A chaotic world raced past her in a kaleidoscope of red and black at speeds rivaling sanity, turning the frigid breeze into whips of icy agony against the slits of exposed flesh beneath her leather jacket. 242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVEeldW88X
She hardly felt any of it.
The highway blared with alarmed drivers' honks and curses, but she continued racing down Main Street until Red Haven Avenue came into view. Cutting off the driver in the next lane, she turned a sharp left. The biked wailed as she dropped it into the lower gear as the bike sputtered.
When she righted the bike wobbled but she stabilized it just as the hospital came into view.
Dread gripped her heart like a vice.
The single light in the parking lot illuminated a hooded figure standing alongside a red sports car. She peeled down the pavement and came to an abrupt stop by the car.
Chest heaving, she ripped off her helmet and clutched at it for dear life as the man turned and faced her. Ashen, his expression paralleled grief and anger.
"No," she breathed.
His nostrils flared, sending a grey cloud into the air as he winced. With a tug, he let his hood fall. Bennett appeared years older than he had just hours ago. Black tendrils stuck to the square outline of his jaw that was covered by stubble and his eyes were sunken into dark pits of exhaustion.
"I'm sorry," Bennett said behind gritted teeth. He balled his hands into fists and before she realized what he intended to do, he punched the side of the car, denting the frame of the door. He muttered something incoherent and shook his hand, but his eyes were trained on the skies hovering overhead with a starless canopy.
"I failed you guys."
Shaking her head, she slid off the bike and neglecting to put the kickstand down. It didn't matter to her if it toppled over and caught fire. The world could burn and she doubted she would feel a thing. But Bennett mattered, if only him.
"You didn't fail-"
"He died because of me!" His shout rent the air and echoed through the parking lot and into the shattered pieces of her heart, stopping her from progressing toward him. The hollow tone of his voice, more chilling than the winter, stirred anxiety within her.
Biting her lip, she kept the tears that so desperately wanted release at bay and took a steadying breath. "He died because he made a choice. That's it."
"It can't be," Bennett whispered, running his uninjured hand through his hair as his shoulders caved. "That can't just be it."
Eliminating the space between them, she placed a tentative hand on his shoulder. "Bennett, it's not your fault."
Instead of embracing her, he shrugged off her touch and retreated a step.
"Don't-"
"I'm not good for you," Bennett said, without looking at her. "If I can't protect my own partner, how can I ever hope to protect you?"
"I can take care of myself."
He shook his head. "You deserve better."
"Listen," she said, nearing desperation. "Go back to your apartment and we can talk after you get some sleep."
"No, Claira," he snapped, pointing a finger in her direction. "I'm done. All of this, whatever it was, was just some ploy to get intel. None of it meant a thing."
"Stop it!" Heart breaking all over again, she couldn't stop the unbidden tears that brimmed her eyes from spilling onto her cheeks. "You're just saying this because you think it's up to you to save the world, but it's not. Trying to save everyone will just drain you. You were never meant to carry such a weight."
Like the tide, grief swept across his face before it pulled out again, leaving behind only a guarded expression. He turned his back to her and reached for the driver's door, but she lurched forward and slammed the door closed again.
"Look at me," she ordered, jutting her chin. "If you're going to say goodbye, at least have the audacity to look me in the eye."
He kept his back to her, raised his head, but didn't move his gaze over his shoulder to meet her eye.
"He was your partner, Bennett, but he was also my brother," she murmured, voice cracking. "He knew the risks. He chose this career. You didn't fail him. You can't just walk away. I love you."
Those words, precious in theory, betrayed a vulnerability she feared would only break her further should he leave. But remaining silent would have been a betrayal to herself. His eyes flashed with surprise, but then his jaw tensed in defiance.
"You honestly believe I could have ever love someone like you?" he muttered. "You were just part of my job. Our relationship was a lie and you're a fool."
She gritted her teeth, ignoring the way her hands shook as more tears stained the collar of her jacket.
"Look me in the eye."
He pushed past her, jerking the car door open, and got into the vehicle.
"Bennett, don't do this!" she yelled at the tinted window as the car reversed.
"Bennett!" But he didn't stop.
Wrapping her arms around her cold frame, she stood in the empty parking space, tears falling as she watched as the car's tail lights faded from view.
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