Page 32 of Where the Light No Longer Follows

“Why does it not feel like that?”

At the snap of his fingers everyone disappeared, the rides grew quiet, the air settled, the laughter faded, as did the line before them. “Come,” he said, tugging on the ribbon.

She still stared wide eyed at him as they sat beside one another in the small cabin.

At another snap of his fingers, the ferris wheel started moving again.

“Where did everyone go?” she asked, looking out of the window and searching the massive amusement park as they were raised higher and higher off the ground.

“There was no one there to begin with. You keep asking where people are every time I take you somewhere, and I thought…you might think of this as excessive.”

“It is a bit.” She went quiet for a moment, and then lifted their hands still clutching the ribbon. “So, this wasn’t even necessary at all.”

“It is.”

Her brow arched. “Thought you didn’t want to lose me in the crowd.”

“There was a crowd.”

Her eyes narrowed. “There isn’t now.”

“You might fall.”

She chuckled but did not let go of the ribbon. “Sure.”

“Why did you want to come to a theme park?”

Silene leaned against the open ledge, looking over the park and the city lights on the horizon. “Saw it in those human magazines. Ten things to do before you die.” She sighed. “I can see what they mean. It is beautiful up here.”

“It really is,” he said, looking at her.

“You’re not even looking.”

“I’ll trust you on it.”

She shifted in her seat, throwing him a couple glances. “I don’t think I like heights all that much.”

Gabriel reached inside his jacket pocket and brought out a small metal flask, handing it to her. “Any other realisation while we are at it?”

“Like what?” she asked, taking a careful sip and wincing at the taste.

“That you find me irresistibly handsome.”

“I find you irresistibly annoying.”

“And handsome,” he said, and Silene’s attention dropped to the flask when he pressed his lips where hers had been just seconds ago. “You know I don’t mind you looking at me, so no need to do it all so secretly.”

Her eyes rolled. “Put me down.”

“Always trying to run away from me, my ruin.”

“I will jump, Gabriel.”

“I wouldn’t let you.”

“You can’t touch me.”

“I will stop the very earth from spinning if I have to.”