《Between sparks and shadows》


 The first spark

    "Some connections are lit by chance, but the brightest are forged by fate."


    Ivy adjusted the strap of her backpack, her fingers brushing against the blueprint rolled up inside. The school hallway buzzed with chatter,students darting from one side to the other like a hive of bees. She sighed, dodging a group of freshmen and heading for her locker.


    "Carter!"A familiar voice called. Ivy turned to see her best friend, Emily Brooks, jogging towards her. Her dark curls bounced with every step and her grin was infectious.


    "You¡¯re late again,"Emily teased.


    "Had to finish tweaking the design for my entry."Ivy replied, opening her locker and pulling out a thick notebook.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    Emily¡¯s eyes lit up. "The festival competition?Are you finally going to dethrone last year¡¯s champion."


    Ivy smirked. "That''s the plan."


    The two walked towards their classroom.As they passed by the main bulletin board, Ivy¡¯s gaze landed on the bold red poster announcing the Festival of Lights Competition. Her heartbeat quickened at the sight.


    "Do you think Logan Hayes will enter again."Emily asked, nudging Ivy.


    Ivy shrugged nonchalantly, though the mention of Logan made her stomach twist. The enigmatic boy had swept the competition last year with his flawless robotics entry. He was talented, yes, but there was something about him that set him apart-something Ivy couldn¡¯t quite figure out.


    "I don''t care who enters."Ivy said, feigning confidence."I''m ready for anyone."


    As they reached the classroom, the morning sunlight streamed through the windows,casting long shadows on the floor,Ivy sat at her desk,flipping open her notebook.She was determined to make this year hers,no matter what-or-who stood in her way.

 Chapter 2:A shadow in the woods

    After the last bell,Ivy hurriedly stuffed her books into her bag and waved goodbye to Emily.The afternoon sun was dipping lower,casting an orange hoe in Emberwood.She decided to take her usual shortcut home,a narrow path that cut through the woods.


    The woods had always been a peaceful place for Ivy-a quiet escape from the bustle of school.The crunch of leaves underfoot and the distant chirping of birds creating a calming symphony.


    As she navigated the familiar trial,something caught her attention.A faint rusting sound came from ahead,just beyond the thick oak trees.Ivy froze.


    "Who''s there?",she called out,her voice steady despite the sudden unease creeping into her chest.


    From the shadows of the woods emerged Logan Hayes.


    His dark hair was tousled and his piercing gray eyes locked into her green ones,unreadable.He wasn''t wearing his usual confident smirk,instead,he looked ......unsettled.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    "What are you doing here?"Ivy blurted out,clutching her bag strap tightly.


    "I could ask you the same thing,"Logan replied,his tone calm yet tinged with something she couldn''t place.


    "This is my shortcut,"she said defensively, gesturing the trail.


    Lohan stepped closer,his movements deliberate."Then we''re both trespassers."


    Ivy¡¯s brow frowned,"Trespassers ?What are you talking about?"Logan didn''t answer immediately. He glanced over his shoulder as if checking to see if they were alone,then he looked back at her.


    "You should be careful walking through here alone."he said,his voice low."It''s not always safe ."


    Ivy crossed her arms,"Thanks for the warning,but I can handle myself. "


    Logan''s lips twitched ,almost forming a smile."Stubborn as ever."Even though it was formed,Ivy couldn¡¯t help herself but thought it was breathtaking but she took that thought away as she wasn''t that kind of a girl.WELL SHE THOUGHT?


    Still lost in her mind,before Ivy could respond ,Logan turned and began walking away smiling to himself, disappearing back into the shadows of the woods.


    She stood there for a moment,her mind racing.Logan Hayes was an enigma wrapped in secrets and tonight he''d only deepened the mystery.

 Chapter 3:Whispers of the Festival

    The morning air in Emberwood carried a subtle chill,but the town buzzed with excitement for the upcoming Festival of Lights. Ivy walked into school,her bag slung over her shoulder, her thoughts clouded by last night''s encounter with Logan in the woods.His cryptic warning lingered in her mind,replaying like a broken record.


