Page 5 of His Collateral Wife

And bleeding.

(It's him, of course. You know it can only be him, no one else.)

My head feels faint, and I have a hard time breathing again. I can barely think over the way my heart is bang, bang, banging against my chest.

He's the reason why everyone got roaring drunk last night. But they've clearly celebrated prematurely, since the "high-ranking" government agent they've captured has somehow managed to escape.

'Se fue!' He's gone!

(You know what to do.)

I yank the used plastic bag I have in my pocket for emergencies---

(Who knew I'd actually have use for it?)

---and use it to the bloodstained pebbles I can find to avoid leaving fingerprints.

(Go, go, go!)

And then I run---

(Run like your life depends on it!)

---to the point that my lungs feel like they're about to explode.

(Because it does!)

But still I run.

(Faster, Eden, faster!)

I run without stopping.

(You can do it.)

Until I finally reach the top of the cliff and I'm able to throw the pebbles away.

(Well done, child. Well done.)

I crash down on my knees as I hear the barking of dogs behind me.

Oh please, let this be enough, God.

Tears start racing down my cheeks.

Please, God. Please.

Because He alone knows why I wasn't given the chance to save my cats.

Let this be enough.

And yet this time, it's different.

So please.

The dogs have finally reached me. They're my babies, too, but right now they have a job to do.

'Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!'

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