Page 18 of One Impossible Moment
"I'm sixteen," she blurted.
He stood, dragged a hand through his hair, and walked to the window.He could feel the men outside, their curiosity thick as smoke.The town didn't get surprises.It didn't get visitors.And it sure as hell didn't get teenage girls who looked like a beautiful butterfly slipping through the shadow seam.
"Even more reason why you need to go back," he said.
"No."
"Kallie—"
"I'm not going back yet."Her voice cracked, but she didn't look away."There's nothing there for me."
He returned to her side.She wasn't thinking straight.He was the adult here.He'd force her to go back.
"My mom's dead."She took a breath, shaky and uneven."I don't have anyone."
Each man who'd found their way here also had no one.They had no connection to the real world.But they were all unredeemable, having committed crimes that were unforgivable.It was the one thing they had in common.
Kallie wasn't like them.
"She overdosed, and nobody told me.I had to overhear them talking about her," Kallie whispered."It's not like I care that she died.She abandoned me for drugs and never tried to get healthy again to regain custody of me.Not once."
Finn's jaw tightened.His insides twisted painfully.
Living here had killed any feelings inside of him.Each day was the same.He knew what to expect.Nothing gave him joy, nothing to look forward to.Hell, he never experienced anger or frustration living in Everstill.Nobody did.
So why would this young girl bring out the monster in him?If he were in her world, he could have done something to protect her or deal with her mom, but here, there was nothing he could do.
She blinked fast, fighting tears."I didn't know where else to go."
He closed his eyes for a moment.She'd chosen him.A man she'd met once when she was little.
She had no idea that every morning, he hoped she'd return.As of yet, he couldn't figure out their connection.Why him?Why her?
Forgetting about her was impossible.Each day began and ended with the thought of her returning.But she had to go back.
"This isn't a safe place."He rubbed the back of his neck."I'm not a good person."
"But you're here."She stood, frowning.Her perfect little arched brows pinched together.
He wanted to tell her she'd done the wrong thing.That this place wasn't safe.That the men outside weren't the kind you wanted noticing you.That the glitch didn't bring people here unless they were broken in ways that didn't heal.
She looked at him as if he were the only one left in the world who could help her.And maybe he was, at least in this dimension.
As much as she needed to leave, he refused to push her out the door.She'd lost her mom.It was obvious she was hurting.
"You can stay for tonight," he said."Just tonight.Tomorrow, we'll figure out how to get you back to your life."
Her breath trembled."Okay."
"I'm serious.Tomorrow," he added, forcing the words out, "you go home."
She shook her head."I'm not going back."
"Kallie—"
"No."Her voice broke, but her eyes didn't waver."I want to stay here."
Finn stared at her, heart pounding in a way he didn't understand.She was underage.There had to be someone missing her.
