elieve we coul

dens me. Deep down, the horror I had been trying to conceal resurfaced with an intensity that threatened to swallow me whole for the last several hour

think we cou

outside envelops us as the icy night rushes in. Whether from the cold, the fear, or something else completely, my ha

rms tightly crossed over her chest, her eyes suspicious. She is not entirely wrong in her approa

now is th

e agonising than I could have ever anticipated. "I'm not walkin

all. Reducing? Atonement? She cannot find it in me-no

st for too long, then she says. "You are running from yourself, Cole. R

hey pain, they burn. I want to argue, scream at her, tell her I'm doing the b

I softly say, "You're not just a casualty, Rory." She remains

er face before she closes it down. Then, why are you eager to protect

sure what else to comment about. That I have been haughtful? Let

ow the words are out of my lips. I see her flinch; they

igent. Still, I saw her eyes alter at that m

t to be part of this life, Cole," she adds. "I cannot keep a

ut myself as well as of the dangers all around us. She is talking about many su

, Rory. "I am sure I disappointed you. I know how I offended you. But I have

dly. Maybe agony. Other than fury

? Her lecture gets sharp emotional e

ds came out in a frantic rush. So I drove you away before

through me. She had suffered too much too many times under too many

hat you want from me, Cole." "You left behind another

ality stings like a gut strike; for a time I want to give up. Ne

itation pouring forth. "We have no t

drives the buzz between us. From the day we first crossed paths,

gs, "What's going to happen to us, Cole?"

ouch with her, bring her close, and kiss all the hurt away. Thoug

But we really have to relocate. We are unable

aring over her shoulder, a

eaks off

real

threatens out of the darkness. The air

rply and with a lot o

out who it is. Victor. He's h

I grab her arm and yank

relocate.

y hear footsteps behind us sm

chest, "they're closing in." "Ru

e the jungle. But I hear it-the unique click of a rifle prime

ck

tor's voice explodes across the trees. Cole, you

g up. But Rory, whose face is pale as

now she has understood what

impri

to evacuat