Chapter 53
Standing Beside The Storm
The familiar growl of Dafa's motorcycle cut through the humid afternoon air of the metro city, pulling up to the curb outside the house complex where my family lived. I slipped off the back, my legs shaky not from the ride, but from the seismic shift inside me. The certification in my bag felt like a live wire.
"Go ahead," Dafa said, his voice barely audible over the idling engine. "I'll secure the bike."
I nodded, pushing through the complex's main gate.
As I approached our door, I could already hear the sharp cadence of voices from inside. Lilith's laugh, a high, tinkling sound that was never kind. I took a steadying breath, my hand trembling slightly as I unlocked the door.
The living room was thick with the smell of cloying air freshener. Lilith was perched on the edge of sofa, her phone in hand. Her eyes, sharp and assessing, raked over me the moment I stepped in. A slow, condescending smile spread across her face.
