Evolution (21 page)

Aiden picked up my hand and laced his fingers with mine. “We will be okay. You’ll see.” He was trying to ease my mind.

All I could think about was what our future held. Where would we live? Who would want to kill my mother? Was her murderer really after me? And would we be running from this person forever?

“I don’t know,” he replied to my thoughts. “We’ll speak with Anna, Dave, and a few of the others once we’re safe, and we’ll figure this out.”

The vision of my mum’s lifeless body flashed before my eyes. Tears started welling as I realised that she would still be alive if it wasn’t for me.

“I can make this feeling go away. If you want, that is,” Aiden said.

“It’s okay. I mean, I’m still sad and all, but what you did to me before was amazing. I still feel the pain, but it’s nowhere near as intense. I can handle this. I want to feel something. I
need
to feel something.”

We were all instructed to fasten our safety belts as the plane headed towards the runway.

My heart felt heavy as realisation set in. These were the last few moments of my life as I had known it for so many years. All of my friends… Chelsea—how I would miss her. I didn’t even get to say goodbye. I hoped that one day she would forgive me.

Aiden took hold of my hand and kissed it gently. “Are you ready?”

The plane hit the runway, speeding up to ascend into the clouds above.

“Yep,” I whispered. Looking into his eyes, I knew that I would never be alone. Our lives were only just beginning. And whatever the future held, we would get through it together.