Crimson Bonds

Entangled

The tension in the room finally settles, but the quiet intensity between Dante and me still lingers. It's unspoken, yet understood. I'm not sure what's going to happen between us next, or even how to define the connection that seems to grow stronger with each passing moment.

Still, we can't stay in this moment forever. The danger hovering over us isn't going to wait.

"Time to go," Dante murmurs behind me, his voice low but commanding. The warmth of his arms disappears as he gently shifts me off his lap and stands, moving in that steady, purposeful way he always does.

Nikolai stretches lazily, flashing me a grin. "Alright, sweetheart, ready for another thrilling car ride?"

I shoot him a wry smile, rolling my eyes. "Just what I was hoping for."

Lila is already by the window, peeking through the curtains. Her expression is calm but serious. "The sun's almost up. We should get moving before we lose too much time."

I hesitate. Everything feels rushed, unsettled. "Can't we just stay here? This place seems safe enough, and... I thought we stopped to rest."

Dante's gaze meets mine, and for a moment, something unreadable flickers in his eyes before he answers. "We shouldn't stay in one place too long. The longer we're here, the more likely we'll be found."

The weight of his words hits me, and I realize why we've really stopped. It wasn't because it was safe, not for them. It was because of me. They paused the endless running to keep me comfortable, to give me a break.

A lump rises in my throat, but I swallow it down and nod. "Okay. Let's go."

Without another word, we gather up what little we have. The early morning light is starting to creep across the sky as we hurry out of the room and back to the car. The air outside is cool, and the first hints of dawn cast a pale glow over the empty parking lot.

We quickly pile into the car—Dante at the wheel, Nikolai in the passenger seat, Lila and me in the back. As the engine roars to life and the car pulls away from the motel, I can feel the tension in the air grow sharper with each passing minute. Dante's knuckles are white on the steering wheel, his jaw tight, and even Nikolai seems more tense than before.

I stare out the window as the road stretches on in front of us, the growing daylight filling me with a strange sense of dread. I can't shake the guilt that gnaws at me. We stopped for my sake, and now, as we flee into the morning light, I realize just how much I've slowed us down.

I don't want to be the reason we're in more danger. I won't let myself be the weak link. I won't let them regret keeping me with them.

The early morning light begins to creep into the car, the soft glow casting shadows over Dante's tense face. As we speed down the road, I can't shake the nagging sense of worry gnawing at my insides.

Then suddenly it hits me.

The sun.

I hadn't fully understood it before, but now, watching the light stretch across the landscape, something clicks inside me. Lila explained that the sun weakens them, but the urgency in the air makes it clear that the effect is much more severe than I'd imagined. Every second in this growing daylight puts them at risk.

I glance at Nikolai, his usual cocky grin replaced with a more serious expression as the sunlight filters through the windshield. He rubs at his temple, trying to mask his discomfort, but I can see it—the strain etched into his features, the way his eyes squint against the light.

Lila, too, is quieter than normal. She shifts uncomfortably in her seat beside me, her eyes narrowing as she focuses on the horizon. Her usual calm is still there, but it's fraying at the edges, like she's holding herself together just enough to keep me from worrying.