409: ON THE BRINK

ARIEL'S POV Luke and I exchanged worried glances as another gunshot echoed through the air, shattering the fragile peace of the evening. My heart pounded in my chest, fear coursing through my veins as I turned to Luke for reassurance. "What was that?" I asked, my voice trembling with anxiety. Luke's expression was tense, but he placed a calming hand on my shoulder. "It's probably just fireworks, Ariel. No need to worry." I wanted to believe him, but the sound seemed too sharp, too close to being fireworks. Still, I clung to his words, seeking solace in his comforting presence. "Okay, thank you for trying to calm me down, but those are not fireworks," I vocalized, my gaze flickering towards the window and my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Luke squeezed my shoulder gently. "We'll stay right here. You can inform the others, lock the doors, and call the authorities if you need to. However, let's refrain from making hasty assumptions at this moment. I nodded, drawing strength