Please Forget Me - Chapter 247

‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.

“We’re conducting an inspection. Please show your identification and travel permit.”

Killian took a letter from the envelope Lieutenant O’Brien had given him and handed it over. The soldier read the letter, then glanced at us both with wide eyes, clearly surprised, and lifted the brim of his cap in a respectful salute.

‘Thank goodness.’

Even though I was sure there was no way what happened in Eisensthal could’ve been discovered, I still felt nervous. Now I understood why Killian had lost his composure when he first saw the military police after waking up.

‘But really, Killian, there’s nothing to worry about anymore.’

The soldier only needed to confirm that we were cleared to cross the bridge into mainland Falkland. He was even polite and friendly with us.

“It’s an honor to meet you.”

“Thank you. I’m sure you’re busy, so please continue on to the next carriage.”

Killian shook the soldier’s hand in a perfunctory way, eager for him to move along. But the soldier lingered, looking uneasy.

“I’m sorry, but even though your identities are confirmed, I’m required to ask a few questions. It’s just protocol, nothing more. I hope you won’t mind?”

“What sort of questions?”

“Oh…”

He seemed surprised anyone would question the questions, but after a short pause, he continued. Thankfully, they really were just routine—things like our travel purpose and destination.

“Where are you headed?”

“To Dunley.”

“Is that your final destination?”

“No. From there, we’ll go on to Stamford.”

Killian named a completely different destination instead of his actual home.

“Ah.”

The soldier didn’t ask why, just gave me a quick glance, nodded, and started scribbling in his notebook.

Tap, tap.

Once everyone fell silent, I heard the sound of fingertips tapping.

Killian, there’s no need to be tense.

I reached out and took his hand, but he immediately pulled away.

‘…Why?’

The inspection passed without incident, and soon we were crossing the river into Falkland’s mainland.

‘Will seeing familiar scenery help me regain my lost memories?’

I wanted to watch out the window, but the night outside was pitch black. There was only the hum of the train and the hush of midnight, and with the comfort of having passed the inspection safely, I drifted off to sleep.

“Dana.”

“Mmm…”

“Wake up.”

Was it morning already? But even behind my eyelids it was still dark. The sun hadn’t risen, which meant we were still far from Dunley.

“We need to get off here.”

Get off?

I blinked awake to see it was still the dead of night. Half asleep, I just followed Killian and got off at the next station.

The moment we set foot on the platform, he hurried away, glancing around as if worried someone might see us. It wasn’t until we were inside the empty waiting room that I finally had enough sense to ask where we were.

“Why did we get off here instead of Dunley?”

I watched the now-empty tracks, the train we’d been on having already left.

“I thought it’d be safer to contact my brother and get help before going straight home.”

There was no indication the military was after us yet, so was all this caution really necessary? But I didn’t argue. If Killian’s fragile state meant he might lose control and draw a gun if we kept traveling with soldiers, I couldn’t risk it.

“And after thinking it over…”

He hesitated, as if gauging my reaction.

“I think we should leave the country entirely.”

“You mean…go abroad?”

Killian nodded.

“Somewhere no one knows us.”

“That’s true. If we stay here, we’ll always be living in fear that the military police will show up one day.”

“So I’d really like us to leave right away. I’m sorry, I know this is sudden…”

“You don’t have to apologize.”

What did I really have to lose by leaving my country?

Sure, I had family here, but I couldn’t even remember my parents’ faces. As for my grandmother, all I remembered was that we didn’t get along. There was nothing keeping me here.

“I’m fine with it. As long as I have you, that’s all that matters.”

At sunrise, we caught the first train out. We switched trains at the third stop, then again after that—almost as if we were trying to avoid being followed. The army probably still had no idea, but Killian wouldn’t listen to any protests.