Almost there.
My hopes arc upward. My breath comes faster, and my heart’s going to explode with hope. If Bill can just get a bit farther out …
Please, please make it. For the dying people in here. For Sutton. For all of us.
“Oh, shit!” Cole yells. He aims his gun toward a figure on the wall. One of the guards stands with something mounted on his shoulder.
“RPG!” Bruno shouts. They both begin firing, but it doesn’t seem to have any effect.
The guard quickly loads the rocket into the front and points it in the direction of Bill.
I look back through the gate. There’s a few feet of sight left between both doors. Blue sky stretches before them. I can almost taste the rolling green hills that mean freedom beyond the Hole. The dust from the car picks up behind it as it thunders over a bump in the road.
Go, Bill, go! I realize I’m screaming at the top of my lungs. But then I hear an exhale of air from above, trailed by wispy, gray smoke.
I follow it toward the car.
And then my heart stops.
A huge explosion of grinding metal and fiery sparks is emitted into the sky. The car spins right, settling in the dust, smoke billowing upward. I don’t see any movement in the windows.
The guards on the wall cheer loudly with their hands in the air. The gate finally slams shut, sealing Bill and Roméo and our chances away, forever.
“Noooooooo!” I scream as Cole grabs me. He yanks me away even as I cuss. I fight him, tears spilling from my face as the guards notice us for the first time.
“It’s her!” they shout. “Get her!”
Bruno begins shooting as Cole pulls me away, sprinting for cover. Zeus trails behind us, staying with Bruno.
I want to fight Cole. I want to fight the guards, but my hopes crash to the floor. I’ve got nothing left.
“Don’t you dare quit on me,” Cole says in a strained voice.
I bite my lip and let him lead me away from the wall and the lab. The shooting continues behind us. I can’t breathe. A weird sound comes from my throat when I try, like someone’s sitting on my chest. My legs weigh a thousand pounds as I take each labored step.
Everything’s a blur. I keep seeing the car explode in front of me. I was so sure they’d make it, so hopeful something would go right. Now all of this has been for nothing. Grace’s death. Amber’s death. Bill’s death. Roméo’s death. Death. Death. Death. For nothing. A moan escapes me. This isn’t how Sutton wanted it. This isn’t what I envisioned. This can’t be why my father and brother died.
How could we have failed?
Next thing, Levi’s standing in front of us. His hair is flying all over, and his face is covered in grit. He holds a bloody comrade. His eyes have lost all their hope, but I imagine mine look the same.
“Hurry, follow me,” he says with urgency. He half-carries his comrade with him as he navigates the maze of the Hole, back to the shantytown. Gaunt faces greet us. As soon as they meet our eyes, they wander away, knowing we failed.
Levi places his friend on the ground and lets him rest on his back. Levi’s chest moves up and down as he tries to catch his breath. He checks his friend’s pulse and, feeling nothing, lets the man’s hand drop from his own. When he turns to face us, his eyes are red and constricted.
“I’m so sorry,” Cole says.
“We need to regroup and make another plan,” Levi says, but his voice trails off at the end.
We have no other plans.
“Look, I just need … time, okay?” Levi says. “We lost a lot of people, in just a few minutes.” He puts his hands on his head as his lips tremble. “I didn’t … I thought … ”
Cole puts his hand on Levi’s shoulder. “We’ll hide over there.”
We head into the nearest shack and try to catch our breath. Bruno joins us, not saying a word. Zeus follows on his heels, his tongue dripping saliva onto the ground. I watch as his ribcage moves up and down rhythmically. But nothing can take my mind off the memory of Roméo slumped over and Bill’s eyes the last time they met mine.
I don’t feel anything, not pain from my arm, not hope, just nothingness. It’s all gone, all our chances.
We’ll never get Sutton out now.
Cole settles beside me, pushing his back against a crude wall, and puts his arms around me. He doesn’t cry, but I feel his desperation in the way he grips me tightly. Zeus settles at our feet, whimpering with his head in his paws.
