Page 30 of Perfect Convergence

“I can’t lose them. I can’t. I can’t live without them.”

His phone vibrates in my lap, and I snatch it up. “Rhett?”

“Where are you?” he demands.

“I... I don’t know.”

“Are you safe, Wren.”

“Oh. Yes. I’m safe. Oliver. Hey, Oliver. Rhett is okay.” I give him a small shake, and he looks at me, but he doesn’t see me.

“She’s safe, Ell,” Rhett says. Then, “Is Oliver okay?”

“No. No, not at all.”

Rhett swears.

“Shit. Sorry. He’s fine physically. But I think he’s having a panic attack. Rhett, I don’t know where we are. And he’s not in a state to tell me where to go.” I glance in the rearview mirror. It looks like we’re alone, but it feels like we’re being watched.

You’re just being paranoid, Wren.

“Describe where you are to me. Are there any landmarks? Road signs?”

“I’m at a stop sign.” Then I look up. “At... Jefferson and Pineland. Woods to my right, a field to my left.”

“That’s good, Wren. You’re in the right place. Turn left. I’ll guide you to our meeting spot, okay?”

“Okay.” I look around, not turning yet. Still alone. So why does it feel like we’re not?

“You’re going to take that road for a few minutes. Is Oliver able to talk?”

“Um. Hang on.” I set the phone down in my lap and turn to Oliver. “Hey. Rhett and Elliot are okay. They’re safe, Oliver.”

He looks at me. Blinks.

“Do you want to talk to Rhett?”

Gulping in a breath, he nods. So I hand him the phone, watching him for a second. His eyes slide closed when Rhett starts talking, and he slumps into his seat.

Then I get going, turning left after checking our surroundings one last time. Oliver says a couple words, but it sounds like he’s struggling to get them out.

After a few minutes, I tap his leg. “I need to know where to go next.”

His eyes widen. “I don’t—I don’t know where we are. Oh god, I—” He stops speaking, and I hear Rhett saying something through the phone. Oliver inhales through his nose, then exhales, and then repeats.

When he hands the phone back to me, I let my fingers brush over his. He’s still shaking, but it’s more like shivering now. I don’t know if that’s better or worse.

“Wren?”

“Hey. I just passed a farm, I think? There was a silo.”

“Okay. You’re doing really well, sweetheart. Up ahead, there’s another stop sign. You’re going to go straight there, okay?”

“Got it. Um. Rhett?”

“Yes?”

“I’m really scared.”

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