Chapter 17: Sector D [3]
From the corner of my eye, I caught the faint crease of worry on Lena’s brow.
She won’t leave me alone.
...just as I expected.
She rose to her feet.
Not abruptly. Not in alarm. But with that same composed grace she’d shown from the beginning—as if everything was unfolding exactly as she intended.
But it wasn’t.
I had led her here. Every word, every glance, every trembling step had been carefully placed like stones across a river. Leading her across to where I needed her to be.
I forced my legs to move, one sluggish step after another, putting distance between us.
Even as my body screamed in protest, I kept going.
My legs felt like lead, trembling with each step, but I pushed through the pain with sheer willpower alone.
Because I had to.