Chapter 5
Lucilla
On paper, the mission was simple.
At least, that’s what she’d gathered from Alex and his friends who left the hospital on a regular basis.
Still, if they were lucky enough to locate a vehicle large enough for their team, that was still running on gasoline instead of plasma, they might reach Arizona in under a week. That is, if they weren’t torn apart or gunned down by whatever roamed the ruins outside.
Luci only had Alex’s stories and whispered rumors of what lay beyond the quarantine to shape her picture of the outside world.
By all accounts, the city had collapsed with terrifying speed.
She’d glimpsed the chaos only once when she’d watched the man who’d been viciously attacked during the initial breach from her apartment window.
But since then, the fortified steel walls had kept her safe, locked in a quarantine that blocked both the infected and the truth from her view.
Maybe that was for the best because it was easier to lie to herself about what waited beyond those walls when she’d never seen it firsthand.
And if Alex had managed to encounter survivors out there on occasion — ones he desperately wanted to help but couldn’t due to Prometheus’s rules — surely she could manage for a few days. Besides, most people on the outside didn’t have an armed escort of trained killers at their side and she would.
In the end, none of the danger mattered because the moment they had dangled the possibility of finding Noah, her decision had been made. Even if it meant walking into hell, she would go whether Alex liked it or not.
“I suppose that concludes the meeting,” Doc said from his seat across the table.
Chairs scraped against the floor as everyone rose. Luci’s eyes followed Alex, but he didn’t so much as glance her way before he slipped out the door. She wanted to chase after him, to close the gap between them before it widened any further but before she could move, Doc’s voice stopped her.
“Lucilla,” he said, pulling her aside. “Do you remember the first piece of advice I gave you when we met?”
Luci heard his question but her mind was only half way present. Alex was upset, she knew that much and the last thing she wanted was for them to leave on this mission at odds. Still, she forced herself to pause, to try and remember.
She nodded. “Yes,” she said, faintly recalling Doc telling her to always protect her work and ensure it remained hers and hers alone. Everyone at the Institute had a competitive spark, and sometimes that was all it took for her peers to try and claim her success as their own.
“Good,” Doc said before his voice dropped to a whisper. “And have you done that with this project?”
She nodded again, firmer this time. “Of course.”
In truth, over the years, she had gone beyond caution.
Luci had learned to embed cryptic instructions and patterns only she could decipher within her formulas.
They were woven so deeply into her work that even the smallest fragment of her research would be useless without her.
No one could steal her accomplishments, no matter how desperate they were.
Doc nodded softly, about to say something else, but Luci interrupted before he could. “Sorry — whatever it is, it’ll have to wait. I need to find Alex.”
He studied Luci for a moment and then pulled her in closer, catching Luci off guard. “Then just listen to me carefully,” he said quietly. “Be careful of how much you let them see. The Institute doesn’t care if it’s love or friendship. If they can use it, they will.”
Luci hesitated, caught between brushing him off and asking what exactly he meant, but the weight in his tone told her she didn’t want the details, not now, not right before she left.
“Okay… I’ll remember that,” she replied, locking eyes with Doc for one last moment before breaking away. Without hesitation, she slipped out the door quickly and headed for the stairwell, descending to the basement level where Alex’s quarters were.
By the time she pushed through the heavy stairwell door, her chest was tight and her breaths came in ragged bursts. She didn’t even know if he would be there but that didn’t stop her from sprinting down the dim corridor until she reached his door.
Instead of knocking, she pounded her fists against the steel door.
The sharp thuds rang through the hall and the heads of other members of Prometheus’s security detail poked out from their rooms, but she didn’t stop until Luna’s bark erupted from inside, followed by the shuffle of hurried footsteps.
“Alex, please let me in,” Luci begged, her voice breaking as she stepped back from the door.
Every second that followed seemed to stretch until the latch finally clicked and the door opened. Alex glowered at her before ushering her inside without a word. Luci watched as he hesitated to slam the door shut and instead, closed it carefully before locking it.
“Are you crazy, Luci?” he snapped, already turning back to shove items into his bag that was laying open on the floor. “You know how much trouble we’ll be in if you’re caught down here.”
She knew she should be packing her own bag, but right now fixing whatever had broken between them felt more urgent. Just an hour ago, he’d been ready to cook her dinner. Now, she wasn’t sure if those feelings had already slipped away.
“C’mon Alex, you and I both know that’s not why you’re mad at me,” Luci said, stepping forward and kneeling so she could catch his gaze.
It worked. He leaned back and his eyes met hers before he dragged a hand through his hair. The look on his face gutted her. It was like he’d already accepted her death as inevitable. It was the expression of someone who had already begun to mourn.
She could have taken offense at that, but she didn’t. Yes, she was a risk and a liability, and she had no doubt she would slow them down. But if there was even a sliver of a chance that she could find Noah, then she had to take it. Surely Alex could understand that.
“I…I don’t want to lose you out there,” Alex admitted, his voice trembling.
Over the years, Luci had noticed little things about Alex.
The way his gaze always seemed to find hers in a crowd or how his tone softened when it was just the two of them.
Back then, she told herself he was just being kind or maybe even playing some long game to gain her trust, but now she knew him better.
He wasn’t capable of hurting her. Whatever force had pulled them together was so much deeper than friendship.
