Page 144 of Golden Atonement

The fact was, I did know who they were looking for and I prayed they never found her. If she had truly escaped her nightmare then she deserved to live what life she had left in peace.

All of them did.

I wasn’t keeping anything from Max, but this wasn’t my story to tell. While Thena and I had similar backgrounds, my life was nothing compared to hers.

Stepping under the spray, I closed my eyes and tried to wash away the memories of the last time I saw Thena. The night she helped me escape and I was forced to leave her to those monsters.

“I can’t,” I whispered, my body shaking uncontrollably. I hurt everywhere. I didn’t want to move. I just wanted to sleep. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d slept.

“You have to, Remi,” she firmly said. “If you don’t, they will kill you.”

“I don’t care anymore.” I closed my eyes, leaning my head against the cold concrete wall. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t matter. No one can help me now.”

Shaking me, she snarled. “You are not giving up. I won’t let you.”

“Please, Thena. Just let me go.”

“I can’t do that. You have to live.”

“Why?”

“Because only you can stop them.”

I smirked. “Thena, I can barely keep my eyes open.”

“What about Max?” she blurted. “You said Max will protect you.”

Shaking my head, I muttered, “It’s been so long, Thena. He won’t even remember me.”

“But you have to try. Try for me, Remi. Please,” she damn near cried, which was odd, because I’d never heard Thena cry once. She was so damn strong. Stronger than I was.

“Now get up,” she ordered, helping me to my feet. “Iris is waiting for you.”

“I’m so tired,” I cried. “Please just let me die.”

“No,” Thena growled. “You will not die, Remi. You will escape this hell and live. Do you hear me?”

“Come with us, Thena. Please. I can’t do this without you.”

“Yes, you can. Just think about getting to Max. He will save you.”

Nodding, Thena helped me through the tunnels. I was so cold. Every step hurt but I knew she was right. I really didn’t want to die. I wanted to feel the sun on my face again. To see the ocean one more time. Mainly, I wanted to see Max.

Walking in the dark, through the muck and sludge, I tried not to think about what I was walking through. The smell was bad enough. Up ahead, I saw a light and Iris, who was hanging onto the wall for support. Reaching her, I held onto her tightly when we both heard Thena say, “The second you are out, run. Don’t look back. Just run and keep running. Do you hear me?”

“Please come with us, Thena,” Iris whispered, her voice just as shaky and scared as mine. “They will kill you.”

“Better me than you two. You two need to live and you will. The both of you will have the most amazing lives. I know it. But more importantly, you will have a life. A beautiful life.”

Hugging us both, Thena wedged the metal door open while hot, muggy air seeped into the tunnel. Iris wiggled her way through the opening.

Turning to Thena, I whispered, “I’m going to miss you.”

“Remember your promise, Remi.”

“I will,” I said just as the alarms went off.

“GO!” she shouted while a tear rolled down her dirty face, and I shimmied my way through the opening. The second I was outside, I stumbled, hand over knees, blindly not caring what direction I went in. I was coughing and bile was still seeping out of my throat. My knees were raw, bleeding, and weak as I tried desperately to get away. Off in the distance, I heard their shouts and calls behind me as they tried to find me through the brush.

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