Since they had decided to leave, Evangeline and Finn spent the entire day scouting for a path and assessing the uncertain surroundings, in addition to their usual survival tasks. By nightfall, they were exhausted.


    Finn, still recovering from his illness, couldn''t fight off his fatigue and fell into a deep sleep.


    Neither of them noticed Soren approaching.


    Dragging his heavy body, Soren sat down on the other side of Evangeline, his mind initially filled with certain intentions. She was his ex-wife, but they had a history. In the past, he had never needed her consent for intimacy.


    He reached out, intending to gently cup her face.


    But perhaps sensing something in her sleep, Evangeline turned her head slightly, moving it toward Finn. They had been sleeping close together, their heads resting against the wall. With that small movement, Evangeline''s head came to rest on Finn''s shoulder.


    As if sensing her presence, Finn''s head also tilted slightly toward hers.


    They looked as if they were nestled together.


    It was a simple, unconscious gesture, and neither of them likely woke up. But for Soren, it was like being pped across the face. He froze, stunned.


    He wanted to be angry, to erupt, but his throat felt constricted, and he couldn''t say a word.


    He noticed the small cuts and scrapes on Evangeline''s face and neck. During dinner, she hade close to him many times, but he hadn''t seen them. Now he did.


    And it was only then, with a sickening dy, that he realized he had almost gotten her killed.


    The fact that Evangeline was alive and well didn''t erase what had happened. Not long ago, she had been kidnapped because of him, then nearly plunged off a cliff to her death because of him.


    She probably hated him now.


    The impulse from moments before was extinguished, reced by a wave of guilt.


    Soren pressed his lips together, his eyes dropping to the gently dancing mes. He stood up, nced back at Evangeline onest time. She was shivering, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as she curled into a ball.


    After a moment''s thought, Soren took off his jacket, draped it over her, and returned to his spot.


    The night felt exceptionally long. He used to feel there was never enough time, but this was one of the few instances he could remember where time dragged on so painfully.


    He thought he had grown ustomed to the pain in his broken leg, but for some reason, it began to throb intensely again.


    Whenever he was unwell, Evangeline


    had always been the first to worry, sometimes staying up all night,


    fussing over him, asking if he was


    thirsty or hung


    trying to distract


    him with conversation.


    Evangeline was still here, right beside him, but...


    Soren looked across at the two figures nestled together, and the pain felt like it was choking him. His nose stung.


    It hurts, Evangeline, he thought silently.


    But he knew she couldn''t hear him. And even if she could, she would probably pretend she hadn''t.


    She only had eyes for Finn now. There was no room for him.


    His mind a chaotic mess, Soren didn''t know how he finally fell asleep. When he woke again, he saw his jacket was back on his own shoulders. The fire had died out sometime during the night, leaving only gray embers.


    From the entrance of the cave, he heard the voices of Evangeline and Finn. They were chatting andughing about something, sounding happy.


    Soren scoffed inwardly, but he couldn''t help but feel a flicker of curiosity. What was she so happy about? What could Finn possibly have said to make herugh like that?


    As he thought this, he pushed himself up and hobbled a few steps toward the cave mouth.


    Before he could hear anything, Evangeline and Finn walked in.


    Soren quickly scrambled back to his spot, identally jarring his leg. His face paled from the pain, but he quickly masked it, trying to appear nonchnt.


    Evangeline came in, and it was unclear if she noticed anything amiss. She greeted him naturally.


    "You''re awake."


    "We''re nning to keep moving today, to find a way out. It seems unlikely that rescue wille, and even if they get down here into the


    forest, they might not find us


    quickly."


    "There''s only one path forward, so if we keep going, we might be able to walk out of


    here."


    Soren watched her lips move, not fully registering her words.