Chapter 62: CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO | FREEZE

CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO | FREEZE

RONAN

It was evening already, and the sky outside the window was turning dull and slow. I was waiting for curfew. Patiently. Or trying to.

I sat on the edge of my bed and watched the door like it might move on its own. My foot tapped the floor. Once. Twice. Again.

Aspen would come soon.

The curfew bell hadn’t rung yet, but my mind was already outside the compound. With Brian. With my people. With solutions too.

The door opened, and Aspen walked in and closed it behind her.

“Did you tell Rachel?” she asked immediately.

I shook my head. “She knows.”

Her shoulders stiffened. “She knows?”

“Yes,” I said. “But not everything.”

She walked closer and sat beside me. Her hands were cold when they brushed mine.

“You look worried,” I said. “What happened?”

She hesitated, then sighed. “The principal called me.”

“What?” I almost yelled.

“The principal?” I shot up. “What the hell…”

“Ronan,” she said quickly. “Calm down.”

I laughed without humor. “Calm down? Aspen…”

“He thought I was gay,” she cut in.

“What?”

“A guard saw us,” she said. “That night. When you cuddled me in the prison.”

I stared at her with confusion and disgust at the thought that the principal now thought I was gay. “Shit,” I muttered under my breath.

She laughed suddenly, a small laugh. “I was scared,” she said. “I thought I was finished. Until he said that.”

I shook my head slowly. “This place is mad.”

She nodded. “You should’ve seen my face.”

I smiled a little despite myself. “Do you…” We were still talking when the door banged open really hard, and she stood there.

I stood up immediately. “What are you doing here?”

She walked in like she owned the room. Well, she did anyway. “You’re not leaving me behind.”

Aspen blinked. “Rachel…”

“We’re in this together,” Rachel continued. “You don’t just sneak out and leave me here.”

I clenched my jaw tightly. “I need to meet my people.”

“And I need to come,” she snapped back.

I hesitated, and Aspen looked between us. “Rachel,” she said softly. “Maybe it’s better if you stay…”

“Don’t tell me what’s better for me,” Rachel snapped, turning to her.

I stiffened. “Don’t talk to her like that.”

Rachel’s eyes widened. “Excuse me?”

“She didn’t say anything wrong,” I said. “So stop.”

She laughed, sharp and bitter. “Wow. You’re defending her now?”

“Yes,” I said. “I am.”

“I’m your girlfriend, Ronan!” Rachel yelled. “Or have you forgotten?”

Aspen stepped back. “Rachel, please…”

“Shut up,” Rachel barked.

“That’s enough,” I said firmly. “You won’t snap at her like that.”

Rachel stared at me like she didn’t recognize me. Her chest rose and fell fast.

“So that’s it,” she said. “You choose her.”

“I’m choosing respect,” I replied.

She shook her head, laughing again. “You’re unbelievable.”

She turned and walked out, slamming the door behind her, and silence fell heavy.

Aspen exhaled slowly. “I didn’t want that.”

“I know,” I said.

After the silence stretched for a while, Aspen looked at me. “She’s not planning to do something crazy… right?”

I glanced at her and gave a small, knowing smile. “Depends on what you call crazy.”

She sighed and shook her head. “That wasn’t reassuring.”

“It’ll be fine,” I said, even though my chest was already tight.

The bell rang for curfew, and the hallway went dead quiet. There were no footsteps anymore, and there were no voices outside either. We changed into black clothes, simple and dark. We walked into the hallway slowly.

The door guard was slumped on his chair, head tilted, mouth slightly open.

I lifted a finger to my lips, and Aspen nodded gently.

We moved closer to the guard, gentle and careful. I crouched beside him and reached for his pocket until my fingers brushed metal.

The guard shifted in his seat a bit, and I almost froze, my heart slamming hard.

I waited for a while before making any move.

When I realized there was nothing, I slid the key out carefully and stood up.

We walked toward the gate. Each step felt louder than it was. The lock creaked when I turned the key.

We dropped to the floor immediately. The guard stirred and opened one eye.

I tried not to breathe as he shifted again, scratched his neck, then slumped back.

I exhaled slowly in relief. I opened the gate fully, and we slipped through, pulling it shut gently behind us.

The air outside felt different. Cold and free at the same time.

I turned and saw Rachel standing behind us. Aspen flinched almost immediately.

I sighed deeply and rubbed my face.

Of course.

Rachel rolled her eyes like she had been waiting for this moment.

“I knew she would come,” I muttered under my breath.

“Follow me,” I said without looking back to see if Rachel followed. I knew she would.

We moved through the trees quietly, branches snapping softly under our feet. The moon hid behind the clouds like it didn’t want to be involved, and somehow I didn’t want to be either, but here I was.

“I’m sorry for how I reacted earlier,” Rachel said suddenly.

I stopped walking. Aspen stopped too.

I turned slowly in shock. “What?”

She rubbed her arms like she was cold. “I overreacted. I shouldn’t have snapped like that.”

That caught me off guard. I didn’t expect it. Not from Rachel.

Aspen blinked and stammered, “It’s… it’s fine.”

Rachel nodded once, like that settled it. Silence followed as we walked again. That was shocking.

“So,” Rachel said after a while. “Where are we meeting Brian?”

I opened my mouth to answer, but I didn’t get the chance.

More than three men stepped out of the shadows, all dressed in black.

Swords gleamed faintly in their hands, catching what little moonlight there was. They moved fast and quiet, surrounding us before I could react.

I cursed under my breath and stepped forward instinctively. I heard Aspen’s breath hitch behind me, and I felt Rachel freeze instantly.

“Don’t move,” one of them said, his voice low. Calm. Like he had done this before.

My fists clenched tightly. This wasn’t Brian, and these weren’t my people.

Shit.