Story 350: The Fragile Wings

Zara held the delicate butterfly in her gloved hand, its fragile wings shimmering with a dark, otherworldly hue. It had appeared out of nowhere in the dimly lit chamber, fluttering gently through the heavy air. Something about the creature captivated her—its movements seemed deliberate, purposeful, as if it had a message to convey.

Callum watched from the doorway, his brow furrowed. "Zara, what is that? We don’t have time for—"

She silenced him with a wave of her hand, her eyes locked on the butterfly. “It’s more than just a butterfly. Look at it, Callum. It’s... unnatural.”

The creature perched calmly on her finger, its dark wings etched with strange patterns that almost seemed alive, shifting subtly as if whispering secrets. Zara’s mind raced. It wasn’t a coincidence. In this fortress of lies and shadows, nothing ever was.