The coordinates led to the dry river bed, with spears of charcoal surrounding the ruins of a bungalow choked with moss. Upon climbing the broken bridge, Rick smiled and watched a Skylark wheel around. He marvelled at its joyful song and only wished he could be as free. All the while, Fee was on a call to Amy, who was not best pleased about her daughter going rogue once more. Eventually, she ended the call, pausing to stare at the remains of a dead cat with its eyes burnt out.

  On the way, they took a detour to a nearby beach of golden sands and warm waters. Approaching the coast, Fee's nostrils twitched to savour the salt-tinged air wafting through cab vents, as she took in the fragrance of sea spray mixed with ozone from distant thunderheads. The electric whine of windscreen wipers faded into insignificance when the beach became visible through the dusty windscreen, now clearing of microscopic grit. Her heartbeat accelerated with rising excitement upon hearing the layered sounds of crowd voices merging against the gentle hiss of waves and a call of gulls above. Somewhere, the boom of surf could be heard crashing against rocks offshore, weaving an otherworldly soundscape to greet anticipated arrivals. Fee's mind reeled, trying to comprehend the majesty unfolding. She looked up to see a perfect blue sky splintered only by wispy cirrus trails; its raw natural beauty waiting to reshape her perceptions of the grimdark world.

  Rick soon joined her as she exited the car and took her bag. A soft wind felt warm against the thin yellow cardigan, and soon they were heading wordlessly down toward the shore. They sat by the base of a dune, hearing nothing but a susurrus carried by waves now receding steadily inland. Huddled together, the silence stretched out like a comfortable blanket wrapped around their joined forms, cocooning them in warmth and contentment. Fee leant her head against his shoulder, letting herself relax fully in their embrace--- a feeling she equated to slipping into a favourite pair of pyjamas.

  Tilting her head to the side, Fee nestled her cheek against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. It was a reassuring cadence, one that matched the gentle rhythm of her breathing. As tranquillity washed over her in soothing waves, she let her thoughts drift aimlessly while enjoying the luxury of existing with someone who genuinely cared. There was no urgency, no deadlines looming, no expectations to fulfil—just the quiet comfort of two souls connecting on a profound level.

  In this sacred space, time stood still, allowing them to savour each precious second as it unfolded. Fee gazed up lazily, drinking in the serene picture before her—a tableau of steadfast love and loyalty, depicted in Rick's patient attention. This heartbeat provided a sonic backdrop to warmth and security, embracing them like a rich aroma wafting from a well-loved kitchen.

  Half an hour later, they left the scene and ventured off the B-road onto a two-rut track. A large field of Timothy grass swayed under the shade of high Elms and opened up to a dilapidated hangar with its short, dusty runway. The gentle rhythm of the water, playing out a complement to the leaves' whispers and a bird's lilting song. The dance of light rippling on the surface like an ethereal dance; all the while, a passing breeze was filled with the sweet scent of blossoming flowers and the promise of twilight secrets. Everything was silent, save for litter pin-wheeling across the concrete apron. Rick kicked out the stand, stopping shy of the runway, while Fee parked up to the side.

  "Now what?" Fee asked.

  "Maybe the coordinates are wrong."

  "I entered it twice to be sure."

  Rick gave the Hangar a once-over.

  “Let’s look around, see what we can find.” He said.

  They took a spiral staircase to the upper office. It was an open area with two desks back-to-back and a row of filing cabinets against the wall. A heavy metallic shelf was placed near the fire exit, while oily rags were tossed onto a half-rusted pallet mover. Crossing the floor, they were hit with a choking odour of ammonia and petrol.

  “Damn, that’s nasty,” Fee said, turning her head.

  “Yep, at least we know where wildlife sleeps. Go look through one of the desks.”

  “Why don’t you go look through the desks? I ain’t catching no badger virus.”

  Rick sighed and used his shoe to pull the bottom drawer. Nothing.

  “Unless your prize is a wad of wet accounts,” He said. “I guess we’re done here.”

  “There must be something; we can’t just leave.”

  “Trust me, no prize is worth this.”

  “So it’s all a waste of time,” Fee said. "Great. Thanks, Dad.” She was about to light a cigarette when Rick snatched it from her mouth. "What the hell, dude?"

  "Can't you smell the petrol? Go outside."

  "I AM outside!" Fee said, descending the stairs. "Seriously, why go to all this effort for no results?”

  "Not true. We had a fun day out."

  "Yeah, your sister was a real peach."

  "Mostly fun," Rick said, following closely.

  "I'm so glad I filled up the car for nothing," Fee said. Now I can be minus broke.” Frustrated, she kicked a soda can and watched it float inches off the ground.

  The pair looked on in amazement.

  Rick knelt, placing his hand over the airflow.

  "It’s like ice." He said. “Hand me that broom.”

  Scraping away a groove with the top end of the broom, the gap made a rectangle around the inside of the hangar, which stopped at a small metallic cap. Fee lifted the cap with the tip of her shoe to reveal a small spike with a hole.

  "Are you frickin' kidding me?" She said. “It’s another DNA thing.”

