Griffin's phone buzzed. "Time," he said. "We need to head back."
We walked back in silence. Every block brought us closer to the hotel where security had tightened and the machine was waiting.
I'd told Griffin the truth and given the threat a name. I exposed Soo-jin. The confession didn't make things safer, but it offered more clarity.
Griffin's hand brushed mine as we walked. It was a reminder that I wasn't alone.
The hotel appeared ahead. I took one last breath of sharp Portland air, pine needles and river water.
Then we went inside. Griffin rode the elevator with me and walked me to my hotel room door.
"Now you rest. I'll coordinate with Kang. We'll make sure Soo-jin understands that removing me won't be as simple as he thinks."
"Be careful," I said.
"Always."
***
When I was inside my room, my phone buzzed.
Taemin:You survived the walk. Good.
Rune:Barely.
Taemin:You missed us. I'm in the lobby watching Minjae pretend he's not watching the new security setup.
Rune:What's he doing?
Taemin:Being Minjae. Noticing everything and not saying anything.
I set the phone down and opened my laptop, staring at the lyrics I'd been avoiding.
I learned to breathe in borrowed air
Learned to want in borrowed time
Learned the difference between being held
And being kept alive
The bridge still didn't work. I'd been trying to fix it since we left San Francisco. I highlighted the entire verse and deleted it, then started over.
You taught me how to disappear
Called it safety, called it care
But I'm learning how to want the air
Even when it burns
I stopped. That was too honest and specific. If I kept that verse, too many people would understand exactly what it meant.
I saved it anyway and closed the laptop. My phone buzzed again.
Griffin:Talked to Kang. Enhanced protocols stay through LA. He's reviewing access logs for the last seventy-two hours.
Rune:Looking for what?
