“I was hoping we’d at least get the safe groups out,” Bruno says.
“What safe groups?” I ask.
“The safe groups were pre-selected sinners that Sutton rounded up. Could you imagine if the entire Hole got out?”
“No,” Cole says. “Let’s just get the hell out of here.”
Bruno continues. “If we manage to stay alive long enough, our next mission is trying to figure out a way to free—”
“Bruno!” Cole says. “Let’s just get the hell out of here!”
“Roger that!”
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“Somewhere safe,” Bruno says.
“Like there is such a thing,” Cole says.
I lean my head against the window and exhale. We’re almost safe. We’re out of the hellhole and Cole’s with me. I feel relieved, but it is bittersweet. My stepfather’s dead, along with my brother. I have now lost everyone in my family. I only have who is in this vehicle with me, and Sutton. I look at Cole. I see his face, covered with dirt, smeared with sweat and blood, and am thankful he can share this with me. This burden. These memories. The rest of the world might be upside down and inside out, but Cole’s mine forever.
Cole’s eyes don’t leave my face and I know he’s worried about me, but I’m glad he won’t ask me to talk about it. He knows in time—I will.
I regret that I can’t go back and grab Alyssa’s book from my bunk. I can’t rewind time and tell Keegan that I love him even though I disagreed with some of his decisions. I can’t change the outcome of the operation. I can’t save my father’s last letter to me, but at least I have his words written on my heart. At least, I know I made the right decision to fight. Because I still believe in justice for all.
The scenery passes outside the window, ticking away like time. My eyelids feel heavy with the absence of the adrenaline rush. Cole climbs into the back seat, and I drift off to sleep with him stroking my hair, comforting me in the aftershock of the war.
* * *
When I wake, the smell on the breeze perks me up. The ocean spray and the piercing call of seagulls make me smile and I know exactly where we are.
Lexington Bay.
Bruno parks the vehicle outside a small cottage in a remote part of the bay after driving ten hours south. It’s almost dark which tells me that I slept the entire ride, not even waking when they stopped for fuel or food.
Cole steps out of the vehicle and opens my door, and I inhale the fresh sea air. My legs feel stiff, and dirt cakes in my pores, but I don’t care. I’m free.
Bruno opens the front door and light spills out, revealing a beautiful, dark-skinned woman. She embraces him with tears pouring from her face and then leads him inside.
I give Cole a weird look.
He smiles. “That’s Grace, Bruno’s wife.”
“He’s married?”
“Apparently.” He smiles his crooked smile.
Before my eyes, Sutton appears. His right arm is in a sling, but he’s clean, and his green eyes shine with fresh emotion. I kiss him on each cheek and hug him carefully, beginning to choke on my sadness. For him. For what we’ve lost.
“Thank you, sweet girl,” he says. “For saving my life.”
“No, I should be the one thanking you. Thank you for loving me the way my father would, for doing everything humanly possible to make sure I was protected.” I step back, but I keep my hands on his shoulders. “But most of all. Thank you for believing in me and giving me a chance to—”
“My dear, I would’ve loved you either way simply because you’re his daughter, and I promised your father I’d watch over you for as long as I was alive. And I will do just that.” He spins on his heel then, hiding his tears. “I have something for you.”
I follow him into the cottage, taking in the soft, willowy curtains that waft with the breeze and the lightly flowered wicker furniture lit up by a small table lamp. He picks up something from the counter and hands it to me.
“Now it’s time for you to set her free.”
I run my shaking hands over the gift. The wood is smooth and has ornate carvings of roses along the side. It smells slightly cedar. I’ve never seen anything like it before.
Cole pulls me close to him, resting his arm around my shoulders. He takes my hand and places it over the latch.
I take it between my fingers, opening it with care and ease. My eyes focus on a bag of coarse, white sand secured inside.
“Do you know what that is?”
Tears streak down my face, unhindered. “Alyssa.” I hold her ashes close to my heart. “I never dreamed it would be possible. How did you…?” I can’t say another word before Sutton smiles and walks away.
Cole takes my hand. “Walk with me.” He leads me out onto the beach, his gentle touch reassuring me.
I’m holding someone who changed my life. Alyssa taught me about holding on even when everything looks bleak. She helped me gain strength when I had none. She was my friend when everyone else judged me. She brought laughter into an otherwise depressing place.
I hold her ashes up to my mouth and whisper. “Thank you. I love you.”
I carefully open the bag and lift my arms into the air. I open my hands as the wind carries her into the ocean… The water the same color as my eyes. The waves, peaceful and unending, bury her for us.
Cole comes up behind me, and I rest my body back into him. He wraps his arms around me as we both cry tears of mourning, of joy, and of peace.
“You know, even though we failed to free the Hole, we didn’t completely fail. Not only do we get to grant Alyssa’s wish. We finally get to be together,” I say.
“But we’re still not out of the woods,” he says. “They’ll come after us.”
I turn to face him, and he wipes a tear from my cheek with his hand. “We’ll take one day at a time, because each day is one day we didn’t have before.”
He pulls me into his arms and kisses my lips. “I love you.”
“When we get back to the cabin…” He swallows hard. “I’m going to show you exactly how much I love you. I’m going to memorize every inch of your skin with my hands, lips, and body.”
“Let’s go!” I grab his hand and start pulling him toward the cabin.
“Wow. Someone’s in a hurry.” He pulls me to him, crushing me against his chest. “We overcame it, you know—”
“I know. Everything short of death.” And we stand there holding and kissing each other, soaking in every second we get to share, not knowing when the next one will be.
Abi Ketner, Branded
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