the fire between us

chapter 11

I wake up with a pounding headache, feeling like my brain is wrapped in a foggy vice. The quiet of the room feels oppressive, and I can barely move my head without it throbbing painfully. The night's events rush back in snippets—confusion, hurt, and the overwhelming sense of betrayal.

"Good morning, Y/N," Martinus's voice cuts through the haze as he opens the door. His tone is soft, but it only adds to the noise in my head.

"Go away," I mumble, squeezing my eyes shut against the bright sunlight streaming through the curtains.

"Y/N, please," he pleads, but his voice is still too much for me to handle right now.

"Not right now, Martinus. My head hurts," I manage to say, my voice barely more than a whisper.

He pauses, and I hear the soft sound of him exhaling. "Okay, I understand," he says quietly. "I'll be downstairs if you need anything."

The door closes gently behind him, and I try to burrow deeper into the pillows, wishing for the pain to go away. Just as I'm drifting back into a restless sleep, Marcus's voice carries up the stairs.

"Guys, we need to leave in 20 minutes. We have a flight to catch!"

The urgency in Marcus's voice jolts me upright, my headache flaring up in protest. I glance at the clock—how did it get so late? I'm not sure if I'm ready to face anyone or even function properly, but I know I can't afford to miss the flight.

I drag myself out of bed, feeling every step like a burden. My head is still spinning as I make my way to the bathroom. The cool splash of water on my face helps clear some of the fog, and I take a few deep breaths to steady myself.

When I step back into Martinus's room, he's waiting, looking more anxious than before. "Y/N, are you okay? We really need to get going."

I try to muster a small smile, but it's weak. "I'm as okay as I can be right now. I just need a few minutes to get dressed."

Martinus nods and steps back, giving me space. "I'll grab your stuff and get it to the car. Just let me know if you need anything."

I watch him leave the room, feeling a pang of guilt for the way I've been treating him. I know he's trying to make things right, but I'm still not sure how to process everything.

In the bathroom, I try to make myself presentable as quickly as possible. The remnants of last night's makeup are smudged under my eyes, and my hair is a tangled mess. I do my best to clean up and put on some clothes, though I don't have the energy to do more than the basics.

As I head downstairs, the house is quiet but for the soft murmur of voices. Martinus is standing by the front door, holding a few bags. Marcus is already by the door, checking his watch impatiently.

"Hey," I say, trying to sound more upbeat than I feel.

Martinus looks up and gives me a reassuring smile. "You ready to go?"

I nod, feeling a mix of reluctance and necessity. "Yeah, let's get this over with."

We head outside, the cool morning air a welcome relief from the stuffy house. Martinus and Marcus help me with my bags, and we make our way to the car.

As we drive to the airport, the silence in the car is heavy. I can't ignore the tension between Martinus and me, but for now, I'm too exhausted to address it. We make it to the airport with time to spare, and the process of checking in and going through security distracts me from my thoughts.

The flight passes in silence. I slip into sleep almost as soon as we're airborne, the hum of the engines lulling me into a fitful rest. The pounding in my head eases slightly, but the emotional weight still clings heavily. I let the hours slip by, drifting in and out of sleep as the plane cuts through the sky.