Ama leaves us, walking off into the open space. Klef and I look around. The middle is a grassy field, which has some of the grass upturned with fresh earth underneath, lending itself to crash-landings of fresh dragons, if Ama is to be believed. But off to either side of this field there are dozens of trees, patches of flowers, and even some benches, rocking chairs, and a table or two, all human sized. Klef stretches his wings out, and sighs. “Oh, yeah, baby! I could get used to this kind of space!”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKw4aTuaFgX
I chuckle. “You had that at home, bird brain. You’re the one who decided to join me today.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuuB0uaYDj
“And I’m glad I did!” Klef says, flying up into the air a good 10 feet. “Just look at this view! This is amazing!”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jWYfbaEO6
I laugh. Klef’s happiness is contagious. “I can only fly if you carry me, or I’m on a swing, remember?” I tease.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn21JyFekAq
“Easily remedied,” Klef says, swooping down and picking me up around the waist to lift me into the air.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPWxN9pxUo
I squeal at the sudden touch and laugh. “Wow, this really is amazing!”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkm1fTyNJ7
“I told you!” Klef exclaims, flying in a circle to see everything. “This is so cool! I wonder if any dragons would be willing to race me?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMw7FPXZTS5
I smile and shake my head. “You would lose hopelessly.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhVKm92aWZ
“Maybe so,” Klef agrees with a nod. “But wouldn’t it be fun?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBsLgLac2l
“Only you, Treble. Only you could turn a murderous situation and make it this happy.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEU7v1u51g5
Klef grins and glides to the ground, setting me down. “We’re a good pair, that way. I show you the clouds and you make sure that my wings don’t burn from getting too close to the sun.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT51c3cbrwf
“Yeah, well, the stench of singed feathers is not pleasant,” I tease.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34IVeZasWU
Klef laughs. “Oh, you just ruined my romantic moment!”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1z4RYKW303
I grin. “You do it to plenty of mine,” I point out.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGojZkpFqV
“Shut up,” Klef says, but he’s smiling.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyVEOzkveB
“Or what?” I ask.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRllpIrhT5l
“Or I’ll have to kiss you,” Klef responds.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYeI9RNaFd
“Ooh, I’m so scared,” I say.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbD8Viwng5u
Klef lifts up on his toes and offers me a light kiss, which I return with a little more pressure as my acceptance. We break apart after a few seconds, before Klef can wrap his arms around my waist or I can muss up his hair, in an attempt to look normal to anyone walking by. “Want to sit on one of the swings?” I offer.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFf5oDSZMZJ
“Sure,” Klef says. “I guess I can put up with some fake-flying for a little while.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0UC0p97Iz
“Well, excuse me, but not everyone can fly,” I scoff as we walk over. “Your mocking swingsets is rude and I’m personally offended. Not all of us were tossed off a cliff when we were little.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MDnr5K3sO
“I wasn’t little,” Klef says, scrunching up his nose. “It was 5 years ago. I wasn’t little.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABTO6bqJS9
“Little enough to tease you,” I say, sitting down on a bench swing and pushing it back with my feet. When Klef sits down I let go and lean back into the seat. “How long do you think it will take us to die this time?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyxrxR7QKJ
“I dunno,” Klef shrugs. “Am I supposed to?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqq6MnWzb3
“I guess not, that’s my job isn’t it?” I sigh.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuE0lmyPZFk
Klef looks over to me and wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Hey, sweetheart. You’re more than just your dreams, okay? I know everyone here is all focused on how you can predict the future, but people who really know you? They care about you for you. And those people are out there, don’t say that they aren’t. I, for one, cared about you since we were little kids. Even if you did forget me.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9om63hTMxK
I laugh. “Kleftis, I was, like, 3. You really expect me to remember something that happened when I was a toddler?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy18p2QF3Nj
“I did, Iridescence,” he says.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQZye8JevS
“You were smitten, that’s why,” I tell him, pointing a finger. “I enjoyed being around you, but I wasn’t smitten.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwiM56MhvG
“Oh, you wound me, Ride,” Klef says, grinning. “You make me sound like a lovestruck fool.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNdEEbZvxm
“You’re a fool, all right,” I laugh.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkE0ZXoqBd
Klef grins and pulls me closer to him on the swing. “So… I don’t want to ruin the moment, but you know, you’ve dropped a lot of hints about us having a future together lately. And I’m not just talking about the kids thing either. Are you… I don’t know what to say. Expecting something of me?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5Joj0P8yH