    Emily caught up to her at the entrance,her curls bouncing as she grinned."You look like you''ve seen a ghost,"she teased."What''s up with you?"


    "Nothing,"Ivy said quickly."just tired."


    Emily wasn''t buying it,but before she could press any further, their attention was drawn to a group of students crowded around the bulletin board.


    "Its here!"someone exclaimed.


    Ivy and Emily pushed through the crowd to see the official participant list of the Festival of Lights Competition. Ivy¡¯s name was near the top,followed  by other familiar names-including Logan Hayes.


    Emily let out a low whistle."Looks like your Competition just got a lot tougher."


    Ivy frowned her eyes lingering on Logan''s name.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    They went straight ahead to their class and time strolled like air and soon it was time for lunch.


    The cafeteria  buzzed with chatter but Ivy''s mind was elsewhere.She poked at her food as Emily rattled on about her plans for the Festival.


    "You''re not listening, are you?"Emily said exasperated.


    "Sorry,"Ivy muttered."I''m just......distracted."


    Emily leaned in,lowering her voice."is this about Logan?Because you''ve been acting weird ever since his name appeared on the list."


    Ivy hesitated,debating whether to tell Emily about the woods.Finally,she said,did you know his house was one of the ones in the fire five years ago?"


    Emily''s eyes widened, "I''ve heard about it.They said it started in the woods ,but no one knows how."


    "That''s not all,"Ivy said."Last night, I ran into him in the woods.Hr warned me to be careful, but he wouldn''t say why."


    Emily''s expression shifted from curiosity to concern. "Do you think it has something to do with the fire?"


    "I don''t know, but he''s kind of ....creepy. "Ivy admitted. "But I think I should get some information cause this thing it''s not adding up."


    After school she noticed Logan waiting by the bike rack agai.This time,she didn''t avoid him,cause she needed some clarification about the whole issue with the fire saga.


    "What is it with you and cryptic warnings?"she demanded as she approached.


    Logan raised an eyebrow."You''re still thinking about that?"


    "Of course I am!You don''t just say something like that and expect me to forget."


    Logan sighed,running a hand through his hair."Look,it''s not safe to talk about this here.Meet me at the old greenhouse after sunset.I''ll explain everything.


    Ivy hesitated,uncertainty flickering in her eyes.


    "Trust me."Logan added,his voice softer,"You need to know"

 Chapter 4:Secrets unveiled

    That evening,Ivy arrived at the old greenhouse,it stood on the edge of the woods, its glass panes cracked and overgrown with vines.Ivy stepped inside,her heart pounding.Logan was already there,his silhouette framed by the dim light of a lantern.


    "About time,"he said.


    "Start talking,"Ivy demanded,crossing her arms.


    Logan took a deep breath, "Five years ago,the fire that destroyed my family''s house didn''t start by accident. It was deliberate.And whoever started it.... they''re still out there."


    Ivy¡¯s stomach dropped."What does that have to do with me?"


    "I''m not sure yet",Logan admitted."But the Festival of Lights seems to be yhe8r next target.And if you''re competing, that puts you right in the middle of it."


    Ivy starred at Logan, her pulse racing."What do you mean,''the Festival of Lights is their next target?'',Who''s they?"she asked,her voice sharper than she intended.


    Logan hesitated,his eyes scanning the greenhouse as if checking for unseen watchers."I don''t know exactly who they ate but I''ve seen their work before.The fire that destroyed my house was just one of their acts.They us chaos to cover their real goals and the Festival would be a perfect stage for that."


    "I still don''t understand how I''m involved "Ivy frowned.


    "OH my God,your project for the festival-tue kinetic sculpture-it''s drawn their attention.They don''t like anything they can''t control and your work is ......unique."You are saying they might come after me?"The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Logan nodded,"That''s exactly what I''m saying."


    Ivy felt a chill run down her spine.


    The next morning, sleep didn''t come easy for Ivy that night,her mind racing with Logan''s revelations. By the time her alarm blared,she was already awake,staring at the ceiling.


