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It felt like a countdown.

How fast could they go? What happened if the fire caught up with them?

Zoey stirred beside her, letting out a soft sigh in her sleep. Lux’s heart clenched, a mix of love and fear swirling in her chest. She didn’t know how they were going to get out of this.

She had just found her, just discovered what it felt like to care for someone, and now she was faced with the possibility of losing it all.

The idea of a life outside this mountain felt distant, almost unreal. Would they even make it out? Would they have a chance to see what could come of this thing between them?

She didn’t know.

She turned her head slightly, looking at Zoey again. How was it possible to care this much this quickly?

She had spent so long avoiding this, avoiding the risk of getting close to someone. And now, here she was, head over heels for a woman she had met under the worst possible circumstances.

And yet, it felt right. It felt like the most natural thing in the world.

But the fire was still coming, and that was a reality they couldn’t ignore. Lux reached out, her hand brushing against Zoey’s arm. The contact was enough to wake her, and Zoey’s eyes fluttered open, her gaze meeting Lux’s in the dim light.

“Lux?” Zoey’s voice was soft, groggy from sleep.

Lux didn’t respond immediately. She scanned the trees and saw the faint fire glowing in the distance.

“We need to keep moving,” she finally said.

“Lux?”

“Sorry.” She sighed. “I must’ve gotten carried away.”

Zoey pecked her cheek and adjusted so Lux could lay on her back. They both remained there, breathing quietly.

“Want to see the beautiful sky?” Zoey asked, sitting up slowly. The makeshift shelter immediately felt cramped. There wasn’t much space to begin with.

“Sure, why not.”

They both made their way outside. They soon found a spot to lie down and stare at the sky. Zoey scooted closer to Lux, patting her sides until she found Lux’s hands.

Lux sighed, hating how her heart raced for a millisecond, even though she loved the gesture.

The sky was endless and so very beautiful streaked with color.

“Tense?” Zoey asked.

Lux sighed. “It’s a new day, and we’re still here.”

“That’s what’s bothering you again?” Zoey asked.

Lux shrugged. Zoey rolled over. She was facing down on Lux now, with half her weight on Lux’s body. Their eyes met for the briefest of moments. Then her lips found Lux’s.

She soon backed away but remained arched over Lux.

“What’s bothering you? The fire?”

Lux shrugged. “It’s still coming,” she said. “We can’t stay here forever.”

Zoey nodded, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “Where do we go then?”

“Up,” Lux said. “We keep going up.”