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Two months later

I'm growing tired of London.

We've been here for too long in a cramped flat over a consignment store while Edward uses their wifi to research the Faction. There hasn't been any news about the carnage we left behind at the outlet mall on any news channels at home, but there have been some mentions of it on some websites that I would definitely classify as part of the "dark web."

Dirty fucking mutants, someone wrote on some sort of message board.

These monsters better watch their backs. I heard they're hiding out in Europe.

"Don't these nerds have anything better to do?" I ask, reading over his shoulder. "Didn't they ever watch X-Men? The mutantswere the good guys."

"The government didn't agree," Edward counters with a raised eyebrow.

"Still," I huff, making my way to the window. The pouring rain from this morning has turned into a drizzle, and I'm itching to do something, anything.

"I'm going to pick up some lunch," I say. "Anything in particular sound good?"

This makes him pause and turn to me. "Be careful. Come back if anything seems off. I'll eat anything."

"Yes, mom," I tease, rolling my eyes, and bending down to kiss his cheek.

Outside, the air is cold, the wind cutting through my jacket. I'm trying to decide between the falafel stand a block over and the fish and chips shop a few doors down when someone practically bowls me over with a rough shove, my hood falling down and exposing my face to the rain.

I'm turning around to flip them the bird when I see recognition flash in the shover's eyes. He doesn't look familiar to me, with his shaggy dark hair and roughly manicured beard. He's not very tall but he looks strong. He keeps his eyes on me as he backs away, pulling his phone out of his pocket.

I book it down the street, trying to get lost in the crowd while I put my own phone to my ear. Edward answers on the first ring.

"They know we're here." I hear him suck in a breath.

"Don't come back here," he says tightly. "Meet me at the airport. Take a cab. Are you being followed?"

"I can't tell."

"Be safe."

He disconnects the call and I'm already hailing a cab. I tell the middle-aged man in the front street that I need to go to the airport–but I want to take busier streets to get there.

He looks skeptical, but shrugs. "It's your money."

X

I get to the airport before Edward, and dip into the women's restroom until he texts me that he's there. He bought tickets on the way over, rushing us through security with our small carry-on bags. I don't even know where we're going until we get to the gate–he'd picked a flight that was about to depart so that we weren't sitting ducks waiting to board.

He squeezes my hand after we're settled in our seats, both of us breathing hard. We don't let go until we're in the air.

X

Another two months later

We relax when we first get to our new place in Cambodia. Vastly different from foggy, damp London, Kep is a resort town on the coast, where the sun has been shining most of the days we've been here. It's nice, not having to look over our shoulders for a while, and we spend a lot of the time in bed. I could get used to this–nothing but me, Edward, and the sun.

But of course, good things don't always last.

I'm lounging in the sand outside of our little shack on the beach when he bursts through the door, breathing hard and eyes ablaze.

"I think I've found them. I think I've found the Faction."

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okay, probably two parts left of this. Thanks for hangin in there with me this long.