𝑰𝒗𝒚 | r. de noir

17. the midnight runner

WITH ROBIN'S HAND still pressed against her lips, Olive nodded. Despite her willingness to sacrifice herself for Maria, Olive most certainly did want to live.

Her breath hitched in her throat as Robin moved his lips close to her ear.

"Then be quiet." His gaze bore into hers, intensely, as if looking for a promise.

Slowly, Olive's breath steadied, the horror in her eyes quietly fading.

Hesitantly, the boy removed his hand from Olive's mouth.

She gasped for breath, lightly.

"I.. you're letting me go?" Olive whispered, confused.

"So long as I don't change my mind before you're long gone," Robin spoke, bluntly.

Olive swallowed, uncertain if this whole situation was just a charade to get her hopes up. Regardless, it was her best shot at making it back to Moonacre alive.

"Follow me," Robin whispered. Olive obeyed, letting the De Noir boy lead her from the cell, and back up the narrow dungeon corridor.

As they neared a corner, Robin motioned for Olive to pause. Carefully the boy peered around the wall, briefly, and then turned back. He pressed a finger to his lips, signaling to keep quiet.

After a few moments, he peeked again, this time, signaling her to follow as he quickly dashed across the adjacent hallway opening to the other side, back out of sight.

The pair continued down the long hall, and soon, Olive caught sight of the familiar door through which she and Maria had escaped before.. well, before she was caught again.

The encouraging sight led Olive's pace to quicken behind the De Noir boy, causing her to step on his heels when he suddenly stopped dead in his tracks.

"What is it–" she began to ask, when Robin abruptly turned about, hurriedly pushing the girl into a small alcove to their left. Swiftly, he filed in behind her. Moments later, Olive heard the footsteps. Her eyes widened, fearfully, and she swallowed her breath as the sound of marching boots approached.

Robin shielded the girl, blocking the entrance to the alcove with his darkly clothed stature. Luckily, the two were hidden in shadow in the small crevice, and the guards marched right by, unknowingly.

Unflinchingly still, the pair waited for the footsteps to fully subside before allowing themselves to catch their breath.

Olive shuddered at the closeness of the call, her back pressed against the cold stone wall behind her. As she regained her composure, she became suddenly aware of the proximity of the boy who stood before her.

He was the single obstruction between her and freedom from the crevice, his forearm resting upon the rocky surface beside her.

For a few breathless moments, his eyes gazed into hers. Both would've sworn that the other must've been able to hear the pounding thud of their heart, they were so close. Robin's gaze fell from the girls', trailing down the slope of her cheekbones, lingering upon the softness of her lips.

Olive couldn't look away from the boy's captivating dark eyes, till she became aware of the impropriety of it all; the closeness of him, the state of her. The way she felt like he had kissed her face with his eyes. Everything.

Quickly, she felt her cheeks flush in the darkness of the crevice, and she darted her gaze above his shoulder, towards the light.