Chasing the storm

Chapter 22: Trouble on the Horizon

(Rowan's POV )

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The wind howled outside like a damn beast.

Inside, it was way too quiet.

Sienna was next to me, hammering a board into place, brows furrowed in pure determination. I wasn't sure if she was mad at me or just mad at the situation, but either way, I was entertained.

She was cute when she was pissed.

Not that I'd ever tell her that.

I adjusted the tarp over the window, testing its hold. "So, Sunshine," I drawled, "you always this bad with a hammer, or is this a special occasion?"

She paused mid-swing, exhaling sharply.

"Rowan," she said sweetly. "Shut. Up."

I smirked. "You know, communication is key in a partnership."

She ignored me.

Typical.

Still, I watched her.

She was stubborn, I'd give her that. Most people would've snapped by now—this whole situation? The storm? The shitshow we were in? It was enough to break anyone.

But not her.

She kept going.

And for some stupid reason, I liked that.

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A Moment of Peace… Almost.

We worked in silence for a while, the only sound being the occasional crack of thunder.

For a moment, I almost forgot about the world outside.

Almost.

"You think we'll get out of this?" she asked suddenly.

I turned to her, surprised.

She wasn't looking at me—just staring at the boarded-up window, fingers tightening around the hammer.

I exhaled, rubbing the back of my neck. "You getting all philosophical on me, Sunshine?"

She rolled her eyes. "Forget it."

But I didn't.

I studied her for a second, then sighed. "We'll get out."

"How can you be so sure?"

I smirked. "Because I'm not planning on dying in a damn gas station."

She scoffed. "Great. Real inspirational."

I shrugged. "Hey, you asked."

She was quiet for a moment. Then—

"What do you think you'll do after all this?" she asked, voice softer.

I hesitated.

No one had ever asked me that.

Hell, I hadn't even asked myself.

I wasn't the planning type.

I lived in the moment. Survived. That was it.

But before I could come up with a decent answer—

The radio crackled.

"—Rowan? Sienna? You there?"

Oliver's voice.

Sienna grabbed the radio. "We're here. What's going on?"

Static. Then—

"Storm's shifting. You need to—"

A loud crash outside.

Sienna and I whipped around.

The wind was stronger. The sky darker.

Something was coming.

And I had a bad feeling it wasn't just the storm.

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