…we're leaving."
Her brows furrowed.
"…what?"
He finally turned to her.
"Get ready."
A beat.
"We have to move to another house."
Silence.
"Why?"
Artavius exhaled lightly.
"Cassian thinks staying here might create problems."
Her expression changed slightly.
"…what kind of problems?"
"I don't know."
Flat.
"But someone might come to check."
That—
landed.
Valentine straightened a little.
"…so we're just running now?"
"We're relocating."
A pause.
"There's a house deeper in the forest."
He added—
almost casually—
"…you might like it."
She stared at him.
"…you say that like I have a choice."
He didn't respond.
Instead—
"Where's your suitcase?"
A beat.
Valentine hesitated.
"…in your room."
Of course it was.
Artavius nodded once.
"Come on."
He turned—
the chain pulling slightly.
"The car's already here."
Valentine blinked.
"…already?"
No answer.
They moved toward the door again.
The faint sound of an engine echoed outside.
She stopped for half a second—
looking ahead.
"…this is getting worse, isn't it?"
Artavius paused.
Just slightly.
Then—
"Move."
Cold again.
And that was her answer.
They stepped outside—
still handcuffed.
Snow crunching softly beneath their feet.
A black car stood waiting.
Engine running.
Like it had been there for a while.
Valentine glanced at it—
then at him.
"…wow."
Dry.
"Kidnapping with transport upgrade."
A pause.
Artavius opened the car door.
"…get in."
No reaction.
Just control.
But something about this—
felt different.
More serious.
More dangerous.
The car moved steadily through the silent road.
Only the sound of the engine.
And the faint hum of wind outside.
Valentine's head tilted slightly—
then—
rested against his shoulder.
A pause.
Artavius looked down.
Unimpressed.
"…immature."
But he didn't move.
Minutes passed.
Snow thickened outside.
The car finally slowed.
Stopped.
Artavius glanced at her again.
Still asleep.
"…Valentine."
No response.
"…hey. Wake up."
She stirred slightly.
Brows knitting—
eyes opening slowly.
"…oh."
A pause.
She immediately moved away.
"…sorry."
He didn't respond.
Just stepped out.
Cold air hit instantly.
"Come."
They walked.
The forest was quieter here.
Denser.
Snow crunching under every step.
"…how long?" she asked, clearly tired.
"Ten more minutes."
She sighed.
And then—
slip.
"—ah!"
She fell.
Artavius stopped.
Looked down at her.
"…is falling your part-time job?"
"Shut up—"
She winced.
Something was different.
He noticed.
A pause.
Then he stepped closer.
Bent slightly—
reaching out—
And saw it.
Her ankle.
Not just a fall.
Injured.
"…great."
He straightened slightly, irritation clear.
"I don't understand why you wear things you can't even walk in."
"STOP YELLING AT ME."
Her voice snapped—
sharp.
"My foot hurts."
Silence.
For a second—
something flickered.
Flash
A younger voice.
Small.
Shaky.
"P-please… I'm sorry… Uncle Cassian…"
"I'm not your uncle."
Cold.
Harsh.
"Understand?"
Back to Present
"…Valentine."
His voice was different now.
Lower.
Controlled.
"Can you walk?"
A pause.
"…yeah."
She tried to stand.
Failed slightly.
But forced herself up.
He watched.
Didn't help.
Then—
pointed ahead.
"…see that house?"
Through the trees—
a structure appeared.
Isolated.
Beautiful.
"That's where we're staying."
They walked again.
Slower this time.
And then—
they stopped.
The bridge.
Broken.
Wood hanging loosely.
Snow covering the damage.
Valentine stared.
"…how are we supposed to go there?"
Silence.
Artavius looked at the river below.
Not too deep.
But cold.
A pause.
Then—
he stepped closer.
Too close.
Before she could react—
He pulled her into his arms.
"What—?!"
"The river isn't that deep."
Flat.
And just like that—
he stepped in.
Cold water.
Sharp.
But steady.
He crossed without hesitation.
Placed her down gently on the other side.
Then—
threw her suitcase across.
It landed beside her.
Valentine stood there.
Frozen.
Not because of the cold.
But because—
for a second—
he didn't feel like her kidnapper.
And that—
was more dangerous than anything else.