I held May's hand as we walked behind Sherry and Mercury toward Sinn. The plain felt vast and empty under the night sky, the stars sharp and cold overhead, the ground still radiating the day's heat through my boots.
May let go of my hand when we reached him, giving me a quick squeeze before following Sherry toward the second car. I stayed with Mercury. Sinn stood in front of us in the plain dark, his scarred face half-lit by the soft amber glow of the vehicles' low lights. The air between us felt thick, heavy with everything unsaid.
Nobody spoke for a full minute. The only sound was the faint ticking of cooling engines and the distant wind moving across the sand.
"Why?" Mercury finally asked. The restraint in her voice cost her something visible, her shoulders tight, jaw clenched.
Sinn looked at her for a long moment, his expression heavy.
