The bathroom filled with steam as the hot water cascaded down her skin, tracing the tension from her shoulders to her fingertips. The heat stung at first, but then it melted into something close to comfort — a reminder that she was still here, still breathing, even if the world had shifted overnight.
She tilted her head back, closing her eyes as water slid through her hair. Images kept replaying — headlights, fear, running, the silence in the car, and now this strange hotel called Blue. She wanted to let her mind drift, to just stop thinking, but her thoughts refused to stay quiet.
When the warmth began to fade, she turned the tap off, wrapped herself in the towel, and wiped the mirror clear. A tired face stared back at her — red-eyed, pale, and far from the version of herself that existed just hours ago.
Dressed in the spare clothes she'd packed, she stepped out of the bathroom, towel still in hand as she rubbed at her damp hair. The room was dim, soft lamplight spilling across the carpet.
He was there — sitting in the armchair, head tilted slightly back, eyes closed. For a moment, he looked almost peaceful, the weight he carried finally slipping from his shoulders.
She hesitated. He's supposed to be protecting me and he's already asleep? she thought
Her gaze fell on the gun resting beside him. Something about it drew her — maybe curiosity, maybe the faint urge to feel in control again. She stepped closer, quiet as possible, until she could almost touch it.
"What are you doing?"
His voice cut through the silence, low and calm — eyes still closed.
Her breath hitched. "I—nothing.... thought you slept off" she murmured, pulling her hand back.
He opened his eyes, hard gaze meeting hers. There was no anger there, just the kind of awareness that made her feel like he'd never really been asleep.
She turned away first, the towel still in her hands.
Crouched down to pet Milo for a bit, while he purred, he had always been a quiet, calm cat
Never bothering her too much, that was why she liked him, or most cats in general, it's a trait cats mostly possessed, that eerie way they most times blended in the shadows, you most times don't notice their presence unless they wanted you to, with the kind of person she was, it's no wonder she went for a cat instead she thought
She stood up and without another word, crossed to the bed, slipped beneath the covers, and lay facing the wall.
The room was still.
The air conditioning hummed, a low, constant breath that filled the silence. Greece lay in the bed, one arm folded beneath her head, watching the ceiling through half-lidded eyes.
Rhett hadn't moved since she last looked. He sat in the armchair near the window, the dim light from the street cutting a sharp line across his jaw. His gun rested on the table beside him, close enough to reach without thought.
She wondered if he ever slept. Or if men like him even could.
"Do you ever stop watching?" she asked quietly.
He didn't answer right away. His gaze flicked from the window to her.
"Only when it's safe."
"Is it ever safe?"
"Not for people like me" he seemed to pause for a second then added "or you" he said.
There was no softness in his tone, just flat hardened honesty. It was strange how that stung more than cruelty would have.
She turned her head away, staring at the wall.
"I didn't ask for any of this," she murmured.
"No one does."
For a moment, neither spoke. The ticking of the hotel clock filled the gap between their words.
She closed her eyes, exhaustion finally dragging her under. Rhett stayed still, the faint glow of the streetlight catching the edge of his features. He glanced at her once — just once — before turning back to the window.
Different thoughts chased each other through her mind — fear, confusion, and the faint, aching question of what tomorrow would bring.
Eventually, exhaustion won. And the room fell quiet again, save for the steady rhythm of their breathing.
Last thought on her mind was that maybe she'd wake up right back in her apartment, ready to go to work at Benpath Cafe, with all of these just being a very scary nightmare