Page 89 of Requiem
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After a proper shower, I head downstairs, passing Micah and Heather’s room, where they’re still passed out. And when I reach the main floor, I pause at the bottom of the stairs.
Jude is already there, standing beside Rafe near the kitchen island, shoulders angled toward Adela’s laptop. Nico leans toward his laptop nearby, and Kieran is farther back, half-leaning against the kitchen counter, just listening.
“What will happen if these get out?” Adela asks Jude, taking a sip of coffee.
He sighs, crossing his arms. “I’ll never see the outside of a prison again,” he says flatly.
“Oof,” she snorts. “That bad, huh? Noted.”
Rafe notices me first. His eyes flick up, calm as ever. “Morning.”
I exhale a little. “Morning.”
That draws Jude’s attention. The moment his eyes land on me, something subtle shifts in his expression. It’s almost like he’s recalibrating himself around my presence.
“Hey,” he says.
I move closer, stopping beside him, and for a second, I just watch him. He’s holding himself together in real time.
Adela glances up from her screen. “We’re pulling more layers from both systems,” she says. “It’s slower than yesterday, but we’re getting cleaner access.”
Nico nods once. “We’re mapping behavioral triggers now. Not just files. We’re close with Nolan’s.”
Kieran adds, quieter, “Alexei’s web of fucking hell isn’t far behind.”
“What can I say?” Adela shrugs. “We’re killing it.”
“My little doe,” Rafe purrs, bending over to nibble her ear, and she swats him away playfully.
Jude listens to all of it without interrupting, but I can see that he’s still partially existing elsewhere. I glance at his beautiful side profile while he’s lost in thought.
Rafe straightens, arms folding. “We’re going to need supplies. Wanna go into town with me today?”
That pulls Jude back from his thoughts.
“Mainlyfood,” Rafe clarifies, almost casually. “Basic things. We’re running low. Might be good for you to get out a little bit.”
Micah’s voice drifts in from the hallway before he even enters. “Finally. I need more ramen.”
Heather follows him in with a small, tired smile. “Those aren’t good for you.”
He shrugs. “Blondie, I’ve injected drugs into my veins for the past, like, ten years. Ramen is the better option here.”
She rolls her eyes and doesn’t argue.
Jude doesn’t laugh, but I see the corner of his mouth twitch like it wants to. That tiny almost-reaction feels huge, honestly. Another step toward normal.
Rafe looks at Jude directly now. “You coming?”
A beat passes.
Jude glances down at his hands, then back up, like he’s checking in with himself before he answers. “Yeah,” he says. “Sure.”
I reach for my jacket without thinking. “Okay. Then let’s go.”
Rafe glances at Kieran, Nico, and Adela. “If anyone approaches who isn’t us, kill them.”
