Page 64 of Fade With Me

His brow pulled tight. “You mentioned Reggie was angry. Did he say anything? What happened exactly?” The gears in his mind were turning as he tried to piece it together.

I took a steadying breath, the memory so vivid I could see it. “I was back at the farmhouse, alone…but there was this whispering so loud I couldn’t make sense of it. And then, out of nowhere, Reggie appeared. Just standing there, staring at me, saying nothing. It was…terrifying.”

A flicker of realization crossed his face, his lips tightening into a thin line. “It’s the ring,” he said flatly, but with undeniable certainty.

I glanced at the Ruby, a cold knot forming in my stomach. “What? How?”

His features hardened. “The Siphon has now sensed the Ruby’s been cloaked,” he said, voice grave. “It’s searching for you—in your mind. Like I said, it works like a tracking system. The rings are drawn to each other. And it won’t stop until it finds you.”

A wave of anxiety tried to wash over me, but I fought it back, focusing on the facts. There would be side effects to running, but I could handle it. My pulse quickened, an electric energy humming under my skin.

How much of my mind could the ring control? Could it break me before it found me?

No. I refused to let it.

I swallowed the tightness in my throat, grounding myself. This wasn’t going to stop me. I had to push forward—and I would.

“So, what’s the plan now?” I asked, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “Did you get the IDs?”

Zeke grabbed his backpack and pulled out an envelope, laying its contents on the table. I picked up the two ID cards and studied them, raising an eyebrow.

“Really. Billy and Sue?” I teased, stifling a laugh. “That’s the best you could come up with?”

He grinned unapologetically. “I thought they were nice and subtle,” he said, shrugging. “We’re not exactly aiming for glamor here. Just need something to get us through.”

With a quiet chuckle, he slid the IDs back into the envelope and tucked it into his backpack. His expression shifted, and he pulled out a folder filled with travel documents.

“I’ve got plane tickets for the day after tomorrow,” he said, meeting my eyes. “We’re heading to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The flight’s about twenty hours, with threestops along the way.” He paused, gauging my reaction. “Once we arrive, we’ll have two months to settle in before we need to move again. That should give us enough time to figure out our next step.”

A wave of guilt hit me hard as I looked at him. A life on the run, never able to put down roots, always in hiding. Zeke didn’t deserve this. He was a good person, kind and selfless, and yet here he was, stuck with me, caught in the mess I was drowning in. Worse, he had powers he couldn’t even use in this world, at least not openly.

It wasn’t just unfair. It was cruel.

We spent the rest of the day fine-tuning the plan. We covered every detail, running through the logistics again and again. By the time evening rolled around, the realization hit me: in less than forty-eight hours, we’d be on the other side of the world, leaving everything behind. The thought was both electrifying and unnerving, a mix of excitement and fear that left me feeling restless and on edge.

“So, we’ll need to leave early on Friday, probably get to the airport around 5:00 AM,” Zeke said, his eyes scanning the room as he spoke. “I picked up a few outfits and some essentials for you, but we can always get more once we’re there.”

With a subtle twist of his wrist, several bags appeared, stuffed with clothes, shoes, and other supplies. I let out a quiet gasp, then smiled, surprised and grateful. “Wow. Thank you.”

Despite my gratitude, a nagging doubt lingered. Zeke must have sensed it because he flashed me a reassuring smile. “It’s going to be fine, Bryn. Reggie won’t expect us to run; it’s just not my style.” His grin widened, confidence gleaming in his eyes. “He’s probably gearing up for a battle, thinking I’ll bring the fight to him.”

Just then, Izzy materialized out of thin air. I yelped in surprise, and he jumped too, spinning around like he expected an attack.

“She’s not used to people randomly appearing, Izzy,” Zeke said, rubbing his temples and sighing.

Izzy straightened, looking sheepish. “Right. Sorry, Bryn.”

I laughed and waved him off. “It’s fine,” I said, pressing a hand to my racing heart to calm the rapid beat.

Izzy took a deep breath and launched into his report like he hadn’t just scared me half to death. “I didn’t learn much, but I can tell you this—Reggie’s pissed. When I showed up, he was throwing a fit, trashing his room, and yelling at Salvador.”

He turned to Zeke, a mischievous gleam in his eye. “Speaking of Salvador, he’s really worked up about the diner. Says you destroyed it.” Izzy’s grin stretched wide. “Good job, brother.”

Zeke mirrored the smile, shrugging smugly. “What can I say? I have my moments.”

He filled Izzy in on the details of our departure, assigning him to keep an eye on Reggie and Sal to make sure neither of them suspected anything.

“I’m heading to bed,” I said, suddenly drained. “I’m exhausted.”

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