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Standing up from the table, I followed as Dad led me to my bedroom, Halley and my mom sitting in there, chatting quietly. I wasn’t sure what they were talking about, but they immediately quieted when we entered, and Halley cheeks reddened when my eyes met hers.
Mom stood up from the ground, smiling softly at me, and cupping my cheek. “I’m so happy to see you, my boy. Make sure you both get some rest tonight.”
She kissed my cheek and smiled kindly at Halley before heading towards their room, Dad following behind after hugging me once more and telling Halley goodnight. Once they were gone, I shut the bedroom door, an awkward silence descending on the room. We hadn’t had time to talk about that moment in the woods, but it was lingering in the back of my mind and I wondered if it was for her too.
Taking her in, I realized she was wearing my clothes instead of my mom’s. I assumed Mom realized that Halley’s tall frame would barely squeeze into her small clothes and given her some of my things I had left behind instead. The t-shirt and sweatpants she wore swallowed her whole and yet I didn’t think I’d ever seen anything sexier.
“Your parents are very kind, especially your mom.” Halley whispered, and I made my way over towards her, plopping down on the floor adjacent, taking her words as an indication to join her in conversation.
“Yeah, they’re the best people I know. I’m sure Eli’s told you all about our childhood; we were both pretty lucky.” I responded. I knew I was luckier than most, especially when I took in Halley, the childhood she had ripped from her much too young.
Halley chuckled before responding, “Eli loves to talk about everything you two did together. Sometimes, I feel like I was there with how detailed his stories are.”
I smiled along with her, knowing how true her words were. Eli had a way of including everyone in his life. We were silent then, and instead of the awkwardness from moments before, I felt comfortable with her presence, feeling at peace for the first time today.
A large yawn overtook Halley’s face and mine soon followed, and I knew we both needed to go to bed. Standing up, I reached my hand down, Halley’s delicate fingers wrapping around mine as I pulled her towards the bed.
“I can sleep on the floor for the night.” I murmured, walking towards the light switch.
“You don’t need to.” Halley’s words were quiet, barely audible, but they hit me right in the chest. I wanted to believe that they meant more than they probably did. I wanted them to mean that she needed me, just like I was starting to feel like I needed her. I had always been the stoic one, the man who had the plan, who was the leader, but without many friends. I was never able to let my shield completely down, except with my family and Eli. And yet, the more time I spent with Halley, the more I realized I was comfortable with her. I didn’t feel the need to be the strongest in the room, I could just be me with her, even the vulnerable part when I didn’t know what I was doing.
Turning the light off, I sauntered back over towards the bed, climbing underneath the covers and feeling the heat from Halley’s body right next to mine. Closing my eyes, I prepared to try to go to sleep, knowing it would be difficult with her right next to me, but not really mine to touch. To hold and promise that it would all be okay.
Halley’s breathing evened out and I thought she had fallen asleep, when I felt her palm slip into mine, squeezing, conveying more with the single touch than most could with words. And yet, her words that came meant more to me than she probably knew.
“Thank you for being there today, Knox. You’re one of the best men I know.”
Squeezing her hand back, I closed my eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep, hoping I could hold onto her and this moment when tomorrow was here.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Wilder
The moon shone brightly above the forest, casting shadows through the hanging limbs. Everything was silent, the only noise the five sets of feet traipsing through the woods. After the Council had given that audacious speech, they had left, leaving the students to trail back to their dorms, happiness and sadness mingling amongst the masses. Families were called for the Divines that were lost and the rest of us went on, as if our whole worlds hadn’t just changed. I wasn’t sure what was next, now that the Hunters were gone, but it was clear Councilman Jay had a plan, one that we couldn’t let happen. Hence why the five of us were following Madden, making our way towards Halley and Knox.
According to him, they were in the Maine community, where Knox and Eli had grown up. Eli was helping lead the way, but in the dark, it was easier to follow Madden and his tracking instincts. Madden took up the front, Eli a step behind him. Maeve and Kalani followed in the middle, whispering together every once in a while, while I took up the back, keeping my eyes and ears trained on what the others couldn’t see or hear. We had been silent and secret in our escape, but that didn’t mean someone wouldn’t catch on. They sure as fuck would tomorrow once none of us showed up for classes, but hopefully we would be long gone by then, on the road and searching for the Sanctum Library, wherever the fuck it was.
Knox had been clear that he didn’t have an exact location, and I didn’t love that. To me, it felt like we were going to be searching through a maze, not quite sure which way was correct and only hoping we’d find where we needed to go. I knew I didn’t need to be here, risking my life for this plan, and yet, this was the first thing to feel right since Dad’s death.
I had always questioned those in charge and wanted to do my part to help the Divines and it seemed now was my chance. And if I was being honest, I couldn’t help but want to make sure Halley was safe, just like the rest of them. There was just something about her that pulled you in, even when you didn’t want it to. And trust me, I desperately didn’t want her to and yet, here I was, just as caught up in Halley as the rest of them.
“We’re approaching the shield. Everyone needs to stay silent.” Madden’s firm voice came from the front, and I watched as Kalani and Maeve straightened, their focus on the plan moving them closer to Eli and Madden.
I followed behind still, knowing my movements were undetectable in their silence. I couldn’t hear anything out of the ordinary, the entire community asleep. Entering through the shield, the community I’d never been to before came into view, and yet I felt as if I had been there before. As we walked down the main street, the structured buildings boasting different shops and businesses looked exactly like the ones in the town I grew up in. And as our group silently shuffled towards the back of the community, the small and similarly built houses were identical to the one I grew up in. It was like walking into a replica of the very place I was raised; the place my best and worst memories were made and I couldn’t help the uneasy feeling inside of me. I worked hard to push my childhood out of my mind and being here brought up too many memories.
Thankfully, we approached a ranch style home with a singular light on inside and my mind focused back on the present task at hand. Eli stepped up to the front door, continually glancing at the one next door. Before he could knock, an older man almost identical to Knox opened the door and ushered the five of us inside. Looking out the door to make sure no one witnessed our entrance, he quietly shut the door and then turned towards us. His calculating gaze swiped over each of us before landing back on Eli, an easy-going grin taking over his entire face. He pulled Eli into a tight hug, squeezing him as if it was his own son coming home and I tried to ignore the ache in my chest, looking away from the act of affection.
“How are my parents?” Eli asked in a whisper, and I belatedly remembered that Eli and Knox had been neighbors growing up, hence the glances next door.
“They’re good, son. Real good. They miss you every day.” Knox’s father responded and Eli nodded, a somber look on his face. Clearly, he had no intention of telling his parents he was here, even though it was clear he missed them as well. But the less people that knew what we were up to, the better.
Glancing at the rest of us, he began to speak. “I’m Knox’s father, Hank. Knox and Halley are sleeping right now but I suggest you all get moving as quickly as possible. Your absence won’t go unnoticed for long.”
Hank spoke with knowledge tinging the deep timbre of his voice, and if I had to guess, he was a Seer like his son, knowing more than guessing about the repercussions of us leaving in the middle of the night.
“I’ll go wake them up.” Eli responded, walking down the hall, the only one of us knowing where to go.
The rest of us stood in silence, not sure what to do. I had never been good around people, especially parents, and so I sure as fuck wasn’t about to start a conversation. Thankfully, Hank seemed to be more and more like his son as our time with him went on and he took control of the situation.
