted to rolling hills and verdant forests.

The sun cast a warm glow over the scenery, its rays dancing through the leaves like a chorus of nature's own. The air was alive with the sweet scent of blooming wildflowers and the earthy aroma of damp soil.

Mark and Lucia drove in comfortable silence, their thoughts lost in the vast expanse of their own minds.

As the car's wheels hummed against the asphalt, Mark's mind wandered back to the mystifying words Lucia had spoken earlier.

He turned his head, his gaze falling upon her serene form, slumber's gentle embrace softening her features. The soft rise and fall of her chest was the only indication of life, her peacefulness a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing in Mark's mind.

The same ancient demons that had relentlessly pursued them for the past week, driven by a hunger for destruction,used to bow before Lucia?

The notion defied logic, a jarring discordance that grated against Mark's understanding. His thoughts swirled in a maelstrom of confusion, his brow furrowed in concentration as he struggled to reconcile the disparate threads.

He had known Lucia for mere days, yet her innate goodness had shone brighter than any beacon, illuminating the dark recesses of his own soul.

What purpose could demons have for a soul so pure, so full of light? The question echoed through his mind like a refrain, a haunting melody that refused to be silenced.

But Lucia wasn't her true name, was it? It was a fake name conjured by the demons that had imprisoned her on the island, a label slapped upon her like a brand.

A shiver coursed down Mark's spine as he entertained the unthinkable: what if Lucia wasn't the innocent he believed her to be? What if she was something far more sinister, a Trojan horse hiding in plain sight?

His mind recoiled from the possibility, refusing to contemplate the horror of having to vanquish the very person he had sworn to protect.

The thought was a betrayal, a violation of the trust they had forged in the crucible of their shared struggles. Mark's grip on the wheel tightened, his knuckles white with tension, as he navigated the treacherous terrain of his own doubts.

The air was heavy with the weight of unspoken questions.The tension and anxiety bubbling up in Mark felt like a force that threatened to suffocate him.

The silence in the car was oppressive, punctuated only by the soft hum of the engine and Lucia's gentle snores.