Page 139 of The Code of You

"Hey,” Neo murmured, catching me. He lifted me and carried me toward the exit.

With a smile on my lips, I let the exhaustion take me. I was safe. I was with him.

Chapter 35

Pandora

Sunlight tickled my face. I opened my eyes. This room . . . I didn’t know it. Wood paneling on the walls. Lace curtains moving in a breeze. Through the open window, birdsong drifted in, carrying the promise of spring.

When I sat up, a dull pain moved through my ribs. I touched my face carefully. The swelling had gone down. My finger was neatly bandaged. The wrap was perfect, not too tight, stable enough to support the broken bone.

Neo . . . I got out of bed. Pain shot through me again. My knees buckled but I caught myself. More carefully this time, I moved to the door. Floorboards creaked softly underfoot. The furnishings were sparse. A few worn pieces, a small kitchen, a fireplace. Through the open window, I could see a still lake surrounded by forest, and at the water’s edge stood Neo, motionless the way he always was, frozen in time in that inhuman way of his. He was looking out across the water. The lake lay mirror-flat, catching the first warm rays of the sun. Everywhere, tender shoots were pushing through the earth. The trees were showing their first buds as tiny promises of spring.

"Neo?”

He turned. Relief flashed in his eyes. "You’re awake.”

"How long was I asleep?”

"Two days.” He came toward me, his movements careful. "I put you in the car and drove us out. We had to get out of Dreva. There could have been more of them.”

I nodded. "Where are we?”

"The Carpathians. About two hundred and fifty miles from Dreva.” He gestured toward the house. "It belonged to a man who died three years ago. We can stay here for a few days. Until you’re stronger.”

"And then?”

His jaw tightened. "Then we disappear. For good.”

He looked at me, and I saw the question in his eyes. The one he didn’t dare to ask.

"You mean together?” I whispered.

"Only if you want.” His voice was quiet. "I know I’ve stolen a normal life from you. That you became a target because of me.”

I raised my eyebrows. He was letting me go? Him, the one who had always threatened to find me anywhere, who had told me I could never escape him? If I wanted, I could leave. The thought made my stomach drop.

"What?” It was all I could get out.

He closed his eyes, as if the question caused him pain. "When I saw what they did to you . . . What you went through to protect me . . .” He stopped. "You deserve the choice, Pandora. You deserve a life without me. A life that’s safe.”

"You idiot,” I whispered. "Do you really think I could live without you now? After everything?” I stepped closer. "You killed for me. You brought me to life. You think I can just walk away and go back to something normal?” My voice steadied. "There is no normal anymore, Neo. There’s only you. Only us.”

Slowly he opened his eyes. Hope broke through them, mixed with disbelieving relief. "You want to stay with me?” he breathed. "After everything? Even knowing the danger?”

"There’s nowhere else I want to be.” I put my hand against his cheek. "You’re my home, Neo. The only thing I’ve ever really wanted.”

He flinched at the touch, as if it overloaded him. Slowly, he laid his hand over mine.

"Then we disappear together,” he said. "Just the two of us.”

I smiled. "Yes.” The word came easier than anything I had ever said. "But where? Where will we be safe?”

Neo looked back out at the water. Something like longing moved through his eyes. The amber was like a lake of light. "An island. Far off the coast.”

I followed his gaze. An island. Just the two of us, surrounded by endless sea. No Quantum Systems. No one hunting us. No world trying to tear us apart.

"That sounds perfect,” I whispered. "Like a dream.”