Page 219 of Deviant

“I don’t feel much like a winner, Henry.”

He frowns again.

“Elias would have wanted you to have a full life. So would your mother.”

“My mother?” I ask, feeling a sudden sparkle of life within me.

He nods.

“Like I said, there have been players who in the past have made sure never to be found. Your mother was such a player.”

Hope suddenly fills my heart.

“So she managed to never be found by your employers again?”

“Never. And they have looked. Though the winners are guaranteed their freedom, my employers prefer to keep tabs on them—constantly.”

“Twenty-four-hour surveillance doesn’t sound like freedom to me.”

“How I understand the meaning behind that statement more than most.” He lets out a sigh, confirming my suspicions that neither he, Five, or Seven can leave the mansion.

Which begs to question…

“Why are your telling me all this, Henry? Why are you helping me?”

“Because I saw how much your mother wanted to save you from this fate. She volunteered just so you’d never have toexperience such a thing. I couldn’t help her then, but I needed to help her now… in some way.”

“Thank you, Henry.”

“You are quite welcome, Lady Hawthorne.” He reverts back to his usual demeanor. “I honestly hope that you’re able to put this, and us, behind you.”

“I doubt that will ever be possible. But I’ll try.”

He offers me a nod, and then goes to the limo, opening the door for me.

I slide in, the partition up so the driver can’t see me.

“Best of luck, Lady Hawthorne. Hopefully you won’t need it.”

“Goodbye, Henry.”

He gives me a small smile before closing the door.

“Where to miss?” the driver asks through the speakers.

“Take me to the nearest gas station.”

As we drive off, I turn to look out the back window and watch Henry standing in the middle of the road, with Blackwater Falls disappearing from my sight.

“Goodbye and good riddance,” I whisper, tears streaming down my cheeks as the memories of everyone I have lost to this town comes to the forefront of my mind like a tidal wave, eager to drown me in my own grief.

My mother.

Nora.

Emily.

My father.

---