The Rise Of The Ugly Luna novel Chapter 3

LYRIC

"I'm sorry, ma'am; but I'm here to pick someone. I can't give you a free ride, if that's what you're asking." I struggled to hold back my laughter as I listened to Rufus, one of my father's oldest guards say, his eyes darting past my shoulder, looking out for the person he had been assigned to pick from the airport.

"I know. You have been sent to pick Lyric Harper, right? It's me, Rufus."

His eyes narrowed with suspicion. "You still haven't told me how you know my name. And...And how can you be Lyric? It's not possible." He shook his head. "Lyric is—"

"Ugly?" I finished for him, a broad smile on my face.

He frowned as he shook his head. Back then, Rufus was the only one that had never been able to call me ugly. He was among the very few that had cared about my feelings, and even now, to a stranger, he still couldn't call me ugly.

I laughed. "Well, would it help if I reminded you that your favorite soup was butternut squash and you and little Lyric used to play chutes and ladders?"

Recognition beamed in his eyes. His jaw dropped in astonishment.

"Seraphis have mercy! Lyric, it's really you!" He opened his arms, and I didn't hesitate to fall in for a warm hug.

Back then, Rufus and I barely had time together, but he always made the few times we met worth it. He was the closest thing I had to a parent.

"How is this possible?" He inquired after asking how I was. "Your face... My goodness! You look gorgeous! You've only been gone for five years and... I—I can't believe this."

"It's a long story, Rufus. But for now, let's just say fates decided to smile on me."

"Oh, Lyric! You do not know how happy I am to see you. I am sure your father must be delighted seeing you're not...un-beautiful anymore." I laughed at his attempt to not use the word 'ugly' on me.

Well, as for my father, I rolled my eyes in my head. I felt a little sad that I was forced to return here after five years because of him. My life was perfect in Draconis.

"Here. I'll take this to the car," Rufus said, taking my luggage.

"You do that and I'll meet you in the car. I need to pick up an extra luggage. Don't worry, I'll be quick."

I turned around and had barely taken three separate Rufus called my attention, "You dropped something."

Looking at the floor, I found the scanned image. My heart jumped into my throat as I quickly crouched to retrieve it.

Rufus watched with me with surprise. Obviously, he had seen the X-ray and would be wondering why the hell something of that nature had been in my back pocket.

Oh, Lyric. You couldn't be a little careful?

"It's—It's not mine," I cleared my throat, hoping my lie was plausible. I mean, who carried X-ray photos of fetuses in their back pocket?

Tucking it back into the pocket, I hurried away.

.....

I had my hands crossed over my chest as I waited at the collecting center. My extra luggage would be brought to me any moment.

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