Devil’s Lily: Chapter 6

I shove some crumpled bills into Greg’s hand before practically springing out of the car. No time to waste. Freedom’s calling. My feet hit the pavement, and I’m already making my way into the park, feeling the excitement bubbling up with every step. A mouth-watering aroma hits me right away from a concession stand near the entrance, and I can’t help but grin as I watch the people queue up in front of it. My nose tries to lead me to the back of the line, but the rest of me screams nope, I’m not here for snacks. Not yet, at least. Snacks can wait.

Breezing past the stand, I head deeper into the park. It’s so much quieter than I thought it’d be. Guess most people have actual jobs to go to during a weekday morning—sucks to be them, or so I hear.

I inhale deeply, filling my lungs with the fresh, earthy scent from the luscious gardens I pass. Overhead, the birds are singing their little hearts out like they’re having the time of their lives, and honestly, same, guys.

My eyes bounce from one thing to the next: families lounging on picnic blankets across the green lawns, some kids racing around in an intense game of tag, a woman pushing a stroller, and every now and then, a jogger zips by, their footsteps rhythmic on the cobblestone path.

Perfect. This is everything I’ve dreamed of.

Now if only I could find the Unisphere. The iconic relic from New York’s World Fair has to be around here somewhere, but this sprawling park seems determined to keep its location secret. After wandering aimlessly for what feels like hours, a sinking feeling grows in the pit of my stomach, and I have to admit it: I’m hopelessly lost, aren’t I?

Ugh, I can’t believe it. First time out solo and already wandering in circles. I don’t want to ask for direction, but desperate times…

With a sigh, I reluctantly approach an older woman sitting on a bench, scribbling furiously in a leather-bound journal.

“Excuse me,” I begin, plastering on my brightest, most ‘help me, I’m lost’ smile. “I think I might be lost. Do you know where I can find the Unisphere?”

The woman’s head snaps up, her expression morphing from annoyance to outright hostility. Then without a word, she slams her journal shut and storms off with an indignant harrumph. I gape after her retreating form. What the⁠—?

Well, that was… unnecessarily aggressive.

Before I can process it, someone chuckles behind me. I whip around to see a man in jogging shorts and a tank top slowing down.

“Typical rude New Yorkers, huh?” he says with a knowing look.

I shrug. “I guess so?” Honestly, I wouldn’t know. My New Yorker interaction count is pathetically low, but most people I’ve met so far have been way nicer than Miss Grumpy Journal over there.

The jogger’s eyes crinkle with genuine warmth. “Well, allow me to restore your faith in our hospitality. The Unisphere isn’t that far from here. Just take a right turn up at the end of this path.” He points to where the path forks into two. “Go straight ahead, ignore the first turn, and then take another right. You can’t miss it.”

His directions sound simple enough. I flash him a grateful smile. “Thank you so much. You just saved my day!”

He gives me a one finger salute and continues his jog. The sun’s climbing higher now, and since I don’t need to play invisible anymore, I strip off my hoodie and tie it around my waist. Following the jogger’s directions, I set off down the path.

‘Not far’ must mean something different in jogger language, because after ten minutes, I’m still walking. When I round that final turn, though, a massive sculpture stops me in my tracks—an athletic man frozen mid-launch, one foot perched on a tall arch, hurling what looks like a small rocket into the sky. A trail of flames connects his hand to the projectile, while his other hand reaches up towards a swirl of small stars circling the rocket. Epic doesn’t even cover it.

At the base of the sculpture, little blue and yellow flowers stretch out like a soft blanket, but as I’m admiring them, something in my peripheral vision steals my attention. So, I turn slightly and lose my breath entirely. Holy—wow. My lips part in pure wonder.

Because there it is.

Right down the cobblestone path, framed by big trees on either side, stands the Unisphere in all its jaw-dropping glory.

Almost in a trance, my feet carry me towards the massive stainless-steel representation of the earth.

Other visitors are gathered around it, taking pictures while I just stand there, head tilted back in awe. The sleek metal glints in the sunlight, making me squint a little. As I start circling the sphere to admire it from all angles, a sudden hissing sound breaks the spell. Out of nowhere, thick streams of fizzing water shoot skyward around the globe, and I leap back with a startled gasp. Whoa! Definitely didn’t see that coming.

The water dances in the air, catching the light, and the crowd erupts in delighted cheers, cameras clicking frantically. Fine droplets kiss my skin, but I barely notice. The globe is mesmerizing—majestic. No. Magical. Yes, that’s the right word. Because this is straight-up magic.

But then, through the streams of water, a tall man on the other side of the sphere grabs my attention. And not just casually—like, he owns it. Even from this distance, there’s something striking about the way he carries himself. His navy suit hugs his muscular frame perfectly, and as he adjusts his cufflinks, thick strands of shiny dark hair fall over his brows, adding to his commanding presence.

My heart does a stupid little tug, and I have to mentally slap myself. Get it together, Elira. You’re not here to ogle random men.

But as the stranger begins to circle the sphere, mirroring my own path, I find myself unable to look away. His long, confident strides eat up the distance faster than mine could ever do, and very soon he’s rounding the corner and heading right towards me. I hold my breath as he draws near, lifting his gaze to meet mine⁠—

Oh no, no no no.

It’s him.