    At school,Emily immediately noticed her friend''s exhaustion."You look like you''ve been hit by a truck,"she said,falling into step beside Ivy.


    "Thanks"ivy muttered rolling her eyes.


    Emily leaned in,whispering ,"Dis something happen with Logan?You didn''t text me back last night."


    Ivy hesitated.She trusted Emily,but the weight of Logan''s warnings made her cautious. "It''s.....complicated. I''ll tell you when I figure it out."


    Emily pouted but didn''t press further. "Fine .But you owe me details-all the details.


    As they reached their lockers,a folded of paper slipped out of Ivy¡¯s books.She unfolded it,her brows burrowing as she read the scrawled message:


    "Stop digging.Some secrets are meant to say buried.


    Ivys stomach dropped.Shw glance around the hallway,her eyes darting over the faces of her classmates.None of them seemed out of the ordinary, but the warning sent shiver down her spine.


    During robotics class,Ivy couldn¡¯t focus,Her hands trembled as she worked on her sculpture, the warning note tucked safely in her pocket.Across the room,Logan watched her carefully.


    At the end of class,he approached her,"You got one of their notes,didn''t you?"


    Ivy froze."How did you know."


    "They''re predictable,"Logan said,his voice low."They use fear to keep people from looking too closely. But if you''re getting notes ,it means they''re watching you."


    "Great",Ivy muttered."Just what I needed "


    Logan''s expression softened."You''re not alone in this,Ivy . I''ll help you.He assured her by putting his hand on her shoulder and for a moment Ivy felt safe.


    "Why?"she asked,her voice barely above a whisper.


    Logan hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor."Because I couldn''t save my family. But maybe I can stop them this time ......with you."

 Chapter 5:Shadows in the outskirts

    The decrepit warehouse at the the edge of the town buzzed with activity.The group of conspirators,cloaked in shadows,gathered around a table littered with blueprints and amps.A flickering bulb above then illuminated their faces sporadically,but their identities remained hidden from the outer world.


    The warehouse was cold,its metal walls absorbing the chill of the night.The atmosphere was tense,filled with the weights of unspoken plans.


    "They will never see it coming",the sharp featured man said,tracing a gloved finger over a diagram of the Festival of Lights venue."This isn''t just some small town competition.This is our stage,our opportunity to take what we need."


    The gruff man leaned forward,his eyes scanning the plans."Evry team worth watching will be there.Sponsors,investors-they will be distracted by the show.It''s the perfect time to make our move."


    The leader of the group stood silently at the head of the table,his arms crossed,his face shrouded in shadow.But his thoughts burned with clarity.The Festival of Lights wasn''t just an opportunity for theft-it was the culmination of years of bitterness and hatred.


    "Thus isn''t about just taking ideas,"he finally said,his voice low but commanding. "It''s about dismantling everything he built.His legacy will burn just like his factory did."


    The room fell silent.The mention of the fire was enough to remind everyone of what they''d already done-and the risks they were about to take again.


    "His son will be there,"the sharp featured man said cautiously."We can''t afford to underestimate him."This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    The leader let out a humorless chuckle."He''s just a boy.Whatever fight he has in him,it won''t be enough."


    The gruff man who had been studying the map,tapped a section marked,"innovation showcase." "This is where the teams will display their projects.If we time it right,we can make a clean grab and disappear before anyone notices."


    The sharp featured man shook her head."It''s not just about stealing blueprints.We need to scare them,keep them distracted.Fear is a powerful tool-it keeps people from looking too closely."


    "Then we make sure they''re too focused on protecting themselves to see what''s happening."the leader said.


    ..........


    As the group continued with their discussion,the leader drifted into his thoughts.His brother had always been the golden child-the one who succeeded,the one who got everything he wanted.The leader clenched his fists as the memories surfaced.


    Yeasr ago,they had been partners,working side by side to create something extraordinary. But his ambition had overshadowed everything.He''d taken credit for their ideas,their work,leaving the leader to fade into the background.


