Hope. That bittersweet bitch is back. My heart flutters with adrenaline. “Take what Ineed?”
“If I give the Enclave to Dominion, we can replace what we lose.”
I lick my lips as if there’s something I’m trying to get off of them. Okay, that’s a solid offer. “You’re going to give it to him, then?”
“I literally have no other choice.”
Then neither do I.
Nodding, silent tears begin to fall, as everything is going to change, no matter what happens next.
Dominion is finally here.
DIANA
South.
That’s where I need to go if I flee. Take an empty pot so I can boil water, and maybe one of those weird straws that says you can use it to drink river water. If I get sick, hopefully it’s close enough to Trinity, a hospital larger than here and across the mountains, that I can just stumble into their facility and they can take care of me. I’ll have to steal a car, but on the other side, they’re removed from Dominion. I’m sure they have their own gang issues, but…
South is closer to the Black Mirage—mytrueescape.
Yes.
I like this plan.
Sipping on my tea, I stare out into the woods. I’ve walked a very particular path in there countless times, knowing that as an omega, Ialwaysneed an escape route. It feels oddly comforting to stare at something that gave me so much sanity for so long…
This can’t be the end, right?
I can’t get caughtnow.
My bag is packed like Maggie suggested. I’m literally ready to abandon everyone and everything at anymoment. Sure, I’ll miss Selene, but I’m a danger to her, and I’m desperate. I’ll go in, make that stupid, massive idiot happy, and then run for it.
Selene will understand.
I tip the mug back to get the remainder of what’s now lukewarm tea flavored with honey before lowering my arm and sighing. The door to my small studio opens, and I’m already in such a state of shock that I don’t even flinch; I just brace for what’s coming.
“Alright,” Selene says, and I exhale so deeply I nearly deflate. “Are you ready?”
My heart races as my eyes widen, looking out at the trail once more, as for an overwhelming moment, I’m beyond sad to leave this small space that’smine. My gaze latches to the one tree in particular that I would have needed to run toward, where the deer trail is.
I won’t be taking that today. It’s only for the spring and summer months, where there’s not a threat of hypothermia at night.
A car is needed for today.
“Yeah,” I reply, setting my mug down, then reach back out to move it slightly. What if this is the last time I touch it? My brother gifted it to me before I fled my true home, the white ceramic covered in black patterns of ocean creatures. My particular favorite is the sea turtle. I yank my hand away when memories of home creep in as if invited, and I grab my bag, my heart racing so hard I bet my nervous system is damaged.
Home is gone. It has been for a very long time, and I can’t take it with me. Because if I go to the Black Mirage, I will be erasing who I was born as.
It would hurt less to start over as if my old life never happened.
I don’t even look at Selene. “Let’s go.”
“What’s the bag for?”
I glance up at her. “Oh, um…” Shit. I didn’t want to have this conversation. “I don’t think I’m coming back,” I mutter.
Selene’s green eyes are heavy, but she doesn’t try to tell me that’s not true. Sheknowsit’s true. “You got enough suppressants?”