I frown and sigh. I know this was coming, but I don’t want it to be right now that we talk about it. “No, not really, I don’t think,” I say. “I just… couples sometimes talk about futures together. What they might see happening if they stay together. We never do. I mean, I do sometimes, but you don’t really join in. I guess it’s a cultural difference, or something? I mean, you were raised in Constell, I wasn’t, I was born and raised in Argentor, and most couples over there just… spoke about what they saw happening to each other if they stayed together. I wanted to share that with you.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfLYxD7p90
“That’s all?” Klef asks. “Ride, couples in Constell would do that too. I just thought it was a given we would stay together, you know? Something that wouldn’t change no matter what. Together… to the end of the Ride. Or the Treble. Either one.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WVmRbRd6h
I groan. “Klef! You do not get to complain about my puns and then make some of your own!”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqrDjH6A4t
Klef pouts. “Aw, you’re no fun. You’re never any fun.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWNpevzqhM
I scoff and roll my eyes, catching the glint of something in the sun. I freeze. Klef immediately is focused on me and tense. “What? What is it?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuxXMZaliF
“I could have sworn I just say something glinting in the light,” I whisper. “Somebody’s out here besides us.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYsBQIJu4R
Klef frowns. “Well, that’s why we’re out here, isn’t it?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdagTp45A1
“I know it is, Klef, but I’m nervous,” I hiss. “I don’t exactly want to die.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUZpp3XpEP
“Ride, take deep breaths,” Klef says, standing up. “I’ll go check it out. You’re probably still rattled from this morning.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9i5u8lWcg
He’s put on an act like we would do when we’re out thieving. I put on my best worried smile, which doesn’t take much faking, and nod. “Be careful,” I warn, and it’s not an act at all.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwI8EXb8g8o
“I will,” he says, like he ever listens to that warning.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwXwpyBDzX
Staying still on the bench takes all of my will power. I know that it might be one of the people we can trust who’s staking out where we are, but it could just as easily be a killer. I lean down to tighten my sandals when I feel a cold cylinder press into my neck. A gun. “Don’t make me shoot ye, lass,” a familiar voice warns. “I will if I have to, but my friend’s the one who wants ye dead. I just want ye gone.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwLb0YrQbD
“And your friend would be?” I ask in low tones.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEynDZwLTt
“A concerned party, from the real Crusaders,” the voice whispers.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLz9lcwUbTT
I tilt my head as much as I can with the gun pressed to my neck, and see the gorgon from yesterday staring at me, willing me to look into their eyes. I won’t give them the satisfaction of turning me into stone, though, however temporary the curse may be. “The real Crusaders? We are the real Crusaders. Everyone here.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmTGkIARi6
The gorgon laughs. “Aye, if ye believe so. But the real ones would know better.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZV10WKryA
My stomach does an involuntary flip. I don’t like this conversation. “Look, I’m sure whatever you want, we can work out something. You said you don’t want me dead at your hands? I’m sure that can be arranged. But I need to know what you want from me in exchange for my life, all right?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡro4Y2e1FmT
“Change your prophecy,” the gorgon whispers. “Change it away from the real location. Just for long enough that the real Crusaders can complete their mission and then you can live.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpIEqiXQwy
The hair on the back of my neck stands on end. “S-sorry?!” I whisper frantically.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFiFTlgwyu
“Change the prophecy,” the gorgon repeats, digging the gun into my neck. “Or I will shoot you.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwCrkciYhs
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “How do you expect me to do that? You were there when I shared the prophecy, I can’t just take it back!”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lEY2bXEna
“Ye’ll figure something out. Yer a clever lass. Just change the prophecy.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfV1ta34Qo2
“No,” I say, waiting to feel the pain of a bullet entering my body.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBz3u1s9GlA
“No?!” the gorgon hisses.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvYOEZwBoi
“No,” I repeat, louder. “I will not change the prophecy. What are you going to do about that?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMGKQGVWDr
The gorgon hisses. “Just know you put this on yourself, lass,” they say, and the gun clicks.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2XVTgDFBy
I throw myself off the swing and roll on the dirt just as there’s a deafening BANG that cuts through the air. I stand up and rush to the gorgon, hitting them in the waist. Both of us collapse to the ground as we wrestle for control of the gun. They make a grab for it but I slam my fist into the inside of their elbow, and they retract their arm, pulling it to their chest and hissing. I grab the gun and point the opening at their head. “What did you mean by the real Crusaders?” I ask.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSpxxnS99N
They sneer. “Ye would have better luck shooting me, lass.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzFJJnP2Ip