  "At least we know we're in the right place," Rick said. "You're not from a family of Vampires, are you?"

  "I'm starting to believe it." Fee said.

  "Are you going to do the honours?"

  "I ain't touching that; I'll end up with the herpes or something."

  "Don't you want to unleash the Vampire horde?"

  "I'm not touching anything that isn't sterile."

  "I guess we're spooning from now on," Rick said with a smirk, until Fee shot it down with a look. "Moving on..."

  Fee sighed and pricked her thumb with an earring, until a shiny crimson bead emerged. A droplet of blood fell neatly into the metal hole. Nothing happened. A sunlit darkness fell on the horizon as evening rolled into night. In this living portrait, the heart of nature, the harmony of existence and the depth of connection render the in-between hours nothing short of transcendent. The car stereo blasted: 'One of these days' by Pink Floyd, while Fee let her legs dangle out of the car. Sunset made the world feel eerily small, but somewhat painterly. Not wanting to leave something unfinished, she could do little but drag on another Lithuanian cigarette and hope for something to happen. She used a stick to draw a spiral in the dirt.

  Parts of the same spiral, but not equal. Fee thought. Just an incomplete circle. She shook her head. Someone once said: 'There is only one inborn error, and that is the notion that we exist in order to be happy. So long as we persist in this inborn error, the world seems to us full of contradictions. '

  "What are you going to do when we get back?" Rick asked, leaning on the hood of the car.

  “I was gonna check out the re-release of Die Hard 2 in the cinema.”

  “Oh yeah, I can’t believe they’re showing all five again.”

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “All three,” Fee said, flicking the spent cigarette out the window. “Four, if you count 16 Blocks, which is a faithful and spiritual closer to the franchise.”

  “Yes, you explained the similarities in great detail.”

  “That’s what long car journeys are for.”

  Rick frowned, remembering something.

  “Hold on," He said. "How come you never went to see the original Die Hard?”

  “Why would I, when number two is superior?”

  “Okay, okay, now I know you’re trolling.”

  “I’m serious, the sequel goes further by putting real lives at stake.”

  “The first one had literal hostages!”

  Fee scoffed.

  “A bunch of coked-up yuppies? Who cares? Compare that to actual kids and babies.”

  “There was a pregnant woman in the first one.”

  “Who would have no doubt given birth to a corrupt banker. The cycle continues.”

  “That baby could have grown up to be a Celloist, you don’t know!”

  “Can we not with the fan fiction? Let's agree that the second one had a twist no one saw coming, which was missing from the first one.”

  “And some naked male Yoga.”

  “I…was not complaining.”

  “That scene will be the Death of you.”

  Fee chuckled. “Haha! I see what you did there.”

  She watched as a soft breeze rolled against the high grass. It reminded her of Helsingia, under the wide shaded trees by the lake. She remembered how the long sunsets painted the world in orange, how the smell of cut grass and barbequed Grayling, and how the holidays were spent running through the corn grass because this moment was yours alone, and the future could wait. Nostalgia was never about listing a bunch of old things but how we lived in those moments.

  "Holy crap!"

  Upon hearing Rick’s voice, she snapped out of her trance. A series of loud pneumatic 'clunks' whined from under the hangar. It was followed by a series of sharp 'hisses' and scrapes as a large portion of the floor slid away, allowing dry ice to pour out. Something was being raised from the depths. Soon, the fin of a small aircraft slowly emerged, belonging to a yellow and black jet fighter. Upon reaching its full height, the pneumatic sounds stopped.

  Fee stared open-mouthed. "Wha--. “

  "It’s a plane," Rick said. His mind was blank, but he spoke the words for something to say. Fee began to stroll towards the hangar. "Hey, wait!"

  She placed a hand on the fuselage. A tingle ran the length of her fingers.

  "It's warm." She said.

  "How long do you think it's been there? Who does it belong to?"

  "It was tied to my Dad's DNA. Guess it's his."

  "You never mentioned he was a pilot."

  "Neither did he," Fee said, touching the fuel tank. "He was just a gardener who travelled the world.” She paused. "Wait, is this my reward for winning the game? Does someone want me to fly this thing? Seriously?"

  "If only you weren't scared of heights."

  "I've been on planes before."

  "You always bury your head during takeoff."

  Fee narrowed her eyes, "Mum really has a problem with oversharing."

  The canopy slid back without warning, exposing the insides and dropping down a ladder.

  Fee clambered up and peered into the cockpit. To her amazement, it was the same layout as the one in the VR game, right down to the smallest switch. There was even a helmet on the seat.

  "This doesn’t make sense." Fee said. "I’ve seen all of this already"

  “I assume you’re talking about the game?”

  “I didn’t think it would be an exact copy. In a day, I could fly it, no problem.”

  "Yeah, right," Rick said. "The first time, you become an ace pilot within seconds of entering a craft you'd never been in."

  "Obviously not," Fee said, climbing in. "That would be dumb."

  "Did you check that thing for rats?"

  "Well, NOW I will," Fee said, brushing her legs. She picked up the helmet. "Looks a bit small."

  "Maybe you're just a big head," Rick said. Fee shot him a look. "What? I wasn't gonna let that go."

