"You are welcome to my humble home. Feel free to relax, and if you need anything, just let me know," Finn said to Ariana as he brought her inside.
She nodded, feeling more at ease, and gently took a seat. Finn joined her, sitting beside her.
"What would you like me to offer you?" he asked, and she smiled at him, shaking her head.
"Don't worry about it; I’m fine," she replied. Finn felt more relaxed as they sat silently, gazing at each other for a while.
Finn was anxious to know why she had been out on the street alone. Although he had an idea, but he wanted to hear it from her to be absolutely sure.
Minutes passed in silence, and she seemed hesitant to speak.
"Are you really going to tell me why you were out on the street alone, or are you waiting for me to ask?" Finn finally broke the silence, having waited long enough for her to say something.
She looked at him and opened her mouth, struggling to find the right words. It seemed she was scared to discuss why she was alone. She found it hard to speak because she didn't want to reveal too much about her father. She had no intention of going back to him, and he would certainly put a price on her head for anyone who found her. She needed to be careful; telling the wrong person could lead to betrayal.
"Look, you better start talking, or I’ll have to ask you to leave. I can’t take the risk. If your father finds you here, or if something happens, I’ll be the one blamed," Finn warned, his voice tense.
She interrupted him, "Nothing is going to happen to you, I promise..."
"Then you should start talking now! Why were you out there alone? What are you looking for? Is someone after you? Are you trying to find a way back home?" he pressed, and she took a deep breath.
"Alright then, I will tell you exactly why I left home, but you have to swear to me that you won't betray me or let anyone know," she said. Without wasting any time, Finn nodded in agreement.
He already knew what she wanted to talk about; he just wanted her to say it herself.
"Alright then, I left because I'm trying to stay away from my dad," she said, and Finn's eyes widened. He had finally confirmed what he suspected. He do not have to wait for further explanation because he can understand.
She hit the exact point he wanted to hear. Hearing her say it, he shrugged his shoulders. "So it is true then," he muttered, and Ariana gazed at him, surprise etched on her face.
She hadn't even finished speaking, and he was already declaring it true. What exactly was true?
"It is true? What is true?" she asked, confusion evident on her face.
"What we heard about you is true. What Sam told us is true. You know, we were doubting at first, and now that I hear it directly from you, it's confirmed," he explained, leaving her staring at him, her heart racing in shock.
"You know Sam!!!?" she asked with being so curious, standing up and moving closer and sat besides him. Grabbing his hands.
"Yes, he's my friend. He came here yesterday..."
"Where is he now?!" Ariana interrupted, not allowing him to finish. She didn't want to hear any more explanations; all she wanted was to locate him.
She had spent weeks, even months, searching for him, and this was the first clue she had! She couldn't wait to reunite with the man she had loved her entire life—the young man she was ready to die for, the one who made her realize that sleeping with her dad was wrong.
"Please, talk to me! How can I find him? You're being so quiet! If there’s a way, I will find him—just let me know! I can pay you any amount you want for it!" she said, tears streaming down her face. Finn was shocked to see her crying.
He felt a wave of pity for her. The young girl must have been through so much; it was clear she had endured hell in her search for Sam. He could see the desperation etched on her face—it had been a long time since she began looking for him. She must have missed him terribly, but that should no longer be a problem. Today marked the end of her search; she had finally found him.
"Alright, just relax. Tomorrow, I will take you to his home," Finn said. Ariana's eyes widened in disbelief. She could hardly believe she had finally found his home. It shouldn't be too hard to locate him now, and she felt a surge of hope. However, she didn't want to waste any time.
"If you know where he lives, let’s go tonight! I’m strong and ready—please, take me to him! I can't feel safe until I find him!" she insisted, glancing at the wall clock. It was 11 PM. There was no way they could hit the highway at this hour; it was too late.
"I'm sorry, but it’s already too late. You don't have to worry; you should be grateful that you’ve found him. Tomorrow morning, I will take you to him. Just have a shower, and if you need something to eat, I can get that for you," he offered.
"No! The only thing I want right now is to meet him! Please, if there’s any way we can go now, let’s do it! I’ve told you I will pay you for it," Ariana continued to urge him.
She knew exactly why she was pushing him to take her to Sam. She wouldn't be going home tonight. Her father would likely be trying to reach her, and by the first thing tomorrow morning, he would report her missing to the police. They would start searching everywhere, which would probably slow her down in reaching Sam. Going now seemed like the best option.
But Finn was not ready to lose her to the dangers outside tonight. Monsters always hunted in the dark, it won't be safe going out there this night. That was why they had to stay still until morning. It was never safe once night fell in the city; monsters were everywhere.
So, he refused to take her to San. He assured her that it was for her own good. She wouldn’t gain anything if she died looking for him. Even if her father captured her, she could use that opportunity to warn others about him. However, if the monsters caught her, she wouldn't have any chance to escape.
                • Rose & Mary's Home •
Finally, Rose was able to return home, but she arrived very late at night. They were all worried about her, but thank goodness she came back safe; nothing happened to her.
Though she was still very upset at her sister, Rosemary and had already dismissed her from her life. She admitted that she did not want to see her sister around her again because Rosemary had betrayed her, and she would never trust her again.
At that moment, Rose was sitting outside the house. Even though it was late at night, she didn’t mind. She just wanted to stay away from heartbreaks and preferred to be alone.
Before long, she heard footsteps approaching. Of course, she knew it was Sam coming.
When he arrived, he sat beside her, and they remained silent for a while.
"She's your sister," he said.
"Did you come to talk about her, or did you come to apologize for what you did? Which one? After everything you have done, is this what you have come to say to me?" she replied, her eyes filled with tears and heartbreaks