The farther we drive away from the city, the quieter the world becomes.
One minute there’s concrete sidewalks and old warehouses everywhere and the next they disappear. The world opens to stretches of highway and clusters of pine trees and overgrown fields. I’m at peace for the briefest of moments as I watch the morning sunlight filter through scattered clouds.
Of course that doesn’t last for long. Although I’m still looking at the scenery, everything seems to fade in the background as I replay everything from last night.
I hadn’t slept much.
Jax insisted I take the small cot tucked behind his workstation, but I spent most of the night staring at the ceiling. Every time I closed my eyes… I saw my parents, the scanner, Director Kane, even Rian standing in the stairwell.
"You're not the error."
I sigh quietly.
"What?" Jax asks without taking his eyes off the road.
"Nothing," I say quickly.
He nods, though I know he doesn’t believe me.
The silence returns. It isn't uncomfortable, it’s just… heavy. We’re both lost in our own thoughts when the dashboard chimes.
Jax glances at the fuel gauge, "We're stopping."
I look up. "Do we have to?"
"We're below a quarter tank," he says, glancing at the fuel gauge again.
"We can make it."
"We can also end up stranded." This time he glances at me.
I know he’s right, I just hate that he’s right. I nod my approval, as though he needs it and then twenty minutes later the car rolls beneath the faded canopy of a weathered roadside gas station.
It’s not busy. There’s only four pumps and a small convenience store. A delivery truck is parked near the back.
Jax kills the engine. "I'll fill up."
"I'll stay here."
"No."
I look at him and wonder why he’s become so bossy.
"You need food," he says, as he stares me down.
"I'm not hungry."
However, my stomach chooses this exact moment to betray me with a quiet growl.
Jax smiles, "You were saying?"
I sigh. "Fine."
I know this isn’t a good idea, especially for me to do the food run, but I get out of the car and head inside anyway. The bell above the door jingles softly as I enter. Everything suddenly feels… wrong.
It seems normal, yet too normal.
Coffee brews somewhere near the register. Country music plays quietly through ceiling speakers. A little girl argues with her dad over candy. Someone laughs near the refrigerators. No one looks dangerous; however, for some reason, that just makes me even more nervous.
I keep my hood low and deliberately avoid looking toward the security cameras mounted in each corner.
Don't look suspicious. Don't run. Just buy something, I repeat to myself.
I grab a bottle of water, two protein bars, and a bag of trail mix. I’m having a hard time breathing, as I increasingly take in short breaths. I feel as though everyone who looks my way knows. Especially that little girl. I even flinch every time a phone rings.
I just need to get out of here and back to the car where it’s safe. I head to the cash register to pay for my items and that’s when it happens.
Outside… three black Authority vehicles turned into the station.
My blood freezes.
"No..."
Doors fly open. Officers spread across the lot. Not running, just walking in an organized and controlled fashion.
Jax sees them too and our eyes meet through the front window. His expression changes instantly.
“Stay back,” he mouths, giving the smallest shake of his head.
Then he casually closes the fuel cap as if nothing is wrong. An officer approaches him. I can’t hear them, but I assume they exchange the normal greetings as Jax smiles at the officer. The officer nods. It’s all routine and calm.
Maybe it was a good idea for me to come into the store.
I slowly step away from the windows and continue toward the front counter. Maybe… maybe this isn't—
"Excuse me?" The cashier says.
I look up.
The older man behind the counter frowns slightly, "Haven't I seen you on the emergency bulletin this morning?"
Everything stops. I glance at the television mounted over the coffee station. A public advisory flashes across the screen and a blurred image appears. It’s my school photo. Not clear enough to identify immediately… but close.
"...Person of interest..."
My stomach drops.
The cashier looks between the screen and me. His eyes grow wide, "Oh."
He reaches beneath the counter, toward what I assume is the emergency call switch.
I can’t stay here any longer. I turn and run.
I burst through the side exit beside the restrooms, as voices explode behind me.
"There!"
"Stop!"
Boots pound across pavement, as I come to the realization that I was right: It wasn’t a good idea to come into the store. I dart behind a delivery truck, breathing hard.
I’m too exposed, but there’s no place to—
A hand grabs my arm, while another covers my mouth. I try to scream, but I don’t get it out in time.
"Don't," the voice is barely above a whisper. "Stay quiet."
I freeze. I know that voice. I turn my head slightly and come face to face with those eyes.
Rian.
He pulls me behind stacks of shipping pallets tucked beside the loading dock. We crouch together in the narrow space. Hidden as an officer runs past only feet away.
My heart hammers against my ribs. I can feel Rian's hand go still lightly over my hand now instead of my mouth. He slowly lets go.
