The Third Message novel · Chapter 19 of 24

Chapter 19: Rule Five

Miles's POV

Lana had a duffel half packed on her bed when I knocked.

June had gone to sleep in the lighting booth that night.

She had announced it loudly, twice, in the hallway, so that I would hear.

"I'm flying out tomorrow," Lana said without turning around. "Alone."

"I know."

"Bree said nine-forty on March fourteenth. She said it like a schedule."

"I heard."

"I can't explain how I know she means it."

"I'm not asking you to."

She turned then. Her hair was down, and her gray eyes were red at the rims.

I had watched her dance through a fall and a stranger's lie.

I had never seen her this scared.

"Rule two," she said. "No rescuing. If somebody hurts me, you let me handle it."

"This isn't rescuing."

"What is it?"

"I'm coming to Ohio."

"No."

"I'm not going to fix anything or carry anyone."

I kept my hands in my pockets.

"I'm going to stand at the back of whatever room you're in. Tell me to leave, and I'll sit on the stairs outside until your plane lands."

"Why?"

"Because I'm staying," I said. "Whatever you say. That's the whole thing."

She stared at me.

It was the first time I had seen her at a loss for a rule.

"You're breaking it in earnest," she said, and her voice shook.

"Yes."

"I could write a new rule."

"Write it."

"Rule five." Her hand came out and closed on the front of my henley. "You don't get to leave."

"Agreed."

She pulled me through the door by the collar, and I kicked it shut behind me.

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