The sun blazed overhead as the car shot down the empty highway like a black bullet. Wind roared past, brushing the golden plains and kicking up thin trails of dust behind the tires. Out here, beyond the city's noise and steel, it was all space—wide, dry, and endless.
Xavier's foot was firm on the pedal. The road stretched out for hours, and thanks to the flatlands, he barely had to slow down. No traffic. Just a few scattered gas stations and rest stops tucked along the way like forgotten relics.
Lyra shifted in the back seat and let out a groan. "Okay, I'm starving. If I don't eat soon, I'll chew my arm off."
Lilia raised a brow. "I wouldn't recommend that. You'd probably taste awful."
Reva, sitting up front, let out a long sigh. Her skin looked pale—paler than usual—and her voice came out dry. "Can we stop? This sun's boiling my blood."
Xavier didn't take his eyes off the road. "There's a gas station up ahead. Five minutes."
