Welcome to the Innocent World

"This is the place…" I said, letting out a long "Sighhhh…" as I stood at the edge of the shore, the sand cool under my boots. The coconut trees swayed lazy in the breeze, they rustling like whispers against the night sky, dark silhouettes bending with the wind.

The waves crashed steady in the distance. It felt eerie—too quiet, too still.

Lyra stood beside me, her red dress catching the faint glow, the cuts at her thighs fluttering as the wind tugged at her.

"So, where do we go now from here?" she asked, her voice casual but curious, her blonde hair whipping across her face as she glanced at me, hands on her hips like she was ready for anything.

"Come on, follow me," I said, stepping forward onto the sand. "You'll know soon enough."

Her heels crunching against the gritty shore right behind my boots. The wind tossed our hair, mine flicking into my eyes, hers tangling in wild strands, and the silence stretched out around us, thick and heavy. No voices, no lights, no signs of life—just an empty shore, the kind that made you wonder if you'd stumbled into the wrong story.

"So, what's the plan?" she asked, her voice cutting through the quiet as she caught up to my side, her heels sinking a little with each step. "You gonna tell me what we're looking for, or keep playing mysterious?"

"Just keep your eyes open," I said, scanning the tree line ahead, my hands shoved deep in my pockets. "We're close—I can feel it." I squinted into the shadows, searching for anything that matched the waitress's tip—coconut trees, a basement, some sacred spot.

"What happened, is this not the plac—" she started again, louder this time, but I cut her off quick, clapping my hand over her mouth and pulling her down with me behind a jagged rock half-buried in the sand. "Uhmphh!" Her eyes went wide, confusion flashing in them as she stumbled into me, her hands grabbing my arm for balance.

"Shhh…" I hushed her, pressing a finger to my lips, my voice barely a whisper as I nodded toward the edge of the coconut trees. There they were—3 people moving in the shadows, just beyond the tree line.

"What the hell?" she mumbled against my hand, her breath warm on my palm, her eyes darting between me and the those people. I eased my grip, letting her go, but kept her pinned behind the rock with a look.

"People," I whispered, my voice tight as I peeked over the edge, trying to get a better read. "Didn't expect company this quick. Stay low—they haven't seen us yet."

"Who are they?" she asked, her voice dropping to match mine, her body tense against me as she craned her neck to see. "Guards or something?"

"Maybe," I said, my mind racing. "This has to be it—the shore near the coconut trees. We're on the right track."

"Okay, so what now, genius?" she teased, a faint smirk tugging at her lips despite the edge in her tone, her hand resting on my shoulder as she shifted closer. "We sneaking past, or you got a trick up your sleeve?"

"Give me a sec," I muttered, my eyes locked on the figures, plotting our next move as the wind howled soft around us, the waves crashing like a

We stayed crouched behind the rock, the sand digging into my knees, and peeked out together, our heads just barely above the jagged edge.

Their dark uniforms blended into the shadows, but the glint of metal at their waists caught the moonlight—swords or guns, hard to tell from here. Behind them, a couple of sleek black cars sat parked, engines off, their tinted windows reflecting the waves.

"What are we looking at?" Lyra whispered, her voice low as she squinted into the night, her blonde hair brushing my cheek as she leaned closer.

"The door," I said, flicking my eyes toward it, a sturdy slab of wood reinforced with iron bands. "That's our target."

"We're going inside?" she asked, her tone lifting with a mix of curiosity and doubt as she glanced back at me. "To see what?"

"Yeah, we've gotta get in there and check things out," I said, keeping my voice hushed, my mind already racing. "Whatever's behind it, it's why I'm here."

"I see.." Said Lyra, following up.

"We can't alert them. If they catch wind of us, they'll call their whole damn gang, and then we're screwed." I rubbed my jaw, the stubble scratching under my fingers as I weighed our options, the wind tugging at my hair.

"Hmm…" I hummed, my eyes narrowing as I scanned the scene again, then—*click*—it hit me. "Ohh… we can do this," I said, a grin tugging at my lips as the idea snapped into place.

"What?" she asked, her brow arching, her voice edged with intrigue as she leaned in closer, sand sticking to her knees.

I dropped my voice to a whisper, leaning into her ear, my breath brushing her skin as I laid the plan out

....

I pulled back, catching her reaction, hoping she'd bite.

She let out a long "Sighhhh…" then smiled, slow and sultry, her lips curling like she was already warming to it. "You're gonna use me, huh?" she teased, her tone dipping low, her eyes glinting with that seductive spark I knew too well.

"Please…" I said, leaning in quick to kiss her, my lips pressing soft but firm against hers, tasting the salt of the air and the heat of her. It was a plea and a promise rolled into one, and she melted into it for a sec before pulling back.

"You sure know how to treat me…" she murmured, her voice husky as she licked her lips, her hands resting light on my chest. "Playing me like your little decoy."

"Hehe…" I chuckled, brushing a strand of her hair back, my fingers lingering on her cheek. "You're the best at it, babe."

"Well…" she said, her smile turning sharp, her eyes narrowing with a playful edge as she leaned in close again, her breath warm on my ear. "You better be ready for whatever I ask for later, then. I don't do this for free." Her tone was pure seduction, dripping with promise, and I felt a jolt run down my spine.

"Okay, will do," I said, nodding quick, my grin widening as I locked eyes with her, already imagining what she might demand when the dust settled.

She sighed again, a little dramatic this time, and pushed herself up from the sand, brushing it off her dress as she stood. "Okay then," she said, smoothing the red fabric over her hips, the cuts flashing her thighs as she squared her shoulders.

"Let's get this show started." She shot me one last look—half smirk, half challenge—before stepping out from behind the rock, ready to play her part while I geared up for mine.