I poured myself water from a filter pitcher, drank it standing at the counter while ocean breeze moved through the space.
My mind wandered to a month ago.
Nurse in a French clinic. Routine. Safe. Alone. Fleeing a past I couldn’t change. Every day the same. Wake up, work, come home, sleep. Repeat. Haunted by my sister’s voice, by the calls I didn’t answer, by the promise I’d broken.
Now?
Entangled with secret organizations, assassins, a deranged madman obsessed with perfecting human conditioning. Harboring a fugitive. Accessory to multiple felonies. Running from kill teams. Watching the man I loved nearly die, multiple times, before finally getting the chip removed.
The contrast was staggering.
A month ago, I’d been existing. Going through motions. Surviving but not living.
Now every day was different. Unpredictable. Full.
I should be terrified. Dresner was still out there, hunting. Oblivion’s network remained intact even with the publication weakening their public facade. We would spend the rest of our lives looking over our shoulders if Dresner and its network didn’t fall.
But I wasn’t terrified.
I was happy.
Actually, genuinely happy for the first stretch since before my sister died.
I’d chosen this. Chosen him. Danger over safety, love over isolation, messy complicated life over controlled emptiness.
And I’d choose it again.
Every single instant.
The door opened. They came inside, arms still linked. Both red-eyed but smiling.
He caught my eye. I smiled back, nodded.
She was talking animatedly, gesturing as she explained something. He listened with focused attention, occasionally responding. Their easy rapport was obvious. Years of shared history, inside jokes, shorthand communication only siblings had.
Ronan moved from his position by the window, joining them. His palm found the small of her back automatically. She leaned into the touch without looking, still talking.
Found a family.
All four of us. Survivors of Oblivion’s cruelty who’d chosen love over conditioning, freedom over control.
I set my water down. Started toward them.
Then changed my mind.
They needed this. Unanswered questions and a lost connection to rebuild.
And I needed air.
I slipped out the door quietly.
The beach was steps away. White sand still warm from the day’s sun, though evening was approaching. Sky beginning its shift toward sunset, gold bleeding into the blue, promising spectacular colors soon.
I walked toward the water, letting waves wash over my feet.
Cool. Refreshing. The ocean stretched endlessly before me, horizon blurring where water met sky.
Peace settled into my bones.
