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Ash's POV —
The tires hummed against the road, but the sound barely registered.
Ash's hands clenched the steering wheel, his knuckles bloodless from the pressure. His heart hammered so violently it felt like it was trying to claw its way out of his throat. Every breath he took was shallow and tight, every muscle in his body locked like he was bracing for impact. The SUV was moving too damn slow. Even with the speedometer ticking higher, it wasn't enough.
Not when they were this close.
Not when his sister—his Opal—was still out there.
The tension in the car was suffocating, thick and oppressive like the storm outside. No one spoke. The silence was sharper than any words, brittle with dread and unspoken fear.
