Souls Through Time (EzioxOC/DesmondxOC)

Chapter 17 - Claire

The night was thick around them as they loaded everything into the box truck, the forest's silence broken only by the soft shuffling of feet and the low murmur of voices as they secured their supplies and checked their gear. The TPN, the Animus rig, the medical kits—everything they'd need was packed and double-checked with quiet efficiency. Each person moved with purpose, their faces marked with the weight of what lay ahead.

The mission felt different now, heavier. The coordinates they'd uncovered hinted at a secret buried beneath the surface of history, something hidden within the Grand Temple. And they all knew what it meant to Desmond, even in his current state. This wasn't just about reaching the Temple—it was about bringing him closer to the answers he was fighting to find, answers that might finally bring an end to the Templars' relentless pursuit of power.

As they loaded Desmond's stretcher into the back of the truck, Claire lingered by his side for a moment, her hand brushing against his arm in a silent promise. Then, with one last deep breath, she moved toward the front, following Aiden and William to the cab. Aiden took the wheel, adjusting the mirrors with a practiced hand, while William settled into the middle seat, his eyes scanning a map on his phone.

Claire slid into the window seat, feeling the chill of the night air as she pulled the door shut beside her. The window was cold against her arm as she leaned slightly into it, her gaze fixed on the darkness stretching out beyond the trees. They would be leaving the safety of the forest soon, moving into the open, toward the city—and toward whatever lay hidden in Turin, New York.

The truck's engine rumbled to life, vibrating through the floorboards as Aiden navigated the narrow dirt road leading out of the woods. The headlights cut through the trees, casting fleeting shadows that danced along the truck's interior before disappearing into the night. Claire remained silent, her eyes trained on the passing landscape, the dense trees giving way to open fields and empty roads.

As the minutes ticked by, her mind drifted back to Desmond, lying in the back of the truck, caught between worlds. Her fingers tapped lightly against her thigh, a restless rhythm as she thought about him, her recent realization hovering like a quiet flame in the back of her mind. It had been such a simple thought, almost accidental, yet it had changed everything. She loved him. She didn't need to say it out loud, didn't need anyone else to know. It was her truth, silent but unwavering.

Aiden's voice cut through the hum of the engine, snapping her out of her reverie. "We'll hit Turin in about an hour and a half," he said, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror, then back to the road. "We'll need to stay sharp once we get close. If the Templars have caught wind of this, we'll be walking into a hornet's nest."

William grunted in agreement, his gaze focused ahead, but his mind clearly elsewhere, already strategizing the steps to take once they reached their destination. "We keep a low profile until we're sure of the area. We'll park the truck a few streets away and move on foot if we have to. Last thing we need is to draw attention."

Claire nodded absently, her gaze still trained on the window, watching as the quiet roads blurred by in streaks of muted lights and shadow. Houses and empty gas stations appeared and vanished as they passed, the occasional streetlight casting a soft glow across her face, catching the faint line of the scar on her cheek. She didn't feel the need to speak; the tension in the cab was familiar, a shared understanding among them, each absorbed in their own thoughts as they hurtled toward the unknown.

The silence was punctuated only by the steady hum of the truck, the tires thrumming against the asphalt. As they moved farther from Syracuse and closer to Turin, the landscape shifted gradually, growing darker and less familiar, the road narrowing as they entered more isolated terrain. Claire felt a strange sense of calm settle over her, the weight of the night wrapping around her like a shroud. She was ready for this, for whatever lay at the end of their journey.