"Hey, it's been ages!" Abella exclaimed, genuine surprise coloring her voice.
She spun around, but there was no one there. The phrase echoed in her mind, paired with the image of the suspicious teenagers from earlier.
Suddenly, a voice behind her said, "Abella, is that you?" She turned to see a figure she hadn't seen in years, someone she had considered a friend but had lost touch with.
Abella walked through the bustling streets, her eyes scanning the crowded sidewalk as she searched for her friends. They had planned to meet at the local café, an agreed spot for their weekly get-togethers. But as she waited, a peculiar feeling washed over her. It wasn't unease, exactly, but more of a heightened awareness of her surroundings.
The world seemed a bit more complex then it had just an hour before. Abella quickened her pace, her heart beating a little faster. She couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead, especially if being in the right company or the wrong could make all the difference.
