I swear I heard a footstep. Elias's head snapped toward the sound instantly. Rowan pulled me closer, his hand tightening around mine the way someone grips something they're terrified to lose. "Move," Elias ordered. Not loud. Not frantic. Just sharp and absolute. He stepped into the night first, checking left, then right, his entire body angled like he expected something to come sprinting out of the shadows. Rowan guided me out behind him, keeping himself between me and the darkness. "Stay close," he whispered. "I am," I breathed. The cold night wrapped around us, biting into my skin. Every shadow felt alive. Every tree, every parked car, every silent corner seemed to be breathing, watching. Elias moved quickly across the lot, toward the side path leading to the street. He kept glancing over his shoulder not at me, but behind me. Behind Rowan. Behind the darkness swallowing the building we had just escaped. "Elias," Rowan murmured. "Is he still here?" "Yes." One word. Heavy. Certain. My heart slammed into my ribs. Rowan pulled me even closer, our arms brushing as we walked. "Ava… don't look back," he whispered. Which of course made me want to look back. Before I could, Elias said, "She can look when I say it's safe." "When is that?" I whispered. "Not now." His voice stayed cold, controlled. Rowan leaned toward me slightly. "It's okay. We've got you." That warmth in his voice soft, real almost drowned out the fear. Almost. A sudden rustle came from behind us. Not loud. Not huge. But real. Human. They both froze. Rowan stepped in front of me fully this time, shielding me with his body. Elias slowly turned his head toward the sound, eyes narrowing. "He's following," Elias said quietly. "He wants us to know." "Then let's lose him," Rowan said. "No." Elias shook his head. "If we run blindly, he'll predict our path. I want him close but controlled." Rowan frowned. "That's dangerous." "So is he," Elias replied. There was something unsettling about the way Elias talked as if danger was a language he spoke fluently. Rowan finally nudged me gently. "Come on. Let's get to the main road. Elias's car is close." We continued moving, faster now. My heartbeat raced to match my steps. We crossed the parking lot and reached a narrow brick walkway leading toward the street. The tall bushes lining the path felt too tall, too dark. Like something could be hiding just behind them. Rowan noticed me staring. "Don't worry," he whispered. "If he comes from the side, Elias will see it." "How?" I asked shakily. "Because Elias sees everything," Rowan muttered. "It's irritating." "And useful," Elias added. "Very useful." When we reached the end of the walkway, the street came into view empty, quiet, dim. A single streetlamp flickered weakly above us. Elias stopped abruptly, sensing something. Rowan's hand tightened around mine again. "What is it?" Elias raised a finger. Listening. I held my breath without meaning to. Then behind us another footstep. Slow. Confident. Deliberate. My blood ran cold. Rowan whispered, "He's too close." Elias turned fully toward the darkness behind us. "Good." Rowan stared at him. "Good? Are you serious?" "This is what he wants," Elias said. "He wants to watch us panic." He took one step forward, toward the dark path we came from. "So we don't panic." Rowan swore quietly. "Ava, stay behind me." I did. But my eyes were locked on Elias tall, calm, terrifyingly still. He peered into the dark like he could see farther than we could. "Come out," Elias murmured. My stomach dropped. "Elias—" "He's not going to come out," Rowan said. "He's a coward. He wants shadows. He wants distance." "Then let him keep distance," Elias replied. "As long as he doesn't touch her." I swallowed hard. "Where's the car?" Rowan pointed across the street. "There." A black SUV sat parked under a dead streetlamp, looking far less comforting than a getaway vehicle should. Elias finally turned back to us. "We're crossing on my count. Stay between us. Keep your head down. Don't look back no matter what you hear." Rowan nodded. "Let's go." Elias glanced at me just a flick of his eyes, but somehow it steadied me more than Rowan's hand around mine. "Ava," he said softly. "You're okay. We've got you." Rowan's voice followed, warm and low. "We're not letting anyone take you from us." From us. The words hit a strange place inside my chest. Before I could respond, Elias moved. "Now." Rowan tugged my hand gently. We ran. Elias took the lead, Rowan shielded me from behind, and we sprinted across the street toward the SUV. My breath burned, my legs shaking but we didn't stop. When we reached the car, Elias unlocked it with a sharp beep. "Inside," he ordered. Rowan opened the back door for me. I climbed in, heart pounding. Rowan slid in beside me, still breathless. Elias jumped into the driver's seat and locked the doors instantly. Rowan leaned toward me, voice low. "You okay?" "Not really," I whispered. "Good," Elias said from the front. "Stay alert." Rowan scoffed. "Can you at least pretend to comfort her?" Elias looked at me through the rearview mirror his expression softened just enough to feel real. "She's alive. And she's with us. That's all the comfort she needs right now." Rowan shook his head, muttering, "You're impossible." Elias started the engine. The car hummed to life. My pulse slowed just a little. Then as Elias pulled onto the road ,Rowan reached over and took my trembling hand in his. Elias noticed in the mirror.
His jaw clenched.