I close my eyes and take it all in. We’ve got nothing left to hope for. The records are gone and everything else with them. I try to think of any other way of getting out, but we’ve spent all our resources in the last thirty-six hours. I let my head fall back against Cole in defeat.
“It’s over,” I say.
You can overcome anything, short of death. You can overcome anything, short of death. I repeat it over and over in my head. Dad … now what should I do, because I’m not sure I’ve got anything left …
I curl into Cole’s lap, and he holds me so close, I can barely breathe. His heart beats against my cheek, and I’m grateful we both survived, for that one small miracle. He attempts to soothe me by stroking my hair, but I hear his broken breaths. I feel shattered, severed in every way possible. If a heart could stop beating simply by breaking, mine would be silent now.
“Say something,” Cole says.
“What’s there to say? Except that I feel completely dead inside. We failed everyone today; there’s no hope anymore for any of us.” I press my face into his chest. “We lost Grace, Bill, and Roméo in a matter of hours today, and for what?”
“For something we all believed in, for something we all wanted to see succeed.”
“But it didn’t.”
“Not today, but another day we will.”
“How? The files are gone, the United Powers will never come, and eventually we’re all going to die in here.”
“Look at me.”
“I can’t.”
“Look at me, please,” he says. I shift my body around, and my eyes meet his. “Why did we come back to the Hole in the first place?”
“You know why.”
“No, I want to hear you say it.”
“To rescue Sutton. I know that, but how?”
“We will run, hide, and do everything we can to survive. And we’ll figure out a way to get to Sutton, I promise you that. It might take time, but we’re going to save him. And like you said before … you’d rather be here with Sutton than outside the Hole knowing he’s stuck in here. Am I right?”
“Yes,” I say. “But we’re short on time. God only knows what Wilson’s going to put him through now. We can’t wait, Cole; he needs us now.”
“We’ll go back for him, I promise. But not right now. We need to regroup first.”
“Do you think just the two of us can do this?”
“Give Bruno his space … He’ll come around, and when he does, we’ll be able to figure out what our next move’s going to be. But for now, we have to do whatever it takes to stay under the radar.”
I lower my face to his. We kiss, and it’s the only thing that reminds me I’m still alive.
He pulls his mouth away but rests his forehead on mine. “Every single day, I’ll do everything within my power to keep you safe,” he says.
“I know, and I love you for that.”
“Lexi?” someone whispers.
I pull away from Cole. “Did you hear that?
“Hear what?”
“My stupid mind is messing with me.”
But then I hear it again. “Lexi?” A female voice echoes through my ears. My body stiffens, and I grab Cole’s arm.
“That,” I say to Cole. “You didn’t hear that?”
“No.”
“I swear I heard someone calling out my name.”
“Nobody said your name.”
“Lexi.” This time I know Cole hears it because his eyes widen, and he turns his head in the direction of the voice.
“Giv
e me your flashlight,” I say.
Cole hands it to me, and I slowly rise to my feet. My hands shake as I inch my way toward her.
Cole grabs my arm, stopping me. “Let me go first,” he says in a whisper. He steps in front of me, holding me back with one hand while searching with the other. He opens the flap of the tent and crosses into an adjacent area shrouded in darkness. On the far side, a lump of blankets rests in the corner.
“Lexi,” the voice creaks.
My heart pounds in my ears as anger begins to strangle my chest. I know that voice. Something about it sends shivers up my spine.
Cole stops in his tracks, facing the blankets. He lifts his gun.
Slowly, I raise the flashlight, flicking it toward the voice. Movement from under the blanket startles me, and I drop the flashlight. A gasp escapes me when I see her unmistakable curly hair.
There’s no way.
“What’s wrong? Who is it?” Cole asks.
“It’s no one; let’s get out of here,” I whisper in a shaky voice.