Born from devastation, their bond had become something else entirely.
“I’m not going to die out there,” Luci whispered. “We might have to reschedule our date, but I still plan on having it as soon as we get to Arizona.” Her smile curved just enough to ease the tension between them.
Alex shook his head, but to her relief, the corner of his mouth lifted upward.
He tossed the spare T-shirt in his hands toward her and Luna took that as her cue to join in, springing between them and trying to decide who to tackle first. Her indecision made them both laugh until she finally lunged at Luci, knocking her backwards.
Luci stumbled, laughing harder than before until she landed flat on the floor in the narrow space between Alex’s bed and Grayson’s.
Alex laughed too, but then he was suddenly there, pushing Luna aside.
Hovering over her, his eyes shifted from being filled with grief to something like genuine care, admiration even.
He didn’t speak at first, just studied her as if trying to memorize the details of her features.
Then he lifted his hand and let his knuckles brush lightly along her jaw.
He was attractive in the traditional sense of the word.
His skin carried a warm glow that contrasted sharply with the dark stubble she’d felt graze her jaw the night before.
She remembered the softness of his lips.
But he’d pulled away so quickly. She couldn’t be sure if she’d imagined it or not.
And then there was his hair, dark brown with hints of red where the light caught it.
He parted it down the middle, though one curl always seemed determined to fall over his forehead.
Yes, he was handsome. But in moments like this, when the world around them faded and it was just the two of them, he was beautiful in a way that made her heart trip over itself.
“You have to promise me you’ll do whatever I say out there,” Alex whispered, his voice dropping low as he let his weight press into her just enough for her to feel it. “No debates. If I say run, you run. If I tell you to shoot, you shoot. Can you promise me that?”
Luci barely managed to nod, her breath catching in her throat.
“Words, Luci. I need you to use your words,” he added.
In all her years, Luci had never felt this flustered.
He hadn’t even touched her in the way she wanted.
He’d just closed the distance between them until the air had been pulled straight from her lungs and goosebumps prickled down her skin.
Her thoughts scattered and she found herself wondering what it would be like to hear him speak to her in that same commanding tone with a little less clothing.
God, she hoped someday she’d find out.
“I promise,” Luci whispered, letting her hand rise until her thumb brushed the curve of his cheek. “Have a little faith in me, Alex. Aren’t you the one who’s always saying I’m some sort of genius?”
Alex chuckled, letting the dimple on his left cheek appear in full as his lips curved upwards. “Yeah…I guess you’re right.” He eased away from her, stretching out at her side. Together, they laid on their backs, staring at the ceiling.
Luna trotted over and plopped herself between their legs. There wasn’t nearly enough space for three, forcing Luci and Alex both to shift to their sides so Luna wouldn’t feel left out.
“Is Luna going to be part of the team?” Luci asked after a moment. She hated the thought of putting the dog in danger, but Luna had been venturing outside since she was a pup. In reality, Luna had more experience surviving the Hollowed than Luci.
“Yeah, definitely,” Alex said, reaching between them to scratch behind Luna’s ears. “Along with Grayson, Paxton, Sable…and Myra.”
Luci’s attention snagged on that last name. Grayson was kind enough — he and Alex were practically brothers. Paxton and Sable she didn’t know well, aside from the fact they were part of the crew Alex preferred to go on runs with.
And then…there was Myra.
“Myra? That’s…kind of an odd choice, isn’t it?” Luci asked, aiming to seem nonchalant.
When she and Alex had first started getting close, he’d casually admitted that he and Myra had history. Nothing serious, according to him, but that hadn’t stopped Myra from shooting daggers with her eyes at Luci every time they found themselves in the same room.
Did it make Luci jealous? Absolutely. She was human, after all. Realistically, she knew Alex had chosen Myra for her skills, not her company but knowing that didn’t make the thought of being out there with her any more comforting.
“C’mon Luci, she’s the best shot we have at making it to Arizona.
” Alex’s gaze lingered on her for a moment too long, as if he’d caught the simmer of jealousy in Luci’s eyes.
“You don’t have to worry, she’ll behave.
But we don’t have a lot of time. They want us gone by morning, so I need you to pack a bag.
Keep it light, a few pieces of clothing, anything shelf-stable from your cupboard.
Just the basics. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Yeah…of course. I’ll go do that now.” Luci pushed herself up to her knees, then to her feet, brushing off her palms as if the motion could steady her thoughts. She waited for Alex to stand before leaning down to give Luna one last affectionate scratch along her back.
She only made it two steps forward before Alex’s hand caught her wrist. The tug was gentle but it halted her mid stride. She looked back, confused, only for him to close the distance between them in two quiet steps.
His other hand came up to cradle her jaw. It was rough from calluses yet gentle in its hold. For a heartbeat, neither of them spoke, everything they hadn’t said filling the silence. Then Alex bent forward, pressing his lips to hers.
This time, he wasn’t rushed or desperate. It was the kind of kiss that told her everything she needed to know about his fears, his hopes, and the promise that he’d fight to see her survive. When he finally drew back, his forehead gently rested against hers.
“We’re going to be fine,” he whispered, almost in a question.
Her chest tightened, but she nodded. “I know we will.”
And with that, she stepped away because if she stayed a moment longer, she wasn’t sure she’d have the strength to go at all.