Arcane Sequence: 1994: Never Stop Running... (WLW)

Part Two: Chapter Fifteen: Islamorada Island, Florida, December 1998

This chapter contains dark themes.

Kirah slowly craned her neck as tears filled her eyes and she released a smothered whimper. This couldn't be real. This was a dream. It just had to be her mind carrying her to far and desperate reaches, or a hallucination on the cusp of her getting what she desired most. It couldn't be reality after all she'd seen, been through, and she blinked to rid her eyes of the irritating tears that got in the way of what she knew must be a mirage.

She ran her eyes up along what of the other person's torso that she could see and found the same features committed to memory years ago, falling deeper into her previously unattainable yearning as she met the person's gaze. The almond eyes that greeted her melted the ice over her heart and broke the dam only partially keeping her sobs at bay. Kirah fell back into the arms of the one person who could bring her paramount solace and let a long breath out through her nostrils, feeling Berry's hand moving down from her mouth.

Before she had a chance to inquire if everything was all in her head or not, Kirah's mouth was captured in a kiss that made her come undone. There was no mistaking it. This was reality. Berry, her Berry, was alive...

Kirah pulled back and turned around, clambering onto her lap before hugging her as closely as she could muster. If she let go, what would happen? Would Berry explain that she couldn't stay? Would she tell her to come with her? Was she here because of her communications with Ethan? More than all other racing questions, would she disappear? Kirah held on tighter as wave after wave of tears spewed down her cheeks, staining Berry's camouflage top as they pooled along her shoulder. Still, she didn't pull back and neither did her love.

They remained there, holding one another for quite some time until Berry finally leaned back. She was also crying and ran her eyes over Kirah's face as they both took in one another's appearances. Berry caressed her chin where a bruise lay from last night and arched her brow, then leaned closer. She kissed her jaw and let her lips linger there as Kirah held onto the back of her shoulders with one arm, placing her other hand within her luscious hair. She ran her fingers through it as Berry's lips journeyed higher until they met hers once again, though this kiss was different.

They both took their time exploring each other's mouths like they had all the time in the world, like it was their first, adventurous kiss, but time was not on their side as Berry pulled back. "We don't have much spare time and I need you to do everything I say. Okay?" Kirah cupped her cheek and ran her eyes over her face with a nod, unable to wrench her gaze anywhere else. "Ethan and I have about nine operatives with us. Three will take the back, three are with Ethan at the east side of the compound and three are with Pike being led inside to get Tuck and you to safety. We wanted to tell you and that I was here alive, but Ethan said your phone was disconnected. What happened? Did Nadia find it? Did she hurt you?"

Kirah immediately collapsed in her arms again and drew her nearer. "One of her men found it hidden in the stables and she confronted me about it. I bought a gift just in case something went wrong and used it to calm her down." Pulling back, Kirah tapped her chin. "This is nothing." She touched Berry's upper chest. "I saw you get shot. How did you...?"

"I was wearing a vest. Put it on in the bathroom before we left the beach house in Tybee." After placing a kiss on her cheek, Berry helped Kirah to her feet and ushered her to the outskirts of the brush. She pointed up toward the compound as the two guards from earlier came down the path, then began rifling through something on the ground. Kirah watched as Berry pulled a cylindrical object from a duffel bag nearby and hoisted one of her handguns from her shoulder holster. She started securing the odd object to the end of the pistol and Kirah realized it was a silencer just as she lifted it toward the men. "Stay down."