Echoes of Innocence

04

Maylin's POV

I wasn't sure how long I stood there, paralyzed, but then my body jolted into action, instinct kicking in. I had to move. I couldn't let Noah find me—not again. Not after what he'd done to me. My legs felt weak as I backed away from the window, my pulse roaring in my ears.

Why is he here? How did he find me? Noah wouldn't stop until he had me back under his control. The thought of him being this close—just outside the building—made my skin crawl.

The moment I hear Matéo's door click open, panic crashes through me like a wave. I bolt towards the hallway, heart hammering, already reaching for him before I can fully think it through.

"Wait!"

Matéo turns slowly, a mix of confusion and hesitation on his face, his tall frame pausing in the doorway as he shifts his bag over his shoulder. "What is it?"

I stop short, breathless, scrambling to find an excuse—anything that'll make sense. Why did I stop him? Why do I feel this overwhelming need to go with him? My eyes dart to the window, and the sight of Noah's men outside flashes through my mind again, making my stomach twist.

"I... I'm coming with you."

Matéo stares at me, eyebrows lifting slightly. "What?"

"I—I'm coming with you," I say again, the words tumbling out faster this time. "I, uh, I need to talk to Silvia too. About the rent. She owes me some papers—" My voice sounds shaky even to my own ears, but I push on. "And I thought... you could use a driver. Your car situation and all."

He's still standing there, utterly baffled, like I just told him the sky turned purple. He watches me for a second longer, then tilts his head slightly, a small frown creasing his forehead. "You sure?"

No. I'm not sure. But staying here wasn't an option.

"Yeah, of course!" I force a smile, hoping it doesn't look as strained as it feels. "It'll be easier this way, and... quicker. And, uh, you won't have to rent a car."

He still doesn't move, but his eyes search mine, like he's trying to figure me out. I can feel his gaze cutting through me, making me fidget under the weight of it. "Alright," he finally says, though his tone carries a thread of suspicion. "If you're sure."

"I am." My voice is firmer this time, trying to sound like I've made a perfectly normal decision. "Just give me a minute. I'll pack some things."

Without waiting for his response, I dart back into my room, yanking out my emergency bag from under the bed. It's already packed—has been for months now. Always ready, in case I had to run again. Like today. I toss in a few extra clothes, my toothbrush, and some cash I've stashed away, all while trying to fill the growing tension with words— rambling more than talking.

"It'll be nice to get out of the city for a while, you know? Miami sounds... fun! I mean, the weather, the beach— way better than being stuck in New York. New York gets boring after a while anyways, always grey and—and too many buildings everywhere, right? Right?"

I hear how I sound ridiculous, and when I glance over at Matéo, I know he does too. He's leaning against the doorframe now, arms crossed, watching me with that quiet intensity he always has. I can't tell if he's buying any of this, probably not, but he doesn't argue.

"Sure, yeah," he says again, his voice low, resigned. "If you're coming, we better get moving. It's a long drive."

I zip up my bag, throwing it over my shoulder and nodding. "Yeah. Let's go."

But as I step past him, I freeze, a sudden thought hitting me. We can't just walk out front— Noah and his men are scattered outside. The fire escape... yes. They won't see us if we take the fire escape; it's tucked around the side of the building, out of sight. "We should take the fire escape."