  Adjusting her balance, Fee made herself comfortable.

  "A bit snug." She said, shifting around. "It's like one in the Arcades, y'know? The one opposite the 'Three Sheets' pub?"

  "Throttle lock," Rick said. "Good times."

  A second date had been arranged on the fly. He remembered how good the fish and chips tasted, being caught up in her retelling of the dream she had, her favourite music, and why she was afraid to play in public, despite being a guitar prodigy. They talked at length about why he spurned her advances, the two-year age gap and how her mother would disapprove. He watched the low sun catch her face.

  "Did you say something?" She said.

  "Don't forget your helmet," Rick said

  Fee snorted. "Who's gonna pull me over? The Air cops?"

  Rick smiled but became distracted by the steady sound of an engine, faintly growling in the distance. He soon realised there was more than one.

  "Flying might not be the worst idea." He said.

  "What?" Fee said. From the top of the ladder, he could make out a bright set of tubes illuminating the country road. "What is it?"

  "Probably nothing."

  Fee stood up in the cockpit. "What are you on about?"

  Rick squinted into the distance as six headlights grew closer.

  "Shake a leg, we've got company!"

  "Wait!"

  "We need to leave. Right now!"

  "How do I close this?"

  "No time, Fee. C'mon!"

  Climbing down the ladder, they headed for the vehicles. Fee opened the car door, aiming her gaze fixed toward the dark road.

  "Who are they?"

  "Come on!"

  Fee turned the ignition, but nothing caught. She tried it again. No luck.

  "No-no-no!"

  "What are you doing?" Rick said. Fear had become a full-blown panic. "If they catch us, they'll stick us in a black site!"

  Fee turned the key once more, but got no response. The engine was toast.

  "Balls!" She said, slamming the steering wheel. "I don’t believe this; I'm going to die because of a trope."

  Rick dropped the spare helmet in her lap.

  "Grab what you need."

  Fee pulled on the helmet, sat pillion and hugged his waist.

  The back wheel ate dirt, and Rick sped up the track, hitting the road just as the first car caught them in the beam. The car anchored up, nearly collecting the other two, as the motorcycle tore down the length of the B-road.Threading through light traffic, Fee tightened her grip as the cold wind flapped her coat like a cape. Rick gunned the gears, and the engine barked in fury. The pair soon found themselves on the main road to the city centre; the spine of the motorway threw up patches of orange sodium light, while darkened skyscrapers grew closer like neon-lit monoliths. Rick glanced in the mirror; the pursuing cars had fallen back. However, relief was short-lived when a huge aerial spotlight tracked them on the viaduct bridge. Fee felt the bike speed up. Rick snaked in between two trucks, unable to outrun the centre of the blinding circle. He took the middle ramp down to the lower levels of the bridge. A finger of light shot out from the side of the helicopter, probing the darkness, until it caught the silhouette of the motorcycle. Exiting into a junction, Rick took a left into a four-lane tunnel. Fee heard the whine of an engine increase and gripped tighter. The breeze against her body now felt like ice mixed with dirt. Luckily, late evening traffic flowed freely, which allowed Rick to navigate between vehicles, sometimes inches away from the central reservation. Rick took an immediate right into a pedestrian subway. He paused, while the helicopter searchlight probed the vicinity, before disappearing out of sight. Satisfied, he cut through a nearby forest and came to a retail park on the edge of Witt's End. After stopping by Fee's driveway, she dismounted and banged on the front door. Before Amy could process what was happening, her daughter tore up the stairs, closely followed by a motorbike screaming off into the distance.

  "Oh-kay?" Amy said, still unsure what to think. She was halfway up the stairs when the doorbell rang again. Opening up, she was surprised to see a young Air Force officer presented himself at her door. "Yes?"

  The officer snapped off a salute.

  “Excuse me, ma'am, I want to ask some questions about your daughter."

  Amy glanced around the soldier and nodded.

  "You'd better come in." She said. Once inside, the door was closed behind. “Explain yourself.”

  "I apologise for the intrusion, ma'am." The Officer said. "The late Group Captain gave us orders about any activity concerning the Hangar."

  Fee peeked out from the top of the stairs.

  "I am aware of the Group Captain’s orders," Amy said. "What has this got to do with Fee?"

  "She is the one who found the Jet and activated it."

  Amy gave her daughter a detached look.

  "I see." A beat. "Even so, I want it on record that I object to your methods. I am guessing three SUVS in a row?"

  "Fast cars and a helicopter"

  "For two kids?" Amy said. The hint of irritation was unmistakable. "I would say that was going overkill on resources. Three vehicles in a row are going to scare them off. It was reckless.”

  "With respect, ma'am, the Group Captain signed off on the contingency plan."

  "I understand, but with him gone, I am in charge. Next time, I want eyes-only; no pursuit. "

  Fee's mouth went slack and dry.

  "As you wish."

  "Dismissed."

  "Ma'am."

  They exchanged salutes, and the young man departed with haste. Amy looked up at Fee’s devastated expression.

  "Get the ice cream," Amy said. "We need to talk."

  "M-mum?"

  "Ice cream. Now."