Page 22 of Cavern of Silence
I shouldn't believe a word he says. My track record with men has proven to be disastrous. But I do trust him. Whatever comes out of his mouth, I don't want to doubt.
I step out of the cavern of silence I've been living in for years. "The Global Leaders are part of every country. They will be wherever we go."
"What about the U.S.?"
"Your president is one of them."
"Why are you afraid of them?"
"I can't tell you. Please. I just told you more than I should have. But don't send me back."
Silence.
The more time that passes without him speaking, the more agitated I become.
He's going to send me back. He's going back on his promise to me.
I spin and try to walk quickly through the camp, but my heels don't allow any fast movements.
He steps in front of me. "Julieta, stop."
"Thank you for rescuing me from Santiago. I'll take over from here." I wipe my face and try to push past him, but he sidesteps to stay in front of me.
"Julieta, no."
"I'm not going back there. I understand you have a job to do, but I'm not okay with you delivering me to them. So either let me through, or we'll fight it out. One of us will end up dead. Probably me, since you're all Mr. Muscle, but I'd rather die by your hand than spend another minute under their control."
His face scrunches, as if he's trying not to laugh.
"It's not funny."
"No, it's not."
"Why are you trying not to laugh?"
"I'm imagining how it will look when you attempt to fight me."
"Thanks a lot," I spout and try again to push past him.
He continues to block me.
I push on his chest. "You're making me angry right now."
He holds both my wrists against his chest. "I told you I'd never hurt you, and you're already assuming I'm going to do the worst."
"You're going back on your word. You said you wouldn't deliver me if I didn't want to go."
"Yes. That's correct. So when did I say I was going to deliver you?"
"You didn't have to. Your silence said everything."
"Am I not allowed to think? You just told me something important, and I'm not allowed to process it?"
I freeze.
He raises his eyebrows.
I try to stop my tears. "I can't go back."
