𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 • anthony lockwood

28. midnight swims and breathless confessions

chapter twenty-eight,
midnight swims and breathless confessions

IT'S NEVER RARE FOR AN AGENT TO FIND THEMSELVES IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES. As an agent, you would even find yourself growing used to the bitter feeling. However, as Sophie staggered out of the Thames, all she could focus on was the biting chill in the air and the freezing silk dress clinging to her skin. Her limbs felt numb and heavy, and she was honestly surprised at how far she managed to make it on the pebbled shore before ultimately collapsing.

Time seemed to stand still as she lay there. She was hardly aware of the rocks digging into her back, let alone the boy moving beside her. She squeezed her eyes shut, hiding her face in her hands.

Wordlessly, Lockwood wrapped his fingers around her wrists, gently pulling her up. She stumbled a bit and he looked as if he was struggling to stand. His grip shifted to her upper arm and she anxiously grabbed his forearm, trying to steady herself.

Lockwood lowered his head to meet her hesitant gaze. His concern washed over her as he crushed her to his chest. It almost hurt from how tight he was holding her, but she didn't mind. She would never complain about that. His lips brushed against her temple and he began to speak. "Sophie, I-"

"You suicidal idiots!" A shaky voice interrupted from a few metres away. The agents' heads whipped around to face an outraged Lucy Carlyle. Her gaze was hard, but Sophie could see the smaller girl's mouth begin to wobble. Tear tracks stained her cheeks, but she angrily wiped at them away before folding her arms over her chest, defensively.

"Luce," Sophie spoke softly, pulling away from Lockwood. "What are you doing here? We thought you were with George."

Lucy shook her head, maintaining her cold expression. "They were gone by the time I got out. I had to hide out here and just wait for the guards to leave. I thought-" She broke off taking a deep breath. She took a few steps towards the pair. "I heard fighting and then I heard another man saying something about disposing of the bodies."

Sophie felt Lockwood tense beside her.

Lucy's voice cracked when she spoke again. "I thought you both were dead."

Lockwood exchanged a worried glance with Sophie before taking a small step forward. "We're both okay Lucy. It's over now," he assured her, slowly. "We won."

"This!" Lucy's voice raised as she gestured around. "This is not winning Lockwood. Just because we have the mirror doesn't mean we're safe. Every relic hunter in London is out to kill us and it's only a matter of time..."

"A matter of time until what?" Sophie asked gently with a frown.

Lucy's gaze softened as she looked between the two teenagers, sadly. "Until you end up like my old team."

•

SOPHIE LET OUT A HUFF, dropping the first aid kit on the counter watching as the boy in front of her leaned against it, keeping them eye level. She let her gaze wander across his face before picking up the wet towel in her hand. "I think it'll look less scary without all the blood," she finally spoke up, beginning to dab the wound.

"Do you think I'm concussed?" He asked, his dark eyes focused solely on her.

She furrowed her brows. "Do I look like a doctor?" She scoffed wiping away the blood stuck to his skin. "I don't know anything about first aid."

Lockwood paused before speaking again. "Should I be worried?"

"Nonsense," she replied, throwing the dirty towel in the sink behind him. She opened the kit in front of her searching for the packet of steri-stips. "I can only do a better job than you anyway."