He shook his head. “I have no idea. Everything was empty so I'm guessing everyone else is in that auditorium. But I don't know. ”
I’d explored the area before. If I continued deeper into the forest, I’d eventually reach a path that led to the Hudson River, and that would take us south of here, if we could survive the rapids and cold temperature. So, I picked her up and ran. I was grateful for the adrenaline because despite all my wounds, I hardly felt anything. Until I fell at a landing of rocks, that is. She rolled off my arms down the rough cliff, groaning when her body finally stopped at the bottom. I had to crawl most of it, then picked her up.
My speed slowed from there and nothing was clear in my head. Why was I running? She had a tracer now, so it wasn’t like they couldn’t track her. I wondered if Dr. Avery knew a way. If anyone did, he did. I’d have to contact him soon. With the blood and everything, there hadn’t been any time.
By the time I lost a hold of her on the second rocky incline, I was gasping for air. She gasped, struggling to breathe right with the pain. “Come on. I need to get you as far away from here as possible. Maybe because they had you down for a harvest, they won’t look for you. But I don’t know if he erased your tracker. Fuck!” I explained, but it was me who was struggling to start running again. I could only walk. Only the sound of the river rapids lifted my spirits enough for me to get there.
She scanned the world around her, so pale and half naked, with just the hospital blanket. Then I saw it. She was bleeding, but it was to be expected with the procedures she’d just been through. If Adler wasn’t already dead, I was going to kill him myself. What the fuck had he been thinking? Had he been in on Lansbury’s slave killing spree? I was sure he had. That sick fuck. That’s when I saw it. The blood was leaking worse than I’d thought. “Fuck! You’re bleeding bad! Goddammit!” I yelled, and walked in circles, trying to catch my breath and gather my calm and thoughts, not caring that my dick was scalding hot and throbbing, making me sweat.
“Sir. It-it’s okay.”
“No, it’s fucking not! You are not gonna die on me today! Do you hear me? I fucking forbid it! Don’t you dare!”
A weak smile widened her dried lips. I took her bloody hand in mine. This can’t be happening. It just can’t.
“As much as I’d love to obey that command, I don’t think I can … I-it’s okay.” She nodded. “I forgive you.”
My mouth fell open. She was dying on me? She was going to give up? Forgive me? What the fuck? The Magdalena I knew was unabashedly unforgiving. What the fuck? What did they do to her? Who was this? My tears fell to the ground.
“Shut the fuck up, Magdalena. No, you fucking don’t. Fuck you for saying that. Fuck you and your forgiveness. You’re not dying on me. Do you hear me? Stay with me.” Her eyes looked up at a bird that was screeching at us.
“I do. I forgive you. I know you tried. I know …”
The pain stabbed so deep it stole my breath. The world rolled as I closed my eyes tight, wincing. Something was truly not okay.
“Here, sit up. If we’re going to die, we’re gonna die trying. And you can forgive me in fucking hell.” I yanked her, feeling possessive. The force pulled a shriek out of her that echoed through the forest. I hung the big black backpack on hershoulders. I was so grateful Ben had gone to my office despite everything. In that bag, I had a bunch of money I’d cleaned. Enough for her to buy a house somewhere and live a decent life, but also a bunch of USBs with information on the trafficking ring—not all the names but a lot of them.
“Wh-what are you doing?” she whispered.
“We’re gonna jump, but if for some reason I don’t make it and you do, don’t you dare let anyone take this bag, do youunderstandme?” I yelled the last four words.
She nodded. “Sir. Wait—What do you mean? Jump?”
“Can you stand?”
“Probably not on my own.”
I helped her, and we held on to each other. “Don’t let go, Little One.” We stared into each other’s eyes. I cupped her cheek, wanting to tell her I cared about her more than I’d ever cared about anyone, and I didn’t understand why, but it was something I thought death would not cure. “Did you hear what I said? Don’t ever let me go.”Stay with me, Little One. Please stay with me.
As we stepped to the edge, I was hoping the frigid water would help slow down her bleeding and that the current would get us at least four cities away from here.
“Wait. Water. I-I can’t. I’m gonna drown again. No!” I heard the panic in her voice. Of course, they’d almost killed her by drowning her when she got here, so it was not surprising my little one had a fear of drowning. I pulled her over the edge with me. The cold water was a shock that tensed my body. I struggled to get used to the temperature, but also, the water was moving so fast. Submerged, I could see nothing, only feel her. In wanting to know if she was okay, I squeezed her hand. Relief filled me when she squeezed back, but then dizziness and exhaustion took over. With everything we’d been through, it wasn’t surprising.
What were those dark spots in the water?
Everything went black.
Thefrigidwaterwokeme. The current was too fast and the water so deep that I couldn't touch the ground with my feet. It took me too long to realize I was in a river and the only part of my body with some warmth was my hand, interlaced with another so tightly. I kept dipping into the water while they the person holding me floated. When I sunk again grabbed onto their arm. I didn't know who it was, the bag on their back was keep them above water. The water grew even more violent.
When I came up again I finally saw her face. The water was too loud for her to hear me whisper, "Angiel?"
We were just about to go around a curve when I saw a tree trunk about to hit her so I let go and then, everything went black.
Kill her… Kill her… Kill her… Kill her…
Kill her… Kill her… Kill her…
Kill her… Kill her…
