Page 13 of Severance

“I know you’re not.” I smile. “And let’s keep it that way.”

“Okay,” Kai whispers. “What’s next, bambolina?”

Kai

Dahlia glances down at Stan and then looks up through the clearing in the trees. “The barn,” she says, turning back to face me. “We need to get him up to the barn.”

So, that’s why she wanted him to get up.

Walking closer to Stan, I look down, taking in his large form. He’s a decent size, heavier than me, but mainly from fat as he aged over the years. He’s not as cut as he used to be.

It won’t be easy, but it’s doable.

Tucking my gun in the back of my pants, I bend down, grabbing one of Stan’s ankles.

“What do you want me to do?” Dahlia questions me as I stand up, holding onto Stan.

“Grab his other leg.”

Dahlia follows suit, tucking her gun in her shorts and grabs Stan’s other ankle. Dragging his dead weight isn’t easy, but with the two of us, we manage to get him into the barn without him waking up.

Memories flood my mind of our last time here, when everything fell apart. The last time we were here was when my life ended. It was the moment that completely altered our lives forever… the moment when two souls were separated.

The barn looks the same as it did when we left it, only dirtier and covered in layers of dust and cobwebs. The pigs are long gone and have been replaced with rats and spiders as they dangle from their webs.

Dropping Stan’s feet on the dirty ground, I turn to Dahlia as she readjusts her clothes.

“What’s our next move?”

Looking around, Dahlia’s bright green eyes survey the barn. “Over there,” she declares, pointing to the railing. “Where did they keep the chains?”

Fuck me.

Closing my eyes, I pinch the bridge of my nose as I take a deep breath. As I exhale, my eyes meet hers with a pained look.

She doesn’t need to go back there.

“I can get them,” I offer, giving her an out from a trip into our past, but she refuses immediately.

“No,” she says, shaking her head at me. “I can’t move him and we need to move quickly before he wakes up.”

“You’re right,” I agree, “but I don’t want you out of my sight. Nothing good will come from you going back there.”

Dahlia’s eyes widen slightly and the color drains from her face. “Their kill room…” Her voice trails off as she drifts out of reality. Her eyes are distant and detached as she stares off, letting her mind suck her back into the past. “That closet,” she whispers. “The one that we hid in.”

Reaching out, I grab her arm and her gaze flashes to mine. “I will go get the chains,” I tell her as my grip tightens around her wrist. “If he wakes up, you shoot. Got it?”

Dahlia shakes her head. “I will get them. Ineedto get them, Kai.” Her voice is urgent but quiet. Pleading, yet demanding.

Fuck me.

“Why are you so fucking stubborn?” I growl, pulling her close to me. “You have to fight me on everything, always.”

With a wicked smile on her face, her eyes shine as she wraps her arms around my neck. “What fun would it be if I didn’t? You’ve always loved a challenge.”

Dipping my head down to hers, she inhales sharply as my lips barely brush hers. “I’ve always loved you.”

“Kai,” she whispers against my lips as her breathing becomes ragged.

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