STARLIGHT UNBOUND by Deus Ex Machina - HTML preview

STARLIGHT UNBOUND

Corin didn ’t devour last night. Help yourself.”

Lucien crossed the room, opening the creaky cabinet door. Inside, the food was simple—a dense loaf of bread, a bowl of bruised apples, and a jar of something unidentifiable. He grabbed a chunk of bread and an apple, returning to the table.

The first bite of bread was rough, dense, and unevenly baked. It wasn ’t the nutrient-packed, jelly-textured slices the Bureau provided—designed for optimal caloric intake and protein balance. This bread was flawed, sour in places, too dry in others.

And yet... it was satisfying.

It’s not perfect. But maybe it doesn’t need to be.

He bit into the apple next, its skin wrinkled and flesh softer than it should have been. Juice dripped down his chin, tart and sweet in a way that startled him.

When was the last time I tasted something like this?

Across the table, Lyra watched him, her lips quirking. “You act like you’ve never eaten before.”

Lucien wiped his chin, heat creeping up his neck. “Not like this.”

Harun leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “What’s it like? Living in the center of it all? Perfect meals, perfect routines... perfect lives? ”

Lucien hesitated, the question stirring something raw inside him. He stared at the apple in his hand, turning it over. “It’s... efficient. Everything is designed to work, to keep people in alignment. You don’t think about it—you just follow the routine.”

“But it’s not real.”

Corin snorted from his spot against the wall. “Welcome to the real world. It’s messy, and it tastes like crap half the time.”

Lyra shot him a look, but Lucien only smiled faintly. “It’s better than nothing.”

She studied him, something thoughtful behind her eyes.

He’s changing.

Harun stretched back in his chair, cracking his knuckles. “Well, eat up. If Lyra ’s right about today being a long one, you’ll need it.”

Lucien nodded, finishing the last of the bread as the ache in his stomach faded.

For the first time in years, the food felt like more than fuel. It felt like a connection—one he hadn’t realized he was missing.

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