Page 8 of The Silencer

"Police!Don't move!"

"Get on the ground now!"

"We've found her!We need medical assistance immediately!"

My eyes fly open and I look around, hardly daring to believe what I'm hearing.The room is suddenly filled with light and noise.People in uniforms are swarming around, their voices way too loud in my ears after months of near-silence.

I try to sit up, but my body is too weak.A woman in a police uniform kneels beside me, her face etched with concern.

"Clodagh?Clodagh O'Rourke?"she asks gently.

I nod, unable to speak.Tears begin to stream down my face.I can’t believe it.I've been found.Someone was looking for me.They’ve found me.

"It's okay, sweetheart.You're safe now.We're going to get you out of here," she says, carefully wrapping a blanket around my trembling body.

As she lifts me, I catch a glimpse of the man being wrestled to the ground, handcuffs clicking into place.Our eyes meet for a brief moment, and I see the rage in his face.But for the first time in months, I'm not afraid of him.He can’t hurt me now.I pray that this is the last time I ever see him.

They carry me out of the cabin, and I blink in the bright sunlight.It hurts my eyes after so long in darkness, but it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

As they load me into an ambulance, I hear one of the officers say, "We got him, boys.The O'Rourke family killer is in custody."

A wave of grief washes over me as I remember my family.They're gone, and nothing can bring them back.But I'm alive.I survived.

As the ambulance doors close and we drive away from my prison, I close my eyes.For the first time in months, I allow myself to hope.The nightmare is over.I'm free.

But what happens now?

Where do I go?

FIVE

emmanuel

The news hitsme like a punch to the gut.I'm sitting at the kitchen table, scrolling through my phone, when the headline jumps out at me:

BREAKING NEWS: Jacob Dellinger Arrested in Connection with O'Rourke Family Murders and Kidnapping.

My hand trembles as I tap the article, scanning it frantically.They found him holed up in a derelict farmhouse.The girl, Clodagh, was with him—alive, thank God, but traumatized.He was drunk when they busted down the door, barely put up a fight.

I should feel relieved.The nightmare's over.He can't hurt anyone else.But instead, a cold rage washes over me.This isn't how it was supposed to end.

"Emmanuel?"Ma's voice startles me.She's standing in the doorway, concern etched on her face."What's wrong, love?"

I swallow hard, trying to keep my voice steady."They got him, Ma.The guards arrested Da."

Her eyes widen, a mixture of emotions flashing across her face—relief, sadness, anger.She sinks into the chair across from me."Oh," she breathes."Is the girl...?"

"She's alive," I assure her."They're taking her to hospital, but physically she seems okay."

Ma nods, tears welling in her eyes."Thank God for that, at least."

We sit in silence for a long moment, both of us reeling from what that bastard has done.It’s a heaviness that’s been sitting on my chest since the moment I found out he killed that family and took the girl.He’s a monster.Two fucking months he’s had her.God knows what he did to her while he had her captive.

The tightening in my chest intensifies to the point I can't take it anymore.I push back from the table, my chair scraping loudly against the floor.

"I need some air," I mutter, heading for the door.

"Emmanuel—" Ma starts, but I'm already gone.

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