    And then came the betrayal.He had cut him out entirely,leaving him nothing but resentment and a thirst of revenge.


    "This isn''t just about ideas,"the leader thought to himself,his jaw tightening."It''s about justice . It''s about making him pay for what he did to me."


    Returning to the plan ,the leader''s voice broke throught the quiet."We stay in the dark until the Festival.Watch every move ,monitor every team.Ivy''s group will be our main target-they''re promising, and their designs are already catching attention.


    "What about security?"the gruff man asked."This isn''t a school project.There''ll be cameras,guards and people everywhere.


    The sharp featured man smirked."Leave that to me.By the time we''re done,no one will know we were even there."


    The leader nodded."Goof We''ve waited this long.A few more weeks won''t hurt.We strike when the the time is right and not a moment sooner."


    The group dispersed,each vanishing into the shadows.The Festival of Lights was just weeks away and the pieces were falling into place.For them,it wasn''t just about stealing innovation bit was about destroying a legacy and writing a new one in its place.

 Chapter 7:The day of flames

    The smell of burning wood and chemicals still haunted him.Even years later,the memory of that day cling to his thoughts like smoke in his lungs.


    *Flashback*


    Ot had been a regular workday at the factory or so it seemed.Machines hummed ,workers moved about and the air buzzed with the sound of productivity.Elias-Logan''s father had been on the factory floor,as he always was,overseeing every detail of his operation with precision and pride.


    Meanwhile in the shadows of the loading dock,the leader-then just the disgruntled younger brother-watched from a distance.


    The resentment had already been building for years.Elias always had the charm,the business acumen and the unwavering confidence that seemed to captive anyone around him.Their father had trusted him as the head family business, while he was left in the background, treated like a mere assistant.


    On that fateful day,it wasn''t just jealousy fueling his anger but betrayal.


    "That was my idea,"he muttered to himself,his eyes narrowing as he saw Elias demonstrate a new prototype to investors.A sleek,innovative machine designed for clean energy production.But the designs had been based on sketches he''d made years ago-,ideas he''d shared with Elias in good faith.


    Elias had taken those sketches,refined then and claimed them as his own.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    He clenched his fists,his mind racing,"He''d alone everything from me.My work.My future.My identity."


    That evening,as the workers prepared to shut down for the day,the disgruntled brother made his move.He''d bribed one of the guards weeks earlier gaining access to restricted areas of the factory.His plan wasn''t fully formed-he only knew he wanted Elias to suffer.


    In the storage room,barrels of flammable chemicals were stecked high,carelessly labeled.The leader unscrewed a valve on one of the barrels,letting the liquid pool on the floor.Hiz hand shook,not  from fear,but from the adreline coursing through his veins.


    He lit a match.


    For a moment,nothing happened.Tbe tiny flame flickered In his hand ,casting a faint glow on his face.Then he dropped it into the pool.


    The fire spread faster than he anticipated,the flames licking up the walls and racing toward the machinery.Alarms blared and chaos erupted.Workers screamed,rushing for the exit as the fore consumed everything in its path.


    The leader slipped out through the back entrance, his heart pounding.He hadn''t meant for it to escalate this far but as he stood outside,watching the factory burn,he felt a twisted sense of satisfaction. The fire claimed more than just a factory-it took lives,dreames and trust .Elias survived but he lost everything he''d worked for ,especially one important person.


    In the days that followed, investigators determined the fire had been caused by negligence-a chemical spill bear an exposed wire.The leader had been careful to cover his tracks,ensuring no one would trace it back to him.


    But guilt was a relentless companion.He told himself it was worth it-that Elias deserved to suffer-but the memories of the fire refused to fade


    *End of flashback*


    Now,as he sat in the dimly lit warehouse with his co-conspirators,the leader replayed the events of that day in his mind.The Festival of Lights was just another opportunity to dismantle what little Elias is trying to rebuild through this Festival and maybe his son too.


    "This time,"he thought bitterly,"there won''t be anything left to salvage."