Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Lina’s Plea
The night before they were set to strike, Lina pulled Cole aside. The others were busy preparing, but she had that look in her eyes—the one that said she needed to talk.
They stood on the rooftop of the hideout, the city spread out below them like a broken puzzle. The wind was cold, cutting through the layers of their clothes, but neither of them seemed to notice.
"You're sure about this?" Lina asked, her voice barely audible above the wind. "About all of this?"
Cole didn't hesitate. "Yes."
Lina sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I just… I don't want to lose you, Cole. I don't want to lose any of us."
Cole turned to look at her, his expression softening for a moment. "You won't. We'll get through this."
Lina didn't look convinced. "You're talking about going up against Crenshaw, the guy who's controlled the slums for years. We're just… we're just kids."
"We're more than that," Cole said firmly. "We've been fighting our whole lives. We know how to survive."
"Surviving isn't enough," Lina whispered, her eyes filled with fear. "I don't want you to just survive. I want you to live."
Cole swallowed hard, his throat tight. He knew what she meant. They had all been stuck in survival mode for so long that the idea of actually living—really living—felt impossible. But that's what this was about, wasn't it? Taking control of their lives instead of letting the streets decide their fate.
"I'm not going anywhere," Cole said, his voice softer now. "I promise."
Lina looked at him for a long moment, then nodded, though the worry in her eyes didn't fade.
They stood there in silence for a while, watching the city below, the sounds of the streets drifting up to them. It was a quiet moment, a rare moment, and Cole found himself wishing he could freeze it, keep it safe.
But the world didn't work that way. Time moved forward, and they had to move with it.
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