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Chapter 18: A Room Not Meant for Ghosts

The lights in the lounge were dimmed low — warm, gold, soft like candlelight.

Someone had set up a cake.

Someone else brought cheap wine.

There was jazz on the old speaker.

It wasn’t official.

No rules.

No ranks.

Just a rare moment of air between missions.

The Ash Team was celebrating their success.

But no one expected Rook to come.

---

Vera asked earlier:

> “Should I invite her?”

Oren shrugged.

> “She won’t show.”

Cain had paused, then whispered:

> “Still… let her know. Just in case.”

---

9:03 PM – The Door Opens

They were laughing over some embarrassing mission story Dirk was telling when the door creaked open.

It was quiet.

No one turned right away.

Then Vera looked over.

And froze.

> “She came.”

Rook stood in the doorway.

Dark coat.

Golden eyes lowered.

Hair still messy.

Posture… guarded.

She didn’t walk in right away.

Just lingered — like she wasn’t sure if the room would let her exist.

Cain stood instantly.

> “Hey,” he said, smiling.

> “There’s food,” Oren added.

She didn’t smile.

But she walked forward.

Step by step.

---

Later – With Raven and Dirk

She didn’t eat the cake.

She didn’t laugh at the jokes.

But she sat on the floor again, near the coffee table, watching the others interact — like someone studying a language she couldn’t speak.

And then Raven approached.

She sat beside her, plate in hand, sipping wine.

> “Didn’t expect you here,” she said casually.

Rook said nothing.

Raven chuckled.

> “You still don’t like me, huh?”

> “I don’t dislike you,” Rook replied quietly.

> “You just don’t trust me?”

> “I don’t trust easy.”

Raven paused.

> “Fair.”

Then, out of nowhere, Rook asked:

> “Why do you wear your sleeves so long?”

Raven blinked.

> “What?”

> “You cover your wrists. All the time.”

Raven looked down at her cuffs, then at Rook.

> “You noticed that?”

> “I notice everything.”

> “...Huh.”

She didn’t explain.

Rook didn’t ask again.

It was enough.

---

Then Dirk sat on the armrest behind them, sipping soda like a bored crow.

> “So, the ‘golden-eyed nightmare’ comes down from her tower.”

Rook glanced up.

No reaction.

> “What? No comeback?”

> “I’m not here to fight.”

Dirk raised a brow.

> “Then why are you here?”

A long silence.

Then she answered:

> “Because Cain said I should try.”

Dirk tilted his head.

> “And do you want to be here?”

> “No.”

> “Then why stay?”

> “Because… I think maybe someday I might.”

Dirk stared at her.

Then looked away and muttered:

> “...Fair.”

---

End of the Night

Everyone drifted away slowly.

Rook remained by the table, half-asleep, sitting cross-legged like a child left behind at a party.

Cain came over, draped a blanket over her shoulders.

> “You don’t have to pretend here.”

She didn’t answer.

But she whispered softly:

> “Then don’t make me leave.”

---

End of Chapter 18