I growl. “What did you mean by the real Crusaders?” I repeat. “Last chance, before I turn you over to my dad to deal with.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAuhVHqImx
They laugh and say nothing. I stand up, keeping a foot on their chest and the gun trained on their head. “You brought this on yourself,” I toss to them, before turning my head over my shoulder and yelling, “Klef! Get your butt over here, you just missed me nearly getting killed… again!”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGUHmRGjxM
That gets him across the field like a shot, wings bristling and ruffled from a quick flight. “Ride, I left you alone for 2 minutes, how do you nearly get killed in 2 minutes?!”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiIAjIL0k3
I shrug. “They had a gun.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMSZ3E84kB
Klef shakes his head. “Ride… you know that’s not what I meant.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdj96udfIsJ
I laugh. “Yeah, I know. But, y’know. It’s funnier to answer like that, especially because it annoys you.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vBH39qUvg
Klef nods. “Where are the others? Shouldn’t they have come over to protect you?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkoRlT7NE5
I shrug. Bobbi dashes up, panting. “The… armory… stolen… all… weapons!”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ireogQxNp
“They stole all the weapons?!” I ask in disbelief. “Who is they? And why are they stealing all the weapons?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmTwTTdTUr
Klef looks to the gorgon who’s still pinned on the ground. “I have a feeling this one knows. Maybe your dad could beat some sense into him and he’ll fess up.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3BVGhQnSy
“Good idea,” I say, lifting up my foot.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGNk5ohazz
Klef yanks the gorgon up none-to-gently. “Do you guys have a jail? Or a dungeon?” he asks Bobbi.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLtnkO7mbo
“We have something better for traitors,” Bobbi says, crooking a finger. “The interogation rooms.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPWul2oSG4
I follow behind Klef and Bobbi all the way to the front of the complex. Bobbi takes the gorgon and puts them in one room, and locks the door, before opening up a door right next to the one they threw the gorgon in, and leads us inside, where we can see through glass the gorgon banging against the door. “Woah.” Klef says.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1J8uZbLFUi
“Can they see us?” I ask.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixXRWdMfYN
Bobbi shakes their head. “Nope. To him, this pane of glass is a mirror. He helped design this, so he knows we’re back here, observing, but he can’t see who or where we are, if we’re in here at all after a certain point in time, or hear us. We’re safe to sit back and watch in here.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXihg5c7csP
“Can we sic my dad on him?” I ask. “I’m pretty sure he’d like to take the first bite out of this guy.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVX1QojwooW
Bobbi shrugs. “If you can find him, go ahead. He stormed out awhile ago, so he might be sulking in his quarters, which he rarely lets anyone know the location of, let alone invite them in.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgzr1fByl8
“I’ll find him,” I say. “It shouldn’t take too long.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflPkNSjx2v
Bobbi’s lips twitch slightly. “You know him that well?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7NJNqVawM
I grin. “I’m his kid, Bobbi. What do you expect?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyfI0jsWh7
Bobbi shrugs. “Right. Go on, then. I’ll be here.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkX5x6dgj2L
I walk out and Klef follows. “Ride… could I talk to you for a sec?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwEUDwwQtP
“Sure. What about?” I ask.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9Y0JL6CqY
“Well, have you considered… that your dad might not want to see you?” he questions. “I mean, he said himself he couldn’t sit back and watch you kill yourself. What if that principle still stand in his mind. I doubt that clown was working on his own.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQqU6aRHT3
I shrug. “What do you want me to do, though, Treble? Not tell him? I’m sure that gorgon could give away some, if not all, of his accomplices. Once we know who we’re looking for, the both of us are as safe as we ever was, and Dad won’t have to worry over this. He’ll be happy to hear we caught the guy.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KUk26bVdg
Klef looks at me doubtfully, but nods nonetheless. “So, where do you think your dad camps out?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuA1WCXuHI
“Oh, that’s easy,” I say with a laugh. “The closest place to the cafeteria around here. He loves to cook, when he can, but he hates people finding out about it, because Mom would always tease him.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CILRmgePr
Klef laughs. “Okay! I never knew that! My intimidation from him has gone down a bit now, though.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7GLaj4dqq
“Don’t let on to him you know,” I advise. “He’d kill me if he knew I told you.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXG20JfJRA
“My lips are sealed,” Klef says. “So where’s the cafeteria?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibIBIhMm9L
“I figured you’d know by now, seeing as how you can never stop eating,” I tease.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKayonykHq6
Klef blushes. “Okay, I may or may not have asked around on my way to finding you in the library, so we could get a late breakfast after this fiasco was over.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3fcl4HfpA
