The hotel room was quiet, except the occasional creak of the floorboards and the distant sounds of traffic outside. The room was filled with anticipation as Hyacinth and Lana prepared for their departure. They moved carefully, zipping up their bags, and double-checking their documents, but the thought of what they were leaving behind held on to them like a guilty conscience.
"Do you think anyone will find her?" Lana asked, seemingly unsettled.
Hyacinth paused, meeting her desperate, anxious look.
"Not before we're gone," she replied, even though she sounded unsure about it.
Lana nodded, but her fingers fidgeted with the strap of her bag.
"We just have to make it to the airport. Once we're on that plane…"
Hyacinth reached for her hand, squeezing it tightly.
"Once we're on that plane, it's over. There's no looking back."
The words felt empty, but they carried their bags, and their guilt out of the room, leaving the heavy door to the past… swinging shut behind them.
***
The journey to the airport was filled with tension. Every sound, every glance from a stranger, felt magnified. They felt watched and judged. It was as if they knew what they had done. As the taxi sped through the city streets, Hyacinth couldn't help but check the rearview mirror every few seconds, half-expecting someone to be tailing them. Lana sat firmly beside her, while her fingers gripped the edge of the seat until her knuckles turned white.
"We're going to make it," Hyacinth said, more to herself than Lana.
The airport came into view like a beacon of salvation. They navigated through the check-in process and security with painstaking caution. Every movement they made was deliberate. The boarding gate felt like a finish line, and when their flight number was called, a wave of relief dwelled upon them both.
As the plane ascended into the clouds, Hyacinth glanced at Lana beside her. For the first time in what felt like weeks, Lana smiled… a real, genuine smile that reached her eyes.
"We're free!" she whispered, leaning her head against Hyacinth's shoulder.
Hyacinth kissed the top of her head.
"Free." she repeated, as though saying it aloud would make it real.
***
Rio de Janeiro welcomed them with open arms. The warm sun bathed the sprawling city in golden light, and the sound of the samba seemed to move through the very streets. The view from the plane as they descended had been breathtaking. A mosaic of azure waters, grass-covered mountains, and a web of colorful favelas.
"Is this real?" Lana asked as they stepped out of the airport. She turned in a slow circle, her eyes widened as they took in the feel of life around them.
"It is now." Hyacinth replied with a grin, grabbing their bags. "Welcome to our new life."
They had chosen a modest suburban neighborhood to settle in, away from the bustling tourist hubs. The area was quaint, with narrow cobblestone streets, pastel-colored houses, and locals who greeted each other with warm smiles.
The house they rented was small but cozy— a far cry from the lives they'd left behind, but perfect for their need to remain unnoticed. The living room had a rustic charm, with wooden beams overhead and windows that let in the golden light of the afternoon sun.
"It's perfect!" Lana said, running her fingers along the kitchen counter.
Hyacinth wrapped her arms around her waist from behind.
"It's ours."
Settling in was easy… almost too easy. The simplicity of their new life was a stark contrast to the chaos they had fled. But even as they unpacked boxes and arranged furniture, the presence of their crime still lingered on.
***
Lana stared out the window one evening, and her gaze was fixed on the distant lights of the city.
"Do you think about her?"
Hyacinth hesitated, setting down the cup of tea she'd been holding.
"Kim?"
Lana nodded.
"I can't stop. Every time I close my eyes, I see her face. I hear her voice. What if—"
"Stop," Hyacinth interrupted her gently, crossing the room to kneel in front of her. She took Lana's hands in hers. "We did what we had to do. We can't change the past, but we can shape the future. This—" she gestured around the room, "—this is our future. Don't let her take it from us."
Lana nodded, but the doubt in her eyes remained nonetheless.
***
To shake off the burden of their thoughts and celebrate their fresh start, they decided to explore the Rio nightlife. A lively pub just a few streets away seemed promising with a night of music, laughter, and escape.
The pub was a mixture of colors and sounds. Fairy lights hung from the ceiling, illuminating a pleasant radiance over the crowd. A live band played upbeat samba, and the energy in the room was infectious.
Lana dragged Hyacinth to the dance floor, her laughter sounded like sweet music. For the first time in weeks, the tension melted away. They were chained to the rhythm, and their bodies pressed close to each other, while their laughter mingled with the music.
As the night wore on, they found a quiet corner to sit, drinking cocktails that tasted like sweet freedom.
"To us!" Lana said, raising her glass.
"To us!" Hyacinth joined in, clinking their glasses together.
Their eyes locked, and in that moment, the world seemed to fade away. Lana leaned in.
"You're the only reason I made it through all of this. I don't think I've ever loved anyone the way I love you."
Hyacinth's heart swelled, and she reached out to brush a strand of hair from Lana's face.
"You're my everything, Lana. My past, my present, my future. I don't care where we are, or what we've been through, as long as I'm with you."
Lana's lips curved into a smile, and she closed the distance between them, kissing her softly… tenderly.
As they walked home hand-in-hand, the street lights reflected in their eyes, and a sense of fulfillment engulfed them. They had left behind a trail of chaos and blood, but here, in this new world, they had found something precious… each other.
But as they approached their little abode, Hyacinth couldn't shake the feeling that their shadows were still chasing them. She glanced over her shoulder, and her heart skipped a beat when she thought she saw a figure moving under a streetlamp.
When she turned back, the space was empty.
"Is something wrong?" Lana asked, squeezing her hand.
She forced a smile.
"No. Nothing at all."
***
As they reached the front door, Hyacinth paused, the keys were in her hand. The door was slightly ajar, the lock scratched as though it had been forced.
Her heartbeat accelerated, and she glanced at Lana, who was already backing away.
"Stay behind me," she whispered.
She pushed the door open, and her heart continued hammering in her chest. The house was dark, silent, but the faint scent of something unfamiliar remained in the air.
Someone had been inside…