Capítulo 15: On a Street in Samsa

Celeste tried to open her mouth and make a sound as she walked down the road. At the main road of the city center, life was starting, and Celeste enjoyed the hubbub.

People pushed wooden wagons, opened side road stalls, and car shops busied themselves before the office workers started their day.

This road, in particular, was called the Tourists' Stretch due to the unique explosion of colors painted on the road, the mosaic artwork made from colorful glass on all the buildings, creating one massive form of art.

The streetlights were even decorated with round vases where greenery draped over with beautiful, colorful flowers. Food vendors stood like mushrooms, offering every kind of snack, from sweet, salty, and spicy, to sour—fresh or preserved.

Mina had never let her or Orion walk through this path, claiming it was a source of entertainment for people who couldn't afford to be somewhere clean and dignified.

But Celeste had always wanted to come regardless and thought Mina was shallow. This was the heart and pride of Samsa City, the capital of Torra.

Now, Celeste looked around, cheering herself up despite not being able to repeat the sudden miracle she had experienced before.

She wondered how she had managed to say Avond's name, bewildered at her own inability to repeat something so simple and her lack of self-understanding.

Whatever mental wall stood between her and the world had suddenly disappeared at that moment. But what exactly had prompted it, she did not know.

Celeste sighed, her steps slowly gaining speed out of frustration. It would be easier for her to go through life if she could overcome her crippling fear. That much she knew.

"…I don't think I've seen anyone with such a description."

Celeste's ears perked at the conversation behind her. Her steps slowed as she glanced at two men in black attire talking to a slippers vendor. Suddenly, she felt her feet turn cold. They were Avond's men—she could recognize it from what Avond wore himself.

Of course, they were going to send people to find me. What was I thinking? Celeste thought, an ugly feeling rising in her chest. She remembered Orion's face as the older girl smirked at her and thought her sacrifice would be a waste on that arrogant girl. I need to live for me. I'm so done with this BS.

In the sudden turn of events, Celeste slipped behind the tent of a fruit vendor, then pushed herself up so that she could slip through the thick bushes separating the Tourists' Stretch and the wide central park—another piece of landscape beautifully decorated.

Celeste jumped onto the wide blue running track, where a group of women in jogging outfits ran past her. In the park, there weren't many people. Just as she started walking to one side, Celeste saw a group of three men in black attire entering through a narrow entrance at the far end. Her heartbeat quickened. She turned around and then ran as fast as she could to another entrance.

There was nowhere she could go, but for now, she could head to the public restroom at Cinema Parks. There, anyone could come and use it. These men wouldn't be able to enter unless they were willing to risk the police coming to arrest them.

Don't call the police, Mina's voice suddenly reminded her. Celeste couldn't help but feel even angrier than before. How was I supposed to know Tiel was a violent man? Celeste screamed in her mind.

"Celeste!" someone yelled out her name.

Avond.

He was still on his bike, one leg holding the weight of it, as he looked at her from under the lifted black-tinted glass of his helmet.

Avond started to ride his bike toward her, but Celeste turned to run towards a narrow gap between two tall buildings. They were called resting gaps, where employees often went to smoke and hide away from the sun.

"Celeste, please! Stop! I'm sorry!" Avond yelled out to her.

Celeste continued running, willing herself to outrun a man much taller than her. Her heart leaped with joy as she approached the end of the gap when suddenly she felt her whole body pulled back by a hand.

She screamed as two strong arms locked her body in a tight embrace, lifting her off the ground.

Celeste felt a lump in her throat, her fear overpowering her need to call for help. She gritted her teeth, all the anger and disappointment in her body bubbling up in her chest.

She cursed at him and then kicked the wall in front of her as hard as possible, pushing Avond against it. His head bumped against the wall with force.

What followed was a string of colorful words Celeste had never heard before, nicely chained into one long paragraph. She let the weight of her body pull them down, expecting Avond to fall with her, but instead, he managed to carry her.

Not just that, he forced her to stand and then turned her around so they faced each other.

"Celeste! Enough!" Avond yelled in her face, shaking her so hard that her teeth rattled in her mouth. Celeste felt tears in her eyes but refused to cry. She stared into Avond's blue eyes, noticing the storm raging in them.

"I understand," Avond said, the look on his face softening with each word. "I know no one in their right mind would marry Tiel knowing what he's capable of. But that's not the only thing he can do, and what he will do isn't guaranteed. Think about this, Celeste—what it would mean for you and your family. Understand that… you'll come to regret your decisions if you act on the spur of the moment."

They looked at each other for what felt like minutes, Avond waiting patiently for her answer. It's true, Celeste admitted to herself. She had dreamed of living a simple life on her own, doing small jobs somewhere far away, but she hadn't put much thought into it when she ran away. She had acted on pure emotion.

Unable to speak, Celeste shook her head, letting her gaze fall.

"Look," Avond started, his eyes wide. "If you need some time to think about it, you can hide at my place. It's the only place where no one would think to look for you."

Celeste looked up at him. Can I really trust him not to give me away? What if all of this is just a trap? It was already daytime. People had started walking through the streets. Maybe he didn't want people calling the police. Even if it made no difference.

"You have my word," Avond said. Celeste bit her bottom lip. She wanted to believe him, but she feared the worst. But what chances did she have out there? She would get caught in no time.

"Celeste, Tiel's men are looking for you as well."

Celeste looked up at that.

"I hate to sound so dramatic, but… right now, your best chance of hiding is with me," he said. Celeste didn't need any more convincing. If she had to choose between Avond's or Tiel's men, it was obvious whom she would choose.

Celeste nodded. With that, Avond took her hand, then took out his phone. The dial started to ring, making Celeste nervous, but she waited patiently. There was an answer—a familiar voice from the other end.

"Wouter, come pick me up by the museum. Don't stop the search and don't let anyone know. I found Celeste."

Celeste let out a breath of relief. To her surprise, Avond put his arm around her shoulder, giving her comfort. The scent of evening air still lingered around him, mixed with city smoke and sweat. She hated to admit it, but she liked it.

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