Chapter 37
Chapter 37 (Eleanor’s POV)
I barely slept after the dream.
Even when my eyes closed, my mind wouldn’t stop spinning.
Images of Alex.
The sound of alarms.
Claire’s fake smile.
Mr. Reed’s cold threat hanging over my head.
It all tangled into a heavy knot in my chest.
By morning, I felt like I had aged years overnight.
---
I dragged myself through breakfast with Chris and Mom, barely tasting the food.
Chris noticed, of course.
"You look like a zombie," he muttered, shoveling eggs into his mouth.
Mom gave me a worried look but didn’t push.
Thank God.
I didn’t have the energy for another lie today.
---
School was a blur.
The halls crowded.
The teachers droning on.
My hands shook so badly during math class that I could barely hold my pen.
Lena caught my eye across the room.
She frowned, mouthing, "You okay?"
I nodded quickly, looking away.
---
At lunch, I sat at our usual table, picking at a sandwich I didn’t even want.
Lena dropped into the seat across from me, slamming her tray down harder than necessary.
"Okay," she said, crossing her arms.
"Talk."
I blinked at her.
"What?"
"You've been weird for days, Nell," she said, voice low but sharp.
"First, you disappear. Then you zone out every five minutes. Now you're practically vibrating out of your skin."
I opened my mouth to deny it.
Closed it again.
What could I say?
That I was being watched?
That the government might be after me?
That I was chasing a love story even I barely remembered?
---
"I’m just... stressed," I mumbled finally.
Lena narrowed her eyes.
"Bullshit."
I smiled weakly.
"Language, Miss Morris."
She leaned across the table.
"I’m serious, Nell. You can tell me anything. You know that, right?"
I looked down at my hands.
Hands that had stolen files.
Broken into places.
Held secrets too dangerous to share.
If I told Lena, I could drag her into this mess.
If I didn’t... I might lose the only real friend I had left.
---
"I’ll tell you soon," I said softly.
"I just... need a little time."
Lena’s face softened.
She reached across the table and squeezed my hand.
"I’m not going anywhere," she said.
A lump formed in my throat.
I squeezed her hand back.
---
The rest of the school day dragged on.
By the final bell, I was ready to collapse.
I stepped outside into the cold air, breathing deeply.
Trying to clear my head.
Trying to figure out my next move.
That’s when I spotted Rick leaning against his car across the street.
---
He raised a hand when he saw me, flashing a small smile.
I hesitated.
Then crossed over to him.
---
"Hey," he said, pushing off the car.
"You okay? You look like you fought a tornado and lost."
I snorted despite myself.
"Feels like it."
He leaned against the car again, studying me.
"You wanna talk?"
I hesitated.
Again.
But something in his easy posture, the way he didn’t push, made me trust him.
At least a little.
---
"Not here," I said.
"Too many ears."
He nodded like he understood immediately.
"Hop in."
---
I slid into the passenger seat.
Rick started the engine and pulled away from the school, driving toward the edge of town where the houses thinned out and the fields stretched wide.
We found a quiet spot near an old park and parked under a cluster of trees.
The engine hummed softly.
Neither of us spoke for a minute.
Finally, Rick turned to me.
"Okay, Nell. Spill."
---
I stared at the dashboard, heart hammering.
How much could I tell him?
How much could I risk?
---
"You remember the hospital stuff?" I said slowly.
Rick nodded.
"You mean when you were sick? Yeah."
I shook my head.
"Before that. The files. The storage rooms."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You went back there?"
I nodded.
"And found stuff I shouldn’t have."
---
Rick whistled low.
"You’re crazy, you know that?"
I smiled faintly.
"Yeah."
He tapped his fingers against the steering wheel.
"Is it bad?"
I swallowed hard.
"Worse than I thought."
He looked at me seriously.
"You’re in danger?"
I nodded again.
His jaw clenched.
"How bad?"
---
I hesitated.
"They’re watching me," I said finally.
"Who?"
"People connected to the hospital. Maybe bigger than that."
Rick cursed under his breath.
He stared out the windshield for a long moment.
Then he turned back to me.
"What do you need?"
I blinked at him.
"What?"
"I’m in," he said simply.
"Whatever you need, Nell. I’m in."
My throat closed up.
Tears burned the back of my eyes.
I looked away quickly, wiping my sleeve across my face.
---
"Thanks," I whispered.
Rick shrugged like it was no big deal.
But it was.
It was everything.
---
"Just tell me one thing," he said, voice softer now.
"Is this about... you know... love?"
I looked at him sharply.
He smiled a little.
"I’m not stupid, Nell. You talk in your sleep."
My face flushed.
He chuckled.
"Don’t worry. You didn’t say much. Just... a name."
He glanced at me.
"Alex."
---
The sound of his name was like a physical ache in my chest.
I nodded slowly.
"Yeah," I whispered.
"It’s about him."
Rick’s smile faded.
He looked out the windshield again.
"Must be some kind of love," he said quietly.
---
We sat there for a long time, the afternoon light fading into soft gold.
Finally, Rick started the engine again.
"Come on," he said.
"I’ll drop you home. You need rest."
---
The drive back was quiet but comfortable.
When we reached my house, he pulled up at the curb.
I unbuckled my seatbelt but hesitated.
"Rick?"
He looked at me.
"Be careful," I said.
His smile was sad but steady.
"You too, Nell."
---
I watched him drive away before heading inside.
The house was dark.
Mom was probably still at work.
Chris maybe at a friend's.
For once, I was grateful.
I needed a little time alone.
---
I locked the door, kicked off my shoes, and collapsed onto the couch.
The dream of Alex floated back to me.
His arms.
His warmth.
His promise.
"You're not alone."
---
I clutched a pillow against my chest, closing my eyes tightly.
I wasn’t alone.
Not really.
I had Lena.
I had Rick.
And somewhere out there, I had Alex.
Waiting for me.
---
My phone buzzed.
A message from Lena.
"Hey. Call me later? Miss you."
I smiled softly.
Typed back:
"Promise. Love you."
---
I lay there on the couch, staring up at the ceiling.
For the first time in a long time, the fear didn’t feel so heavy.
The loneliness didn’t feel so sharp.
I wasn’t stupid.
I knew the danger was still there.
Lurking.
Growing.
But now?
Now I had something stronger than fear.
Hope.
---
Somewhere, Alex was breathing the same air.
Somewhere, he was missing me too.
And with every step I took, every secret I uncovered, I was getting closer.
Closer to the truth.
Closer to him.
Closer to the love that no memory wipe could ever destroy.
---
And I wasn’t giving up.
Not now.
Not ever.