Chapter 401: Under The Red Snow

“That isn’t true,” he said. “You do have someone. You have me.”

Allison let out a laugh, worn thin at the edges. It wasn’t mocking. Just tired.

“I didn’t have anyone in my world either,” he went on. “And I still ended up with people who weren’t related to me, who took me in anyway. I can help you find that too. If the Baumanns adopted me, they can adopt you.”

Allison’s expression shifted, caught somewhere between wanting to believe and needing to reject it.

“That’s stupid.”

“No, I mean it. Their house is big, you know? If they could handle taking in one messed-up kid, they can handle another.”

He made a small motion with his hands, sketching an imaginary floor plan in the air.

“We could even share a room. I’ll buy a bunk bed. You pick the top or bottom, I don’t care. I have a little sister. She’s actually pretty sweet. I think she’d love having an older sister.”

“Stop saying stupid things, Luke.”

“Alright, fine. You don’t want the bunk bed? You can have your own room instead.”

He looked around at the shattered hall, the cold stone, the snow drifting down.

“It’s definitely better than tents or dirt floors. And it’s a lot warmer than this.”

Allison didn’t speak. But this silence was different now. This was a silence that listened.

“I know I’m terrible at jokes. Okay? But you get what I’m trying to say.”

Her eyes met his. Honest. Raw. A little painful.

“You’re talking like you know how any of this will go. We don’t even know if your plan with the head of my family would work. You don’t know if your family would even accept me. You’re promising things you can’t control. Just stalling.”

“It’s not stalling. If they took me in, they can take you in.” Luke didn’t look away. “That’s my trick. Convincing you to live.”

He held his hand out to her.

“You can stay here and die the way you planned. Or you can come with me and try something new. The house is big. They’re kind. There’s a bunk bed or a private room. And a cute little sister comes included. It’s a pretty good deal.”

Their breath misted between them, warm against the cold air.

“So, what do you want? To stay here alone in the snow? Or to take a chance at having an actual family? To die as a Rhiannon, or live as a Baumann?”

Allison looked at his hand. For a long moment. Then she laughed. This time, she laughed for real. “That might be the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever said to me.”

“Maybe,” Luke admitted. “But I meant all of it.”

She drew in a slow breath. Her eyes dropped to the katana. She sent it back into her inventory. Then she took his hand.

“Do I really get to choose which side of the bunk bed I sleep on?” she asked.

“Yes!” he answered, way too fast. “If you want the whole bunk bed, I’ll sleep on the floor. I don’t care.”

She shook her head, a tired smile forming.

“Top bunk is fine.”

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