“Why did you act like you didn’t know?” I ask.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoY2xSyGGsZ
“So you wouldn’t shame me,” Klef sighs, hanging his head.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PeoyH3PdR
I grin. “Well, the teasing can come later. Right now, we have to let my dad know I’m not dying.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCACUguyqL
Klef nods. “Right. Not dying is always good.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREDtqoOXY2
I chuckle and follow Klef to the cafeteria. “Can I get a bite before you talk to your dad?” he asks. “I want to be moral support, but I’m starving.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaZjBPl6lA
“You don’t have to be moral support,” I tell him. “Go on and get something to eat. If you see anything you like, nab one for me, too. I’m a little hungry myself.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfN6PKr8wCO
Klef nods and walks into the cafeteria. I put one hand on the wall as I turn my back to it and walk down the hallway, until I feel a seam in the wall where there shouldn’t be one. I dig my fingers into it and pull it open with a grunt, finding a small but tidy bedroom inside. It doesn’t look lived in, save for a folded up piece of paper on the desk. There aren’t any clothes, the bad has been made, and while there must have been pictures on the wall based on the difference in fading paint, those have been taken down as well. I don’t think I’m in the wrong room, though. Only dad would have a secret bedroom by the cafeteria just because he doesn’t want to let anyone know he can cook. I walk over to the desk and examine the paper. It has my name written on it in Dad’s calligraphic writing. I frown and open it. What would Dad have to tell me that he couldn’t in person?806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLKfqICQ7h
Iri, I’m really sorry. If you’re reading this, it means that you have survived at least long enough in your hair- brained scheme to find my rooms and try to talk to me. Well, I’m sorry to break it to you, sweetheart, but I refuse to stay here and watch you die, even if against all odds stacked against you no one kills you or kidnaps you or tortures you.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdctmKSjPAb
“No,” I whisper, my eyes stinging.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5jPgDzmxo
I care far too much about you to watch you come to an untimely demise. I wouldn’t be able to do it the first time, let alone the second. You’ll have to forgive me, but I’ve gone pack to take care of the packs. As much as it pains me to say it, sweetheart, you are not the only one in the world who I care about. And if you don’t make it through this, I can’t sit around and mope about it. I’ll have to move on, to take care of the others that need me. So I’m skipping over the moping step and the trauma of watching you die. If you somehow survive all of this, please come talk to me. I’d love to make sure you are all right. But until you can definitively say you’re safe, I’d prefer you don’t contact me. It’s nothing personal. I just… can’t deal with that. Remember, sweetheart, that I love you always, even if you may not see it.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqcG3E170V
Dad806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9lZ263nOc
The paper falls through my fingers. Dad just… left. He left without me, grieving my death, because of something that hadn’t even happened yet. I caused him to grieve my ultimate death prematurely to the point where he was throwing himself into his work as a way out of grieving. Me. He could kill himself working too hard, I had seen it happen before. If I don’t finish this quickly, and ensure Dad that I’m okay, he could kill himself with worry, and it would be my fault.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9k0xjsSyJj
Someone touches me on my shoulder, and I jump. I turn to look and see Klef looking at me with concern. “You okay? You didn’t answer me when I walked in. I was gone a little longer than I had hoped I would be.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY02uPTWl5i
“How long?” I ask.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmb5BNmdzVf
Klef shrugs. “I don’t know. 15 minutes, at least. Please don’t tell me you were standing there the entire time I was gone.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiksXwLFvhv
I swallow. “I don’t know, I guess I was.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wzNIbIgxk
“What happened, Ride?” Klef asks, moving me to the bed.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDAlEDXRMQ
I sit down and shake my head. “Dad’s gone, Klef. He’s gone.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SmLNjmub8
“Gone?” Klef asks. “What do you mean?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeNFf286YQ
I point at the letter on the floor. “He’s gone. He decided he couldn’t stay here and watch me supposedly kill myself, so he went to work himself to death.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGypvL1Bc9L
Klef looks at the ground. “I don’t think he would work himself to death, Ride.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDFQ6cNYWG
“You don’t know him like I do, it’s his way of mourning,” I explain. “He’s going to work to take his mind off it, and if he doesn’t want his mind on it, he’ll just keep working every waking moment of the rest of his life. And it’s all my fault.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBvUysD1k9
“Hey, no,” Klef says, putting his food down and hugging me. “If he does do that, it’s not because of you. You can’t help getting injured or worse. You can work to prevent it, but it’s going to happen whether you want it or not. His reaction is not your fault.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwPG4FPkFf
