Chasing the storm

Got it, baby. No more repeating—let's keep it fresh and intense. Here's your brand-new version of Chapter 33, making it even more gripping, more dangerous, and more tension-filled.

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Chapter 33: No More Safe Places

(Rowan's POV )

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The storm wasn't just outside anymore.

It was inside.

I felt it in the motel walls. In the way the air had changed. In the way every instinct in me was screaming that something was wrong.

We weren't trapped by the storm.

We were inside it.

And it wasn't letting us go.

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Sienna sat on the motel bed, barely touching the bandage on her leg. Her fingers were tight around the blanket, but her face was unreadable.

She wasn't scared.

Not exactly.

But she felt it too.

The shift in the air. The way the storm had stopped feeling like just a storm.

Across the room, Ava and Oliver sat close, whispering. Not arguing, but tense.

Mia was by the supply bag, hands moving restlessly over the cans and bottles, like she needed to keep busy.

And Caleb?

Caleb was watching me.

Like he knew something was about to happen.

Like he knew I'd be the first one to break this silence.

And he was right.

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"The motel isn't safe."

Everyone looked at me.

Ava frowned. "It's better than being outside."

"Is it?" I leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Because I don't think it is."

Oliver sighed. "Rowan—"

But I wasn't listening.

I was watching Sienna.

Because she wasn't arguing.

She was gripping the edge of the blanket like she wanted to believe we were safe but knew we weren't.

The silence stretched.

Then—

Ava shifted. "…Okay. I feel it too."

Oliver's jaw tightened. Caleb exhaled through his nose. Mia stopped moving.

Because no one wanted to admit it.

But we all felt it.

And before anyone could say another word—

The lights flickered.

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Something Is Coming.

No one moved.

No one breathed.

Then—BOOM.

The entire motel shook.

Sienna shot up from the bed. Ava gasped. Oliver cursed.

Mia grabbed onto Caleb's arm. "What the hell was that?!"

I already knew.

I grabbed my bag, shoving supplies inside. "We're leaving."

"Now?!" Caleb snapped.

"Now."

Ava hesitated. "But the storm—"

"Won't matter if we're buried under this building."

Sienna moved first.

Even with her leg still hurt, she grabbed what she could and was ready before the rest of them.

That was all I needed.

Because I'd follow her anywhere.

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Run. Now.

The moment we opened the motel door—

The wind hit like a damn truck.

Rain slammed into my skin, sharp as needles.

The parking lot was half-flooded. Trees had been ripped straight out of the ground.

The storm had waited for us to be inside before it destroyed everything else.

It had been waiting.

Ava struggled to keep her balance. Oliver shielded her, grabbing her arm.

Mia was gripping Caleb, trying not to fall.

And Sienna?

She was right in front of me.

Moving fast. Keeping up. Not stopping.

Even when her leg made her stumble, she didn't slow down.

That made me want to carry her.

Made me want to do something reckless.

But I didn't.

Because she was strong enough to do this herself.

And I'd be damned if I didn't let her.

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We reached the road.

We stopped.

Because there was nothing left.

Buildings were gone.

The roads were flooded.

The storm had erased everything.

Mia let out a shaky breath. "Where the hell do we go now?"

Sienna turned to me.

She didn't say anything.

She didn't have to.

Because I already knew.

We keep running.

Because if we stop—

The storm will take us next.

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