Dawn Is Coming

Chapter 17

Grant

The familiar sound of the MV powering down the path fills my body with even more dread than usual. Crane's whining enters one ear and then glides out the other, my mind overwhelmed with different strategies, what to do, what if Akira dies, how strong are the guards in Neorexa, Akira loves me, is she okay, I shouldn't have -

"Grant! Are you listening to me?" Crane's raised voice snaps me out of my reverie, drawing my eyes up from the transparent floor. "Nah, this ain't real. This guy drags me along on an impromptu adventure to save his runaway girlfriend and then has the balls to ignore me."

I massage my temples, feeling a migraine start to form.

"I'm sorry. I'm just... distracted." I mumble, meeting his gaze. He cocks his head, his icy eyes studying me.

"Yeah, you don't look too great." He remarks, leaning forward and resting his arms in his lap. "You okay?"

"Not the best." I take a deep breath, chewing on the inside of my cheek as I debate whether I should tell him the story or not. Feeling an irresistible urge to vent, my mouth opens and lets the story flow. "Akria asked me to come with her."

Crane's brows fly up.

"I didn't think she was being serious, I – I didn't think she seriously considered it since it's so dangerous. She asked me if I trusted her, and fuck yeah I do. I wouldn't be here, if it weren't for her." I sputter, burying my face in my hands again, as if trying to protect me from the past. "But she wouldn't even tell me why we need to go. It's like – like she doesn't trust me. But I've helped her so much, haven't I? I saved her life, too! I caught her, when she was falling down the cliff."

My heart clenches as I remember clutching her limp body in my arms.

"I... I didn't agree to go because I thought she'd be too scared to go without me, to go alone. I thought if I said no, she'd abandon the idea." I frown. "Akira was never the type to charge head-on into battle."

Crane sighs.

"Well, apparently there's more to that girl that you thought. Doesn't surprise me, though, considering the fact that she spent the majority of her life with our freaky General." He chuckles, the sound void of humour. "But hey, that's also a good thing. I doubt there are much people are alive that can beat her, especially if she has a gun in her hands. Don't worry yourself too much – girls don't like that look on guys." He smirks.

I roll my eyes. Typical Crane – thinking about girls in a situation like this.

"I mean... you want her to like you, right? You two were having the cheesiest thing in the world going on when we were driving back the other day. I would've puked if I had the energy." He says with a snicker, reaching a hand inside his jacket, scratching at the stitches. My eyes roll again.

"I don't get what you see. I mean, she's pretty cute and all, but I've seen much prettier girls. And man, come on. You can get anyone with your looks. You won the genetic lottery." Crane scoffs, and my hands clench into fists.

"She's smart, nice, and in my opinion, she's really fucking pretty." I hiss defensively, and Crane laughs.

"If you say so, buddy. You're totally down bad." He says, and I realize...

I really am.

"But you should look for someone else. Akira is... she's fragile. Weird as it is, she's a damn flower. You know she cries every day when we come home?"

My brows furrow. "And how would you know?"

"Lyndin told me."

I click my tongue. "So what? That doesn't make her any less amazing."

"No, I mean – you're like me, Grant. You're a cold-blooded killer."

I wince, but I don't bother denying it. It's rough, it's harsh, but it's the truth.

"I don't know if Akira would really want that in a person, you know? I don't know, maybe it's a turn-off for her or something." Crane states.

I scoff, clicking my tongue. "Since when are you the relationship expert?"

"I might not be an expert in the cheesy, lovey-dovey stuff that you seem to be into, but you two are polar opposites. And not in a good way."

Ah, there it is. That cold, cruel version of Crane; I've been wondering where it has disappeared to.

"So... what you're saying is that because I do my job a certain way, we could never be together?" The thought is ridiculous.

"You're dramatizing it, but... it's unlikely."

I lean back in my seat, slinging my arm around the back of my neighbouring chair, raising a brow. I'm not sure if what I'm about to do would be disrespectful somehow to Akira, but I won't stand anyone badmouthing her – or her feelings for me.

"You know, she didn't literally run away, as in a cat and mouse chase." I cross my legs. "She had asked me to come with her."

Crane raises a brow.

"I said no, because I thought she wouldn't go without me. Then an hour ago, she shows up at my doorstep, saying that -" I choke up. "Saying that she loves me."

Now Crane looks stunned. His mouth opens and closes before he shakes his head.

"'I love you?' Those were her exact words?"

I nod.

Crane leans back in his seat, shoving his hands in his pockets and letting out a low whistle. "Wow. Who knew she'd have the balls to do that? Even I've never told anyone I love them. Eh..." He shrugs. "If I ever did, though, I'd probably be lying."

"You're getting off topic here. Akira loves me." I hiss.

Crane raises his hands in surrender, chuckling. "Good for you, man. Do you want a medal for that? I've pulled way better."

I roll my eyes, leaning back in my own seat. It feels like I'm arguing with a brick wall.

Akira would be calm about this.

Be like Akira.

I take a deep breath, cracking my knuckles as I glance in Milo's direction. His eyes in the front-view mirror look focused on the road, but I see the judgment in his eyes. Judging of who, I'm not sure. But I do know that no one would look this judgmental, had they been focused on just a dirt road.

"What'd you say?" Crane's voice snaps my attention back to him.

"To what?"

"Akira."

My heart clenches in guilt, the word 'nothing' tasting like bile in my mouth. I could've chased after her, caught her before it was too late. I had her in my arms just the night before, but now it feels like I might never see her again. I stood there like a fool.

"Nothing." I whisper, feeling as if I say it any louder, I'll go back to that moment – my body frozen once more, my muscles tingling but immobile. The itch in my fingers to grab her, hold her close and never let her go.

Never.

"Well..." Crane sighs, shaking his head in disappointment. "What can I say? Let's catch her before it's too late."