Page 47 of Unstoppable


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I like them. They are starting to feel like family, and I don’t want to do anything that will ruin that, even if I know it would be amazing—okay, better than amazing. Fucking spectacular.

“I suppose we better get back to work.”

A flash of hurt echoes in his eyes as he turns away. Licking my lips, I look away and meet Louis’s concerned gaze before he stands.

“You’re right, back to work. Let’s find these bastards.”

* * *

After five hours of helping everyone that I can, I go for a dinner break that Louis orders with Dimitri at my side. He’s teamed us up since he told us Dimitri listens to me. Jonas says I have some kind of weird pussy power over them.

That got him a smack, even if it was the first time in hours I cracked a smile.

I don’t know how they manage it, but they bring me back from the brink when I’m in there, and I’m grateful for it. They keep the atmosphere light and teasing, and if it wasn’t, I think we would all sink into the depths of what we are looking through and handling.

Bert makes us a basket for dinner and shoos us outside, saying he needs to clean and we need sun and fresh air. Grinning, Dimitri takes it from him, and we head out back. I lead him to my favourite spot. I used to read and hide out here all day if I could to avoid my father. Bert reminded me of it with a knowing look, and although I’ve never taken anyone there before, even my sister, I take Dimitri, knowing he will understand why I needed it.

I don’t anymore, but it’s nice to share those places with someone who will understand and not judge you.

Crossing the huge back garden and walking past the pool that haunts me, I smile back at him as we reach the tree line and I duck under a low branch. The leaves crunch under my boots as I lead him deeper into the woods.

“If you are taking me out here to kill me, can I eat first?” he jokes from behind me.

Laughing, I hold a branch for him. “If I were going to kill you, I would have brought a shovel.” I shrug. “Plus, I’m too hungry to kill.”

“Good to know,” he mutters. “Always keep her hungry.”

Shaking my head with laughter, I duck under the two huge stones that lead into the dark crevice between. “Oh, this isn’t sketchy. She’s definitely going to murder me,” I hear him say, but he follows me anyway, and when we come through the other side, he gasps.

“This is my favourite place in the world,” I tell him, looking out at the land that has remained unchanged. “It’s where I used to come to get away from it all.” Stepping over the soft grass, I kick off my boots and wiggle my sock-covered feet into it with a sigh. The sun filters through the trees, warming us against the slight chill. “I would spend hours up here, reading and imagining I was the characters in a book. I would pretend like I was in a different land, envisioning a prince coming to rescue me,” I admit as I look back at him to see he’s listening carefully.

“Here, I was in a different world, and for a few hours, I was just a child, and I could be anything.” I turn to face him as I spin. “A pirate rescuing his love from a stolen ship, a wizard going to school for the first time, a high priestess winning the war for her people. I could be anything, and I was. When my world came crashing back down, I took their strength and lessons with me to survive.”

“Thank you for showing me this place,” he murmurs, crossing to me and cupping my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes so I can see the truth in his gaze as he speaks. “I know that wasn’t easy. I am so happy to be here with you, in the place that saved you, so I could meet you. Let’s eat, and we can read for a while for old time’s sake.”

“I’d like that,” I murmur softly with a smile just for him. I hope my place can become his and help him when he needs it. It can be his escape from the reality of the harsh, uncaring world we live in.

For a moment, we just stare at each other from inches away, and his eyes drop to my lips before he clears his throat and steps back. I turn to hide my disappointment, knowing it’s for the best, and look out at the place I’ve brought him.

The cliff overlooks a raging river below where you can spot deer sometimes. The sun shines brightly through it, almost making it ethereal, and on foggy days, it transports you to a different world. The trees make natural arches above us, creating a barrier from the summer sun and keeping it warm in the winter. The grass is soft and dotted with flowers that have me grinning. There are also some rocks worn from age that I used to lounge on under a tree for shelter, soaking in the sun glistening across the worn grey space.

There’s just something so beautiful here, and since it remained untouched by the horrors of my life, I found solace in its unreserved neutrality and softness. It reminded me that there was good in the world if one looked hard enough. Probably an idiotic thought as a child, but I did whatever I could to get through. Crossing the distance, I sit with my back to the natural seat of the rock, and he does the same opposite me, opening a basket similar to the ones Bert used to sneak to me when he knew I was coming out here.

Dimitri laughs, and I see why. Inside are little sandwiches cut into squares with the crust off. “I hate crusts,” I admit. “He remembered.”

“He loves you.” He shrugs as he takes some for himself. There’s a spread of different flavours—ham and cheese with honey mustard, garlic cream cheese and red pepper, egg mayonnaise, and BBQ pulled chicken. He’s made a feast. Dimitri also pulls out scones with homemade jam and clotted cream, little cakes, and crisps.

“Wow,” he mutters.

“He doesn’t like people to go hungry.” I shrug as I unwrap the sandwiches and dig in, gratefully taking a napkin and paper plate from him, and then he divides it out and begins to eat himself. As we do, our eyes wander to the land around us.

“Did you have a place like this?” I ask, curious.

“Not really. I escaped into the never-ending line of computer code,” he replies. “If I focused enough, it swept me away from my body and the pain in it, as well as human emotions such as loneliness, hunger, and sadness.”

It makes more sense why he loves anything that has to do with technology. It’s like my meadow. That’s where he feels safe and happy.

“Then I found it in a person as well, and he became my safe place, my hope.” He swallows and looks away as I slump, saddened by his pain.

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