Father gave one final squeeze around Finnian’s nape. “You have nothing… to apologize for… Finny.”
The parting in his words strangled Finnian’s breath. “Father?” He went to pull back, but Father’s hand fell from his nape. His body went limp and slumped against Finnian.
“No! Father!” Finnian strapped his arms around him, the weight of his body buckling Finnian’s knees. They fell to the ground. Finnian held him snug. “Father!”
The Land shuddered. Vines emerged from the dirt and snaked across the air for Father. The green stems coiled around his limbs.
“No!” Finnian cut through them with his hands. More and more sprouted and glided up Father’s torso, around his neck, into his hair, across his face.
A blazing panic burned through Finnian.
Do not take him from me.
He dug his heels into the dirt and scraped back with Father in his hold. They fought against his pull, winning. He extended an unsteady arm and flames struck from his palm, igniting the vines.
They endured the fire, but did not wither, continuing to confiscate Father in their blackened state.
Finnian’s breath stuck in his throat, his lungs constricting for air.
What should I do?
I don’t know what to do?—
“Finny,” Cassian said from the other side of the grove, loud enough to be heard but still with softness. A melody in all the noise. In it, Finnian could hear what he said. Father belonged to the Land now. It would take him outside the gates, where he would be properly escorted inside. Not as a prisoner, but a welcomed soul.
The resistance gave way in Finnian then. His back bowed as he cried into his father’s robe.
The vines slowly slid him from his lap.
His grip on Father’s robe cut off the circulation in his fingers.
This is it.
He is leaving.
Forever.
Snot and tears fled down Finnian’s lips. The vines pulled against his hold.
You have to let go.
He released his fingers, and the vines extracted Father from his lap.
The soil crumbled and swallowed Father down under.
Deeper than the earth.
Finnian gaped down at his lap, at his palms—empty. His chest moved in large gulps, his breath shallow against the painful pounding of his heart.
He stared at the seam in the dirt, his brain attempting to comprehend the last few seconds.
The ringing jarred in his skull, vibrating down his spine.
This is all your fault.
If you could’ve gotten to him sooner?—
I told you, you are pathetic?—
