Fragments

16

The forest stretches endlessly before us, the moon casting ghostly shadows on the path. Kellan moves beside me, his limp more pronounced with every step. I glance at him, worry knotting my stomach. He's trying to hide his pain, but the tightness around his eyes and the way his jaw clenches with every movement betray him.

"We need to stop," I whisper, my voice barely audible over the rustling of the leaves.

"No," Kellan mutters, his eyes fixed on the path ahead. "We have to keep going. Marek's men will be right behind us."

I know he's right. Marek won't give up. The fact that Elias gave us this head start is a miracle in itself, but it won't last. Still, the thought of Kellan pushing himself to the brink worries me. "Kellan, you're hurt. We need to at least slow down, and find a place to hide for a bit."

He hesitates, his gaze flicking to mine for a brief moment. His resolve falters, and I can see the exhaustion etched into every line of his face. "Just a little further," he finally says, his voice softening. "I know a place. It's not far."

I nod, trusting him. We continue through the dense underbrush, our movements quieter now, more measured. My heart pounds in my chest, each beat a reminder of the urgency pressing down on us. The forest is eerily silent, every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig setting my nerves on edge.

After what feels like an eternity, Kellan stops. He gestures toward a cluster of rocks ahead, partially obscured by overgrown shrubs. "There," he whispers. "It's a small cave. It should be safe for now."

We move towards it, carefully pushing aside the branches that conceal the entrance. Kellan goes in first, his movements stiff and pained. I follow, ducking into the darkness of the cave. Inside, it's cold and cramped, but at least it's a place to rest, to regroup.

Kellan sinks to the ground, leaning heavily against the wall. He closes his eyes, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he tries to catch his breath. I kneel beside him, feeling utterly useless. The person who always seemed invincible now looks worn, the battle to keep going written across his face.

"Let me see," I say softly, reaching for his leg where he's been favoring his limp.

Kellan opens his eyes, a mixture of protest and resignation in his gaze. "It's nothing," he mutters. "Just a twisted ankle."

I frown, carefully rolling up the fabric of his pants to inspect the injury. His ankle is swollen, a dark bruise spreading across the skin. It's more than just a simple twist. "Kellan," I murmur, my voice catching. "You need to rest this. If you push it too hard, it could get worse."

He watches me, his eyes softening. "We don't have the luxury of rest, Lena," he says quietly. "But... this will do for now." He leans his head back against the cold stone, wincing slightly as he shifts.

I sit back on my heels, the weight of everything crashing over me. I feel in my pocket for the flash drive, making sure it's still there and feeling relieved when the slick metal hits my fingertips.

"Why did Elias do it?" I whisper, the question slipping out before I can stop it. "Why did he save you?"

Kellan reaches out, his fingers brushing against mine. "He wanted you to be safe," he says softly. "Even if that meant letting you go." Kellan's eyes flicker with something unreadable. "Because, despite everything, he cares about you," he replies slowly. "You're easy to love, Lena."

His words make my cheeks warm. "Easy to love." I can't recall Elias ever having said those words to me before.

I swallow hard, the lump in my throat growing. "He never told me that."

Kellan seems surprised by the admission, his hand settling on mine as I lose my ability to breathe.

He's silent for a long moment, his eyes searching mine. "He should have. I always did...before."

His words wrap around me like a blanket, offering warmth in the cold darkness of the cave.
We sit there, the minutes stretching into what feels like hours. The forest outside is quiet, the sounds of pursuit seeming to have faded for now. I don't know how much time we have, but I cling to this small respite, knowing the fight isn't over.

Kellan shifts beside me, his hand slipping into mine. His grip is firm, reassuring. We're in this together, and no matter what comes next, we'll face it side by side.

The silence between us becomes charged, the air in the cave thickening with something unspoken. I look at him, and in the dim light, I see the depth of his gaze, the way he watches me with a mixture of longing and restraint. His hand tightens around mine, and for a moment, the world outside-Marek, the Ministry, everything-fades away.

I move closer, the chill of the cave replaced by the heat radiating from him, "Why don't you say it now?" I question him, my heart desperate to hear those words.

Kellan smiles, his eyes soft and comforting and he leans forward, "You want to be loved?"

I start to ask why he's questioning me on it but realize rather quickly that the Ministry has rid the Sectors of love. We aren't taught to strive for that. Instead, we are given logical partners. Like the food in the Ministry, the relationships aren't for pleasure but function. They have more to do with our brain than our heart. In the dimly lit cave, I realize that I'm reverting back to the way I was always meant to be, and I find myself grinning back at Kellan, feeling happier than ever.

"I want to be loved," I begin, my voice a sultry whisper, "by you."

Our breaths mingle in the small space between us, and for a moment, I hesitate. The weight of our past, the uncertainty of our future, hangs over us, but then his hand cups my cheek, his touch gentle yet grounding.

"Lena," he murmurs, his voice rough with emotion. "I love you. Always."

I don't let him say anything else. Instead, I close the distance between us, pressing my lips to his. It's hesitant at first, a question, a testing of boundaries, but when he responds, pulling me closer, the hesitation dissolves. The kiss deepens; it's a mixture of relief, desperation, and the unspoken connection that has tied us together even when my memories couldn't.

His arms wrap around me, pulling me onto his lap as we lose ourselves in each other. In this small, hidden cave, we carve out a moment of refuge, a place where we can be just Lena and Kellan, without the weight of the world pressing down on us. His hands trail down my back, every touch sending shivers through me, but not from the cold. This is warmth, this is real.

When we finally break apart, both of us are breathing heavily. I rest my forehead against his, our noses brushing as we try to catch our breath. His hand rests on my hip, his thumb drawing slow circles against my skin, grounding me in this moment.

"I..." I start, my voice shaky as I form words I can't remember ever speaking out loud before. "I love you, too."

He nods, his eyes still closed, his breath warm against my lips. "I know you do," he murmurs.

We stay like that for a while, holding each other, feeling the rise and fall of our chests as we breathe in sync. Outside, the forest remains silent, a temporary reprieve. But as I lay my head on his shoulder, I know this peace is fleeting. The fight isn't over.

Tomorrow, we'll face the world again. We'll find the Recall. We'll challenge the Ministry. But tonight, in this small pocket of time, we allow ourselves to forget the chaos and remember what it feels like to just be together.