Page 164 of Dark Love

“Yeah, Dahl, someone survived.”

There’s a woman out there that understands. “The news didn’t mention her.”

“That’s because the police never found her.”

All the pieces fall together. “You did. You saved her. Because of me.”

A somber frown mars his face as he nods.

“I want to meet her. To talk to her.”

His head pops up, and shock replaces sadness. “What?”

“You said there was only one survivor, but there’s two, her and me. I can’t understand fully what she went through—”

“Dahl, no one can understand. She’s broken. What that filth did to her can never be fixed. And I don’t want you to be—" His eyes fall away as they fill with moisture.

His pain radiates through to me. “Is that what you’ve been worrying about?”

“The doctor said it might be good for the two of you to meet. That you might be able to help each other through it. But if it hurts you in any way—"

“The doctor is right. I’d like to meet her.”

“Are you sure? Be very sure.”

Am I? No. But I’m doing this anyway. The only way is with Vex’s help. “Tell me about her.”

“Her name is Imogene and Payne is taking care of her—"

Payne? “That doesn’t sound like a doctor’s name.”

A rough chuckle burst out of Vex. “Payne is my best friend. He pulled her out of the pit—“

“Pit!”

“Yeah, Dahl, he left them in pits.”

They showed the burial markers on the television, but they didn’t mention that detail. “Why is she with Payne?”

“It’s either she stays with him, or we admit her into a facility.”

“A mental hospital?”

Vex nods.

“When can I meet her?”

“You’re sure about this?”

“Positive.”

“It might not be for a while with your work schedule.”

Adonis would understand. But I can’t tell him. “I’ll ask for Tuesday off tomorrow.”

“You don’t need to do that, Dahl.”

I really do, but he doesn’t understand what life was like for me before. If I can help someone else and in turn be helped by myself, then I NEED to do this. “Tuesday. Or let me know if another day would be better.”

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