Mysteries of the Night
Arthur sat in a private examination room at one of Manhattan's most exclusive clinics, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest as he waited for the physician. Edwin had insisted on this checkup immediately after bringing him home, ensuring that Arthur's injuries were thoroughly assessed after the crash. Arthur couldn't blame him—anyone else would have been seriously hurt, if not worse.
Dr. Hastings, a seasoned physician known for treating New York's elite, entered the room with a warm but professional smile, shaking Arthur's hand. He began the examination, his touch precise as he checked for bruises, fractures, or signs of internal trauma.
"Well, Arthur, you're in excellent shape, which is… surprising, considering the nature of your accident," Dr. Hastings said, stepping back and regarding him with curiosity. "You say you remember a light? And… then you were just better?"
Arthur hesitated, his mind still replaying the surreal events on the bridge. How could he explain what he'd seen? The glowing woman, the warmth that had healed him, the strange crystal now sitting in his penthouse?
"I remember… a figure," he finally said, choosing his words cautiously. "It was like an angel, or some kind of energy. She healed me, I think. I know how it sounds, but that's what happened." He met Dr. Hastings' gaze, expecting disbelief, perhaps even a hint of mockery. But the doctor merely nodded, thoughtfully stroking his chin.
"I've heard stranger things," Hastings muttered, scribbling notes on his clipboard. "I don't know how you managed it, but all your tests show you're perfectly fine—better than fine, in fact. Still, if anything unusual happens, let me know."
With a final nod, Dr. Hastings left the room, leaving Arthur alone with his thoughts. He sat in silence, turning the events over in his mind—the light, the woman, the crash. The crystal. He hadn't mentioned that part yet, not even to Edwin. Somehow, he felt it was more than just a keepsake. It was connected to that strange woman, and he had a growing sense that whatever had happened to him was far from over.
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Meanwhile, across the city, a young fisherman on the Hudson River made an astonishing discovery. Earlier that morning, while checking his nets, he had pulled a young woman from the icy waters. Her clothes were unlike anything he had seen, shimmering with a faint, iridescent glow, and her skin, pale but flawless, seemed untouched by the elements. She coughed weakly as she regained consciousness, her piercing eyes locking onto his with startling clarity.
"Where… am I?" she whispered.
"You're on the Hudson, miss," the fisherman replied, helping her sit up. "Are you alright? How'd you end up in the river?"
The woman tilted her head, her gaze sweeping over her surroundings with a mixture of confusion and awe. "I was helping someone—a human, I believe. I am not from here." Her voice was calm, yet her words carried a weight that unnerved the fisherman. "My name is Aelira. I come from a distant world, far beyond your stars."
The fisherman's heart raced as her words sank in. A world beyond the stars? His pulse quickened, fear creeping up his spine, but Aelira continued, her tone gentle and sincere. She spoke of her technology, of a device she had used to aid her on Earth. "But I lost it when I was helping that man. My assistant is nearby, I can feel it. The device is linked to me."
The fisherman's hands began to shake. He stumbled back, the reality of her words hitting him like a wave. This woman—this being—wasn't human. He took a few steps back, eyes wide with fear.
"Stay away from me!" he shouted, panic edging into his voice. Without waiting for her response, he turned and bolted down the riverbank, his footsteps echoing in the stillness of the early morning.
Aelira watched him disappear into the distance, her eyes wide with worry. She clutched her chest, feeling the faint pulse of her lost device somewhere in the vast city. Alone and disoriented, she knew she had to find it—before it was too late.