We don’t speak. Not until the footsteps fade.
"You really need to stop disappearing," he whispers.
Despite everything… a laugh almost escapes me.
We wait another full minute before moving.
Rian peeks carefully around the pallets before saying, “They're searching the front.”
"What about Jax?" I ask.
"He looked okay," Rian shrugs, as though to dismiss my concern.
"Looked?"
"I couldn't exactly stop to ask."
I exhale. I have to remember that he didn’t seem to be in danger the last time I saw him.
"Felicity!" Jax calls.
He rounds the corner behind the building and relief flashes across his face. Then it disappears the instant he sees who’s standing beside me.
"...Seriously?"
Rian folds his arms, "Nice to see you too."
Ignoring him completely, Jax looks at me and says, "You okay?"
“I am now,” I nod toward Rian.
Only then does Jax glance back toward Rian. "Thanks."
The word comes out sounding painful.
Rian gives a small nod, "You would've done the same."
Jax doesn’t answer, but I know what he’s thinking. I mean… of course Jax would have done the same. He’s my best friend. He wouldn’t turn his back on me.
"What are you doing here?" I ask, as I turn towards Rian.
Rian rubs the back of his neck. "I was following Authority dispatch reports."
Jax immediately frowns, "Why?"
"I wanted answers."
About me? Why would he even still care?
"You expect us to believe that?" Jax apparently doesn’t trust him either.
Rian shrugs, "I saw multiple patrol units converging on one location." He looks at me. "Then I saw you. I was actually going to say hello."
He smiles faintly before continuing, "But when I saw the officers… I figured saying hello could wait." His smile fades, as though he was remembering something he didn’t care to think of.
I believe… parts of it, but not all. However, Jax believes none of it.
"Convenient," Jax mutters.
Rian looks at him. "I didn't ask for your approval."
"And you ain't getting it."
"So..." Rian says, ignoring Jax. "What are you two doing way out here?"
Jax and I look at each other, without saying anything. What could we say anyway? Jax already knows too much and I haven’t even told him everything. I can’t bring Rian into this anymore than he already has been. Besides, can we really trust him? Not only is he my sworn rival, but now I know his father is the very person I’m trying to hide from.
We both look back at Rian and answer at exactly the same time.
"Nothing."
"It's none of your business."
We blink as we look at each other.
Smooth, I groan inwardly.
Rian raises one eyebrow, "That wasn't suspicious at all."
"We're leaving," Jax says frustrated.
He gently, but firmly, takes me by the elbow and starts guiding me to the car.
"Come on," he says.
As we walk away, I can hear a set of footsteps behind us.
Rian.
Jax stops and turns around, "Why are you following us?"
"You said it wasn't my business," Rian says, shrugging.
"It isn't."
"Ok, so I'll just mind my own business..." Rian smiles. "...while walking in the same direction."
Jax steps closer, "Walk somewhere else."
"I like this direction." Rian is still smiling as though he’s enjoying taunting Jax.
"It isn't yours."
"It is now."
The air between them practically sparks. A few customers near the gas pumps begin to watch. One man even pauses while pumping fuel. I bury my face briefly in one hand. We can’t make a scene, especially after what just happened with the Authority officers showing up.
"They're staring," she whisper, harshly.
Neither of them move.
"Seriously," I’m getting frustrated now. They still don’t move. They aren’t even paying attention to me nor the situation around us.
I step directly between them. "Both of you."
They’re silent finally as they realize I’m here again.
"We are standing in the middle of a gas station..." I lower my voice. "making a scene."
That finally gets through and Jax glances around. Several people quickly pretend not to be watching, but it’s still obvious. Rian notices too.
I sigh again, "Fine."
They look at me.
"He can come."
"What?" Jax asks, his eyes wide and mouth open.
"What?" Rian echoes, as he looks at me with curiosity.
"Temporarily," I clarify, giving them both pointed looks. "We can decide what happens later."
Jax looks like he wants to argue. Instead, he sighs heavily.
"One condition," he adds finally. "You sit in the back."
Rian laughs, "I was planning to."
A few minutes later the car pulls away from the gas station.
I stare out the window as Jax drives in complete silence. Rian leans back in the rear seat, watching the passing scenery. Neither one speaks and they’re both not happy. Yet, somehow, despite everything else chasing me, I have the unmistakable feeling that the journey ahead has just become far more complicated.
Not because of the Authority and not even because of Director Kane. The fact that both Jax and Rian are tagging along with me makes me feel uneasy. This is definitely going against what my parents’ instructions were. They have suddenly become part of my chaotic life, and I’m not sure whether that will save me… or make everything infinitely more dangerous.