DELILAH
I’m fucking stupid for believing her. That’s my last thought as Helene’s guard, covered in blood after killing the person who found Kane, chases me. She said the other islanders sought shelter from the storm, then the dead man found Kane when he was going to meet them.
I need to stay alive to help him.
Please let me live so I can help him.
When we were running through the forest, he ran in zig-zags to stop them catching us, so I do too. Weight barrels into my legs, swiping out from under me as the guard climbs over me, pressing my cheek against the sand. I’m forced to look at the side of the cliff Helene allowed me to leave through.
The bitch is there, watching with a fucking smile.
“No!” I cry. “You said I could help him!”
She doesn’t respond as her sick minion cuts a slit through my dress.
“Please, let me help him!” I punch backwards, trying to dislodge them off my back as I continue screaming, “He’s your grandson! Don’t let him die!”
The guard’s hands are like iron bands burning into my wrists as he pins them above my head. Holding them together in one hand, he forces my legs apart. I have no energy or control to fight him as I continue begging, “Please, let me go. I’ll come back, just don’t make me lose Kane. Not again.”
My tears soak into the sand, but there’s no invasion of my body as the guard stills above me. Their hands loosen on my wrists as Helene turns, walking away without a single care about what’s going to happen to me or Kane.
“Please let me go.” I try to rationalize with the monster’s hired hand. “You can do whatever you want afterwards, I promise. I don’t care anymore, just don’t let him die.”
They don’t move, unzip, or even breathe.
“Please, I won’t fight you. As soon as he’s safe, you can kill me. Whatever you want.”
The waves usually pick up after midday. They’ll carry the body away. I need them to let me go now so I can search for anything to tell me where Kane is. But they don’t move and their entire weight is on me, stopping me from being able to get up.
“He can’t die.” My lip trembles. “He’s too good. Better than me, everyone.” More weight is applied to my back as I sob loudly. “No, please.”
Stretching over me, the guard grabs my hand and places it on their wrist. The blood on their mask sticks my hair as they nuzzle into the crook of my neck while I snatch my hand back.
“Please, I’ll hold your hand after.”
They roughly shake their head, placing my hand back on their wrist. They’re more forceful this time so I keep my fingers against their blood-soaked, long-sleeved t-shirt. They nod. Then pick up my other hand to put on their other wrist.
“Tell me what I need to do for you to let me go.”
Another head shake, more erratic this time, knocking into the side of my head.
“I need him to be okay. I don’t know if you’ve ever loved someone before, but I’d give anything—my life, my sanity—for him to be okay.” They flex their arms, shaking them as I cry. “I don’t know what you want me to do.”
Another shake of their arms, dragging them closer to my face.
“The tide is going to wash the body away. The man knew where he was. He found him. No one else knows where he is. Please let me go.”
I’m flipped onto my back, the harsh movements knocking the air out of me as the guard flattens over me. Their knees are pressed either side of my thighs, painfully digging in, but they don’t pull my legs apart. The mascara Helene told me to wear so the tourist didn’t think I’d spent however long being tortured is stained down my face and my eyes are raw.
“You don’t have to listen to her,” I whisper. “You can escape with Kane. He’ll make sure no one comes after you.”
He stills.
“She lies to everyone. She did it to us too. We’ll help you. Whatever she’s done to you, I’ll make sure she experiences worse. Kane and I found the truth out, so we can help you do it too. Just please let me find him.”
There’s no fucking response.
“I’m not the type of person who would beg, not after what my father did. I promised myself I’d fight, butheis worth me begging. Please, I am fucking begging you to let me go.”
