⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ [⠀⠀⠀ ⠀the land he stood upon had become a graveyard. fields that once bore wheat and wild grass now stretched black to the horizon, choked by ash and the carcasses of the fallen. the green had long since been stripped from the earth, devoured by the hybrids until nothing remained but poisoned soil and shattered concrete. the air carried the bitter sting of radiation, rusted metal, and decay, while the wind dragged sheets of grey dust across the cracked highway leading to the bridge. outside it, faint against the haze, green land still stood untouched. a promise no longer meant for him. wülfric stared across the wasteland in silence before turning back to frida. whatever tether had once bound them together, he buried it where no one, not even himself, could reach. the moment his fingers closed around her wrist, he drew her close enough to still her, only to step back again. distance was kinder than weakness. he could not bear the sight of her /tears./ as much as she suffered his betrayal, he carried it just the same. this was the crossing. there would be no second chance. ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀] ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀you have to cross the bridge, frida. there’s no survivin’ here. ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀[⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ his hand settled against the middle of her back, guiding her toward the checkpoint with measured care, making certain each step found solid ground. behind them, the distant cries of hybrids drifted across the ruins, followed by the groan of collapsing steel somewhere deep within the city. his chest tightened. the ache climbed into his throat, stealing the next breath before he forced it back down. his jaw hardened, and he refused to let himself look away. ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀] ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀it’s the only way you’ll live. i’ll be there once everyone’s made it across. ⠀⠀⠀⠀[⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ his grip eased from her wrist, lingering for only a heartbeat before letting go. ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀] ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀ don’t make this any harder than it already is.
