{{Unedited}}   The only person who just barely made it onto the plane was Austin. He sprinted to the door about one minute from it closing for good. “Nice of you to join us,” Liam growled, from the doorway to the loading bridge. Austin said nothing, and Liam led him down and onto the plane. …

{{Unedited}} During the first three-hour stretch, Marielle had fallen asleep on his shoulder, and Vincent was glad. The one pain injection that he could give her wouldn’t do much to alleviate her suffering, and it was probably close to wearing off now. The longer that she slept, the more she wouldn’t be bothered by the …

{{Unedited}} The seatbelt light dinged off, and she flew out of the seat like it was on fire, heading towards the bathroom, and closing herself in. She sat on the closed toilet and buried her face in her hands as she rocked. Her skin felt like it was on fire again.  You’re falling in love …

{{Unedited}} Valorant was supposed to be a quick stop to refamiliarize everyone with the base- not much more than a warehouse with an office room containing flickering fluorescent lights, and a few rodents and spiders that had to be cleared out; it had been a while since anyone had actually seen this place, a few …

{{Unedited}} It was a little hole in the wall place that Marielle was certain was run by the mob based on the big guy with huge shoulders at the door. The walls were deep red, the lights were low, and there were real candles on the tables. The table she and Austin sat at was …

{{Unedited}} Austin had already pushed her out of the way, and presently, Marielle was on her knees and trying to stand. He yanked her up, but she was amazed to see that he’d already drawn his pistol and was aiming down the sights toward the bullets point of release. He put her behind him and …

{{Unedited}} Vincent had been silent for a long time with his face in his hands as he rubbed his temples, removed his glasses, and put them onto the desk, and then put his face back into his hands again. Marielle was laying on her side watching him from the bed; silent tears were streaming from …

{{Unedited}} Everyone filed out of the room, leaving Vincent, Marielle, and Austin alone. Austin leaned over the back of the couch to stretch his back; fingers laced behind his head. “I need to talk to him,” Marielle explained to Vincent in a low voice. “Please let me?” she asked. Vincent looked down, sadly. “I don’t …

{{Unedited}} When Marielle closed the door quietly behind her – noting that it was after eleven and she hardly felt it due to the time difference – she saw Vincent’s straight, sturdy back to her from a chair near the window. He was like a statue; he didn’t seem real to her in that moment …

{{Unedited}} Coffee had been made and pastries had been set out. Everyone had eaten what they could stomach and was sipping down their coffee as expectant eyes watched Klara’s computer screen and the highlighted images of the people moving around on it. Liam had stretched a map across the top of the piano. Austin was …