Page 52 of Finn
I wasn’t in Beric’s house. I wasn’t under his oppressive gaze or trapped within the walls that suffocated me.
I was here, with Finn, out in the world. We were free or at least as free as we could be while constantly looking over our shoulders.
“Anything happen while I slept?” I asked, my voice still thick with sleep.
Finn gave me a tired smile. “Nothing. We’re good, I think.”
He covered a yawn with one hand, blinking hard to keep himself focused on the road.
Guilt gnawed at me as I took in his red-rimmed eyes.
He’d probably been driving since morning. Over the past three days, we’d barely any breaks.
Just a few stops for gas and a quick stretch.
Every time, we’d been both looking over our shoulders, ready to jump back in the car at the first sign of trouble.
“We should switch places,” I suggested. “You’ll fall asleep at the wheel if you keep going like this.”
Finn nodded slowly. He stopped the car and we traded places.
“The backseat’s more comfortable,” I suggested.
“I think I want to stay up a little a longer. Keep you company for a little while longer,” Finn said.
I smiled at that. Even with the danger, Finn still found moments to be thoughtful.
I drove, content just to sit with him in that shared silence. Eventually, I spotted a gas station in front of us.
“Can we make a quick stop?” Finn asked.
“Sure,” I answered. “We’re almost out of gas anyway.”
I pulled into the nearly empty gas station.
“I’ll grab some food and drinks,” Finn said, opening the door.“Stretch my legs, maybe. Be right back.”
I nodded, watching him as he got out and stretched, his footsteps echoing against the cracked concrete.
The only other soul around was the attendant, who was busy texting to pay attention to the single car on his lot.
I slumped back in my seat, closing my eyes again, sinking back into the momentary peace.
But something about the stillness unsettled me. I sat up, my instincts prickling with a familiar unease.
My gut twisted with a feeling I knew better than to ignore.
Ignoring the fatigue in my limbs, I slipped out of the car and followed the path Finn had taken to the back of the gas station.
And that’s when I saw him.
Gael stood there, his back turned to me, but I knew that stance too well. My chest tightened, and every muscle in my body tensed.
He’d found us. It was only a matter of time.
Still, it was a blow seeing him here, in the flesh, in this quiet, empty corner of the world.
As if he’d sensed my arrival, Gael turned slowly, a smirk curving his lips.
