Page 142 of Cavern of Silence
Roman is already on the tarmac when I arrive. Since my first day back, I've not been on the tarmac or in the aircraft without him. He no longer leaves right away when we land and helps me clean.
At first, I didn't understand what he was trying to prove, but his actions haven't waivered. He seems genuinely remorseful of his past behavior.
There was only one other time he pulled me aside outside of the plane to tell me we needed a plan to escape, but I blew him off and went back inside. It was the day after Miguel showed up at my apartment. And until Ryker is free or I figure out a way to get to the guys so they can rescue him, I'm not taking any risks that could possibly hurt Ryker further.
Some days, I think I'm going crazy. One night, the anguish was too much. I picked up a knife and contemplated slitting my wrists, but I heard a woman's voice in an Irish accent say, "He's fighting for you."
It was so clear, I thought she was in the room with me. I looked everywhere in the small hotel room, but I was alone. It still made me put the knife away.
That night, I dreamed of a blonde woman. In the same Irish accent, she said, "Don't forget your promise. It will lead you to the solution."
"What do you mean? What promise?"
She smiled and tilted her head. Her eyes teared up. "He needs you now but will need you more later."
"You've seen him?" I asked, shedding my own tears.
But she disappeared, and I woke up to my alarm beeping.
I've never believed in ghosts. But I don't know any Irish women. And I never had Ryker confirm it, but I think Maureen was blonde. So I'm going crazy, or she's watching over us.
It should freak me out, but her words give me hope.
I step out of the car, and it pulls away.
"Julieta, can I talk to you for a moment?" Roman asks.
"Sure. What about?"
"Hear me out before you respond, please?"
I sigh. "Okay."
"I found a way to leave. I'm going tonight. You need to come with me. This life...we don't deserve to be stuck in it."
Is he serious?
What if this is a trick?
"Julieta, don't you want to be free?"
My gut flips, and my chest tightens. I take a few deep breaths.
"Where are you going?"
"To Europe."
"How?"
"My friend's plane. He's a pilot and already scheduled the flight plan. It looks routine. No one will know."
"The Global Leaders will see you get on the plane. They are video recording us now. You know that."
He shakes his head. "No. My friend keeps his plane on his property and has a private runway. There won't be any recording."
Can this really be true? Is there a way to get to Bermuda to find the guys?
"Julieta, we have a chance."