“Lexi, please,” the woman says.
“Then why does that woman keep saying your name?”
“Oh, it is you.” Her voice is so soft and weak. “I knew it.”
“Because everyone here knows my name,” I say to Cole. “Now put the gun down, and let’s get out of here, now.”
“My name is Katherine,” the woman says to Cole.
I draw in a sharp breath.
“I’m Lexi’s mother.”
“Wait, what?” Cole asks, taking his eyes off the sights and partially lowering his gun.
“I’m serious, Cole, now,” I say, attempting to pull him away. But he doesn’t budge. “What are you doing?”
“Is that woman your mother?”
“No. She’s not. Please come with me, or I’ll go without you.”
“Now hold up, if she’s messing with you … ”
“Shine the light my way,” the woman says. “Let her see my face.”
“Don’t,” I say to Cole in a demanding tone as I bend to pick up the flashlight. “I’ve been through enough today; I don’t need to see her. I just want to leave.”
Cole’s eyes narrow at me, and I can tell he’s not going to let this go. But I don’t want to do this, not now; there’s nothing but bitterness in my mouth when I think about her. And as much as I thought I’d forgiven her … there’s a part of me that wants to tell her how I really feel. Because being betrayed by your own flesh and blood is a wound that might scar over, but the damaged tissue still remains. I was sent here because of her. All of this is her fault.
Every muscle in my body tightens, and my free hand clenches into a fist of rage.
“Give me the flashlight,” Cole says.
“I’d rather not.”
In a low voice, he says, “I’m not asking anymore.” He snatches the flashlight from me and shines the light toward her face. She blinks away from it.
My nostrils flare as I raise my gun toward her head. My hands shake, and my blood rushes through my ears, as the realization dawns on me. She’s really here, lying underneath blankets, in front of me. Her curly hair’s matted and gray down the middle. She pulls herself up onto her elbows and faces me. I gasp when I see the black brand snaking around her neck. Sloth … how ironic.
“Is that her?” Cole asks.
I swallow hard, and my body stiffens.
“Lexi?” Cole asks.
My breathing increases. I try to calm myself, but with one glance, Cole knows the answer to his question.
“Lower your gun,” Cole says to me. “She’s no threat to you now.”
“I never was,” my mother says.
“Shut up,” I say to her.
“Lexi, it’s not what you think,” she says. “Can we talk … alone?”
“No we cannot. I have nothing nice to say to you, and I’m not going to waste my breath or my time.”
“You need to hear this.”
“I don’t need to hear, nor do I want to listen, to anything you have to say.”
“I understand why you’re angry with me, but—”
“No. There are not buts,” I say, raising my voice. “You turned on me, your own daughter … and instead of protecting me, you accused me, of something you knew for a fact never happened. You sent me to the most dangerous place in the country. And for what? What did I ever do to you? What did I do that was so wrong?”
“I love you,” she says.
“Don’t you dare say that to me.” All my muscles tighten, and I clench my jaw so hard it sends pain to my ears.
In the back of my mind, I hear Keegan’s words. “I don’t think she accused you for the reason you think she did.” But I’m exhausted and can’t think straight. Seeing her in the flesh takes everything I have left.
I lower my gun and shake my head, too confounded to speak for a moment.
“Lexi, I’m begging you,” she says.
“I don’t owe you anything.” I narrow my eyes at her.
“Your stepfather figured out what was going on,” she says.
“Stop. That’s enough.”
“He broke into the study and found everything.”
“I don’t care.”
“He figured it out; he realized what was going on.”
“What was going on? Are you kidding me? That man was torturing me, and you just stood there and did nothing to stop him. Nothing!”
I spin on my heels and swallow the bile in my throat, pulling a shocked Cole with me. I need to get out of here before I shoot her.
“He never did those things to you,” she says. I turn back toward her.
“You’re insane.”
“No, Lexi, I’m not.”