I bite my lip. “I just… I want him here, Klef. I want to be able to talk to him, I want to hear you two bickering. I want some normalcy in the middle of this crazy show.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcULgLWWlzW
“I know, Ride,” Klef murmurs. “You’re normal to want that. It’s not unreasonable to ask for that. It does mean that you’re going to have some issues for a little while during the time it takes for you to adjust. But I’m still here, and I’ll crack jokes at the most inopportune times to lighten the mood if that’s what you need while your dad’s gone. And when we have everyone who’s trying to kill you behind bars, then we can go to him and tell him everything’s okay. And you know what he’ll do?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmC98KT9OOd
“What?” I ask.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSh1uQSgnlf
“He’ll hug you so tight you’ll nearly suffocate, because he’s so glad you’re okay. That, I don’t doubt for a second.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9AB7q95dh
“You sure?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpWHnXLaak
“I’m positive, Ride. Positive.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqLie2uY7T
I smile. Klef breaks out of the hug and points to my smile. “There she is. My favorite part of Rides. That ‘my boyfriend is the best’ look.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DcjpgeekR
“Shut up!” I say, giggling slightly.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOH92mxSVt
Klef grins. “You wish I would.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChW3iQJoZA
“Not really,” I say, kissing him on the cheek.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgg3q104yD
Klef grins. “I love you. Wanna know why?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqXcObBqvJ
“I love you too,” I say. “Why?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayTQXhWApc
“Because you have a big heart,” Klef says. “And you always want to make sure everyone is happy. Even if it’s at your expense.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuv73Iln7eZ
I smile. “Not always. I can be pretty angry when I want to be.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yJRtHLogW
“So? Anyone born human can get angry sometimes. Not everyone makes sure the people surrounding them are okay in the aftermath of an angry outburst.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHNvZ2bVwN
I shrug. “My anger can be pretty bad. Like the time I tried to murder a guy for murdering me?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrOLUEnHo4
Klef laughs. “I’m familiar with that one, yeah. Doesn’t change the facts. You made sure I was okay. That your dad was okay. That everyone you came into contact with was okay. And I’ve seen you bend over backwards since then to make sure the people who you care about are okay.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC16dRpJDFw
“It’s how I make up for my temper,” I say, sighing. “The least I can do after I blow up around everyone.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0uZbjg843
“Maybe you don’t need to make it up every time,” Klef proposes. “When you really hurt someone, yeah, you have to do something to make up for it, but most of the time you don’t hurt anyone when you get mad. You go out of your way, take a few breaths, and vent your emotions when you need to. That’s healthy. You don’t get to tell me you don’t work towards others’ happiness because you have a few negative emotions sometimes. That’s like saying someone’s genuinely a good person because they donate to a few charities despite lying and cheating and killing their way through life. You know who did that? My dad. And he was not a genuinely good person.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLv2KeiikkD
“I hate it when you talk sense,” I say with a little smile. “But I’m glad you can see my good qualities, even if I can’t.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBChY3rJ2c
Klef grins. “Hey, it’s what I’m here for, sweetheart. That and being the plucky comedic relief.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhtT9I47x0
I laugh. “Shut up! This was a very serious moment!”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAPI9kjKTx
“Like I said, Ride, I’m the plucky comic relief,” Klef laughs. “I brought you breakfast. Toast.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaLvtJ72nE
I hold out a hand. Klef passes me a slice of toast. I take a bite and stand. “Should we find Ama, Hibiscus, and Flo, and let them know we have someone as a suspect for the grenade and trying to kill me in general?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVUVXrJb30
“Yeah, we probably should,” Klef says with a shrug. “If Bobbi hasn’t found them already.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQMlYTxaqu
“So shall we go?” I ask.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qQEDhXQ54
“Can I eat first?” Klef asks.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJGGYHIt5c
I sigh. “Babe, seriously?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQA29LQegWP
Klef takes a bite out of the sandwich he picked up off the bed. He nods. “Seriously.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaSLSTIbA1
I roll my eyes. “Right. Right… Let’s go. Or, rather, I’m leaving, and you can join me or not.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9LeLaeTIM
Klef jumps off the bed as I walk out the door. “I’m coming, I’m coming! Cut me some slack!”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMbD5mbZtH
I grin. “Okay, let’s find them, and we can talk strategy. Sound good?”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7Uf2pqWKy
Klef raises his hand.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LGWZbU6m0
I sigh. “Yes, you can eat on the way.”806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMq5PvYrKs2
Klef cheers.806Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSP1vnkVgA
Penana
search
Loginarrow_drop_down
Registerarrow_drop_down
