The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 271

Late at night, the wind howled outside, growing fiercer by the minute.

Lavinia lounged on the living room couch, mindlessly scrolling through her phone. But her thoughts were entirely consumed by a certain someone.

She glanced down at her hand, suddenly realizing she couldn't remember if she had ever held Garnett's hand like that.

Nothing came to mind. Probably not.

He was always so arrogant, standing beside her like a proud prince expecting adoration. He would never initiate something as simple as holding her hand.

She couldn't help but wonder—what was that certain someone thinking today when he grabbed her hand?

She didn't believe his mind was entirely blank.

The news warned of rapidly rising waters. A storm surge was hitting the coast, and the comment sections were filled with panic. A flash flood warning had been issued for Lafferty Street, right where Lavinia lived.

She was used to living in high-rises and didn't fully grasp the danger of street-level flooding, so she hadn't paid it much mind.

She rolled over, propping her chin on a throw pillow, and kept scrolling.

The glass windows rattled and groaned, as if something outside were trying to pry them open.

She looked up. The panes were reinforced with the duct tape Charley had helped her put up that afternoon, the crisscrossing X-shapes pulling the glass tight.

She thought to herself how lucky she was that he had helped her with it.

Suddenly, the lights went out.

The glow of her phone illuminated half of Lavinia's face. The battery was at thirty percent.

She sat up. Before she could fully process the blackout, she heard the sound of water. It wasn't the rain lashing against the windows—it was closer, heavier.

In an instant, water began seeping in under the front door, spreading across the floorboards, rushing over her feet and up to her knees.

It was freezing.

The distant shouts of community workers carried through the wind outside, their voices breaking up in the storm: "First-floor residents, please evacuate immediately! Move to the second floor! Do not stay on the first floor!"

The voices faded away.

The water kept rising, but Lavinia stood frozen in place, unable to move a muscle.

The memory of the ocean from when she was twelve rushed back, drowning her thoughts. Before she could even react, she felt herself sinking.

Someone had called her name back then, but she couldn't hear what they said. All she remembered was the muffled, heavy sound of water rushing into her ears, as if the entire world had been submerged.

She dropped into a crouch, wrapping her arms tightly around herself, curling into a tight ball.

She didn't move.

***

Charley waded through the flooded streets through the pouring rain, leading Nemo on a leash.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify