Then he darts forward and hugs Finn — shadow arms wrapping around him, squeezing tight.
Finn breaks. Just completely shatters, holding onto a shadow like it’s the only thing keeping him upright.
Finnick pulls back. Cups Finn’s face in shadow-hands. Goes suddenly serious. Ancient.Knowing.
He points at Finn’s chest. At his heart. Then at me.
Take care of her.
Finn nods, tears streaming. “I will. I swear.”
Finnick grins again — bright, mischievous,alive— pats Finn’s cheek, boops his nose, and cartwheels toward the Gate.
One final flip at the threshold. Peace sign.
Gone.
Finn’s knees buckle. Malrik catches him, pulls him close, holds him up.
Patricia steps forward.
She’s calm. Composed. Of course she is.
Her form flickers and I see her — young, fierce, ink-stained fingers and sharp eyes. Not the quiet scholar I imagined. A warrior in her own right.
She holds out her notebook.
I take it with trembling hands. It’s heavier than it looks. Warmer.
She taps the cover. Taps her heart. Gestures at all of us.
Remember. I remembered for you. Now it’s yours.
She looks at the guys — one long sweep that catalogs all of them one final time. Then she points at me, points at them, and mimes something that’s very clearly a threat. Finger across throat. Pointing at each of them.
Finn laughs, wet and broken. “Yeah, we get it. Take care of her or else.”
Patricia nods. Satisfied.
She doesn’t hug me. That’s not who she is. Instead, she places her hand over my heart, holds it there for a moment, and nods once.
You did well.
Then she walks into the light.
Bob is last.
He steps forward, and for the first time since I’ve known him, his edges soften. His rigid posture eases.
His form flickers and I see him.
Tall. Scarred. Commander’s posture worn into his bones. Gray at his temples, lines around his eyes. A face that’s seen centuries of war and kept standing anyway.
He served my mother.
I don’t know how I know that, but I do. I feel it somewhere deep. He was there. He watched her fall. He’s been waiting ever since.
He stops in front of Torric first.
