---Lots of grandbabies---
---You will fail---
---And she will die because of it---
As if my head wasn't spinning enough, those words played on like a broken record.
I was normally not one to obsess over things I could not control. However, that woman telling me that I was going to die refused to go away. I knew I wasn’t the only one feeling it either because, for every mile that brought us closer to Detroit, Nix’s demeanor grew darker while I was growing fidgety.
By the way, I didn’t do fidgety.
He was also chain smoking clove cigarettes and I won’t lie, I even smoked a couple myself.
My head was bouncing between a painful death and a house full of kids.
Both paths were terrifying in their own way, I suppose. Death was permanent and so was being a mother.
Could a wanderer like me even be a good mom? That train of thought needed to stop so putting our situation into perspective, I do the math, “Robin, Goose, Swift, Creeper and Vulture are dead. Crow and Loon don’t look eager to end us, yet. So, if you had to guess, who’s coming next?”
“This is unprecedented, Finn. I have no idea and it’s driving me fucking crazy.”
When my Bluetooth picks up a call, he holds up his fingers to shush me and I rolled my eyes. Accepting it, he says, “Operator,” as if I didn’t know who it was…
“Phoenix, I haven’t had this much fun in years, seriously.”
“I’m so glad you find the attempts on our lives entertaining.”
“You try sitting behind a monitor all day fielding hundreds of phone calls, ordering clean-up crews and delegating jobs. Do that and you’ll understand why this is like a vacation for me.”
“What do you want?” I ask, ignoring his be quiet face.
“Finn!” she says happily. “How is your training going?”
Glancing at Nix, he fires back, “She’s not being trained. You can’t teach someone who already knows it all.”
“Go on,” I nudge him. “Say it. Tell her I’m the best partner ever.”
“Speaking of that,” Operator interrupts. “He’s requested a meeting. With both of you. Non-negotiable.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow night, eight o’clock. I’ll forward you the location just prior to.”
“Is this a set up?” I ask her.
“Finn, the Middle Men are killers. Everything is a set up.”
“Right.”
“I am sorry for this,” Operator says sadly.
“Sorry for what?” I ask but I didn't catch her response because we were t-boned and then it was lights out.
Cold water jolted me awake and when I saw Nix struggling to breathe, I was able to get my buckle off and shift toward him. “Finn,” he struggles. “Car’s filling with water, I can’t move.” The car wasn’t filling with water, it was nearly full and Nix was stuck and panicking.
Grabbing his face, I stay calm explaining, “The water will keep rising. We don’t have much time. I need to free you, so stay still.”
“No, get out—”
When a fresh gush of water comes in, Nix panics and begins to choke. The water was now at nose level.
“Calm, Nix, slow your breathing.”
“Car’s filling—”
“It's going to fill, okay? But you'll have air, you'll have my air. But I need you to calm down. It's just water, Nix. It's just water. I won't let it hurt you. Breathe for me, and I’ll breathe for you.” He settles enough that he doesn't hyperventilate as the water rises higher. Knowing it was time, I give him my air and taking a short breath, go under and fight the seatbelt for freedom. After a few tries, he was loose and I fumbled blindly searching for the center punch my mom bought me. Giving the car a moment to equalize, I broke the glass, grabbed his hand pulling us both toward safety. Breaking the surface with a gasp, Nix and I slowly made our way to shore, together. Exhausted and in pain from the crash, we fall into a heap with Nix searching for my hand to hold it.
Tightening my grip, I was looking up at the stars when he says, “You saved my life.”
“We’re not keeping score.”
“Maybe you’re not,” he says squeezing. “But, I am.”
“I’m too exhausted to move and right now; the stars are too bright to argue.”
“Finn,” he says so softly I almost didn’t hear him over the water.
“Yeah?”
“You’re the only thing I like about me.”
Hearing this melted me and I was closing my eyes to savor it when I was hauled up by my hair.
And I was positive that my scream scared every animal within ten miles.
Especially, Phoenix.