“What? You don’t think I remember? I know exactly what he did to me. I lived it. And he drugged you. So go right ahead and believe whatever you want to believe. I don’t care anymore; I’m no longer your daughter … You know nothing about me. I’m with the people who love and care about me, and I want nothing to do with you. Stay away from me, I don’t ever want to see or hear from you again.”
I’m practically running away from her when she says one last thing.
“He didn’t torture you,” she says loudly. “I did.”
THE END
Abi Ketner
Abi Ketner Is a registered nurse with a passion for novels, the beaches of St. John, and her Philadelphia Phillies. A talented singer, Abi loves to go running and spend lots of time with her family. She currently resides in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with her husband, triplet daughters and two very spoiled dogs.
Melissa Kalicicki
Melissa Kalicicki received her bachelor's degree from Millersville University in 2003. She married, had two boys and currently lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Aside from reading and writing, her interests include running and mixed martial arts. She also remains an avid Cleveland sports fan.
READ BRANDED CHAPTER 1
I’m buried six feet under, and no one hears my screams.
The rope chafes as I loop it around my neck. I pull down, making sure the knot is secure. It seems sturdy enough. My legs shake. My heart beats heavy in my throat. Sweat pours down my back.
Death and I glare at each other through my tears.
I take one last look at the crystal chandelier, the foyer outlined with mirrors, and the flawless decorations. No photographs adorn the walls. No happy memories here.
I’m ready to go. On the count of three.
I inhale, preparing myself for the finality of it all. Dropping my hands, a glimmer catches my eye. It’s my ring, the last precious gift my father gave me. I twist it around to read the inscription. Picturing his face forces me to reconsider my choice. He’d be heartbroken if he could see me now.
A door slams in the hallway, almost causing me to lose my balance. My thoughts already muddled, I stand waiting with the rope hanging around my neck. Voices I don’t recognize creep through the walls.
Curiosity overshadows my current thoughts. I
t’s late at night, and this is a secure building in High Society. No one disturbs the peace here—ever. I tug on the noose and pull it back over my head.
Peering through the eyehole in our doorway, I see a large group of armed guards banging on my neighbors’ door. A heated conversation ensues, and my neighbors point toward my family’s home.
It hits me. I’ve been accused and they’re here to arrest me.
My father would want me to run, and in that split second, I decide to listen to his voice within me. Flinging myself forward in fear, I scramble up the marble staircase and into my brother’s old bedroom. The door is partially covered, but it exists. Pushing his dresser aside, my fingers claw at the opening. Breathing hard, I lodge myself against it. Nothing. I step back and kick it with all my strength. The wood splinters open, and my foot gets caught. I wrench it backward, scraping my calf, but adrenaline pushes me forward. The voices at the front door shout my name.
On hands and knees, I squeeze through the jagged opening. My brother left through this passage, and now it’s my escape too. Cobwebs entangle my face, hands, and hair. At the end, I feel for the knob, twisting it clockwise. It swings open, creaking from disuse. I sprint into the hallway and smash through the large fire escape doors at the end. A burst of cool air strikes me in the face as I jump down the ladder.
Reaching the fifth floor, I knock on a friend’s window. The lights flicker on, and I see the curtains move, but no one answers. I bang on the window harder.
“Let me in! Please!” I say, but the lights darken. They know I’ve been accused and refuse to help me. Fear and adrenaline rush through my veins as I keep running, knocking on more windows along the way. No one has mercy. They all know what happens to sinners.
Another flight of stairs passes in a blur when I hear the guards’ heavy footfalls from above. I can’t hide, but I don’t want to go without trying.
Help me, Daddy. I need your strength now.
My previous desolation evolves into a will to survive. I have to keep running, but I tremble and gasp for air. I steel my nerves and force my body to keep moving. In a matter of minutes, my legs cramp and my chest burns. I plunge to the ground, scraping my knee and elbow. A moan escapes from my chest.