Page 50 of A Sinner's Saint

Me:

I wanted to let you know that I’m leaving. I can’t continue to walk through school acting like everything is okay. Today was hard. Tomorrow won’t be any easier. I’m taking myself out of a situation that’s not good for me. You will probably say you don’t care, but we both know you’d be lying. I love you, Vin. I will always love you. I wish things were different.

After hitting send, I switch off my phone. The only reason I let him know I was leaving was because I know he’ll look for me when he notices I don’t show up to school. He will no doubt stress about where I am. The last thing I need is for him to show up on my parents’ doorstep.

Leaning my head back against the seat, I close my eyes.I can do this. I’m going to be okay.I’ll make sure I’m okay. I could really use a joint right now.

My eyes open at that thought.Nope. I’m not going there.I liked it, the couple of times I tried it. But right now, I just need to get through this one day at a time.

I smile when I see my aunt with a huge sign covered in rainbow glitter, my name scrawled across it. “Aunt Stacey, did you think I wouldn’t know who you were?” I ask her.

“Pfft, you’d never forget me, baby girl. I make it my life’s mission to be unforgettable,” she says.

She’s not wrong. My Aunt Stacey is a free spirit. Never married. No children. She’s the most spontaneous person I’ve ever known. And I wouldn’t change a single thing about her.

“Okay, I’ve gathered all the supplies. Ice cream, matching PJs, and more junk food than we could consume in an entire year. Tonight, it’s me, you, andThe Notebook,” she says.

I smile. I love my aunt. She’s not going to bombard me with questions. She’s just going to be there. Which is exactly what I need right now.

“I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my night,” I tell her.

I don’t turn my phone back on until I’m in bed, my stomach so full of junk I feel sick. But when I see the barrage of text messages and missed call notifications coming through from Vin, I feel even sicker. I scroll up and start reading through them.

Vin:

What do you mean you’re leaving? What are you doing, Cammi?

Vin:

Cammi, what are you talking about?

Vin:

Where are you? I’ll come and see you. Don’t do anything rash.

Vin:

Cammi, message me back. Answer my call. Just tell me you’re okay? I’m going out of my mind here.

I send him a quick reply.

Me:

I’m okay. I had my phone off. I’m in Sydney with my aunt.

After I press send, I plug my phone into the charger. I don’t know if I want him to keep messaging, or to just leave me alone. What I do know is that I’m tired. And now that I’m lying here in the dark, I finally let the tears fall freely. I finally let myself fully feel the hurt.

Chapter Twenty-Three

I’m back here. He kept his word and brought me back here. I really should have known better than to think he’d change his mind. It’s been a year. Every month for a whole year, my father has made me strip naked, then shoved me into this room.

I know what happens next. They’re coming for me. Sometimes I wait for hours, others minutes. I don’t want to behere. The thought of what’s about to happen sends a fresh wave of panic through me.

I try the door handle, and to my surprise, it actually opens. He forgot to lock it. He never forgets to lock it. It has to be a trick, one of my father’s sick mind games. He did this on purpose.

Does he want me to try to escape or does he want me to stay put?

I don’t care what he wants. If I see a way out of this room, I’m leaving. I don’t look back as I start running down the hallway. I can hear their screams. The screams and cries of the other children stuck in this hellhole. I want to find a light and burn this place down. Maybe if I can get outside, figure out where we are, find the address, I can come back and set it alight.

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