Even a beast would’ve lost interest by now, what with Ashton sobbing about her husband, rambling on about who saved who. And with over 300 female team mbers waiting behind them, was Magnus really gonna fool around with her right there in the lead car?
Sure enough, in a few seconds, Lucy and Molly got out with a small squad, knocking on the car. Molly stalked around to the front, peered through the windshield - and saw Ashton throwing herself into Magnus’s arms.
Her jaw clenched so tight her silver teeth almost cracked. She jumped onto the hood. "Are you two serious right now? You couldn’t find a better ti? The whole damn crew’s waiting while you’re in here ssing around!"
Ashton, no matter how worked up, froze when she saw Molly on the hood. She quickly pulled back from Magnus, fumbling to start the jeep. Magnus grabbed her arm and shouted, "There’s soone on the car!"
Too late.
Ashton hit the gas. Molly was caught off guard, rolled up over the roof, and then slamd hard onto the ground.
"Stop the car! Now!"
Magnus roared. Ashton slamd the brakes. He flung the door open and jumped out. No helt. No insect repellent. Instantly, a cloud of giant mosquitoes from overhead swooped down. He couldn’t see a damn thing, barely managed to tap the Fire Crystal tattoo on his left hand and blast them away.
Molly lay still on the dirt. Magnus ran to her, checking for injuries. Thankfully, she was bundled up - no scrapes. He pressed gently on key bone spots, ready to use the Life Crystal if needed.
"I’m fine..." Molly sat up, voice stiff, calm beyond belief. She stood as Ashton scrambled out of the jeep, looking like she’d seen a ghost. She reached to grab Molly’s arm, tears streaming. "Molly, I’m so sorry, I didn’t an to, I - I..."
"Get lost!" Molly snapped, yanked her arm free, voice filled with burning anger.
Magnus glanced around - the female team mbers were staring. He told them to head back to the vehicles, then motioned to the jeep. "Go sit in the car," he told Ashton. Molly clearly wanted nothing to do with her right now, but Magnus knew Ashton didn’t do it on purpose.
Once they were gone, Molly turned to leave too. Magnus caught her arm, stepped in front of her, sighed. "Molly... she truly didn’t an it. I swear."
"You’re still covering for her?" Molly shouted, voice cracking with both hurt and rage. Her helt hid the tears, but the pain in her tone was clear.
"I’m not defending her - "
Magnus sighed, reached out, wanting to comfort her. Instead, Molly shoved him hard. "Don’t touch !"
He stood there, frozen. Damn it. Another damn butterfly effect. If he hadn’t stupidly grabbed Ashton’s thigh earlier, none of this would’ve happened - no panic, no mistake, no accident. He’d just pinched her once, and now it had spiraled into a ss.
But the worse things got, the less a man could show weakness. Strength pushed down weakness. If he bowed now, she’d only get bolder. And truth was - she wasn’t about to listen anyway.
Magnus stood there, let her vent for a bit. Lit a cigarette. Once Molly’s sobs started to slow, he finally spoke up, "Can you hear now?"
No reply. Her shoulders were still twitching from crying.
"She really didn’t an it," Magnus said, firm but calm. "It was an accident - just bad luck all around. I hope you and Lucy can let it go. I’ll ask her to apologize."
Molly looked up at him, mascara-tracked cheeks, voice still trembling, "You and Ashton... did you sleep with her too?"
Magnus felt his chest tighten. "Would you believe if I said no?"
She broke into tears again before muttering, "Only a fool would."
It hit her then - Ashton must’ve panicked when she got caught, that’s why she hit the gas. The thought brought her so bitter satisfaction.
Seeing her calm a little, Magnus stepped forward and pulled her into his arms. This ti, she didn’t resist. She leaned against him, then burst into tears again.
After a while, Magnus let out a deep sigh, lightly patted her shoulder. "Alright, it’s over. Let’s put today behind us. We’ve still got that cannery to check out. And don’t go talking nonsense when we get back."
Molly suddenly pushed away, gripping his shoulders tightly. "Then promise you’ll treat and Lucy better in the future!"
"When have I ever treated you two badly?"
"You only co looking when you need sothing. The rest of the ti, we don’t even exist to you," she said, voice full of hurt.
Magnus nearly laughed out loud. "When’s the last ti I asked for anything? Hasn’t it always been you two - "
"Shut it! I don’t care!" Molly’s face flushed red. "Just promise! That’s all!"
Ridiculous as it was, Magnus nodded. He’d say yes to anything at that point. Climbing back into the off-road vehicle, he saw Ashton still sniffling, shoulders shaking.
When she spotted him, she jumped a little. "Did she - did she forgive ? I swear, I didn’t an to hit her..."
Magnus exhaled slow, voice flat, "It’s done."
But what he didn’t say was - whatever was between the two of them? That part was over too.
The convoy crawled along till midday. The lead vehicle finally slowed down near a village by the highway. Ashton had been silent the whole way, but now her face turned serious. "Here. This is the place..."
They got out. Magnus circled to the roadside and lifted his binoculars.
A decent-sized village, maybe three hundred hos. He stood at the south entrance. Houses on both sides. Far up north, near the far edge of the village, he saw a large compound - maybe a hundred ters away. Cluster of factories inside, angled roofs. A few oversized warehouses tucked behind.
Not a single soul in sight.
Lowering the binoculars, Magnus frowned. No way was he risking the team just to walk blind into this. He told Ashton to inform Molly and the others to stay put, grabbed a flare gun, and headed toward the compound, tal Crystal at the ready...
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