Chapter 27

“I’m sorry…I thought you were gone for a shower. I’ll come back later.” The woman dressed in a maid’s uniform uttered as she turned, dragging her mop and bucket on wheels behind her.

“Hey wait, who are you?” Sitting up on the cot, my interest piqued as I looked at the unfamiliar face.

I had noticed that every time I’d come back from having a shower that my cell had been cleaned. The floor, toilet and sink were always sparkling and my sheets had been changed. I guess it never occurred to me to wonder exactly who was doing this. It makes sense that even they would have a cleaning staff of potentially harmless people.

Noting her hesitation, I decided to go first.

“I’m Cassia.” Rising from the cot, I extended my hand in greeting. Her dark brown eyes shifted warily from my face to my hand. It was apparent she knew about me and my weird blood. Or maybe all the prisoners here were odd in some way and she had just learned to keep her distance.

“I…have to go.” Clutching the wooden handle of her mop nervously, she turned to leave.

“Please,” I pleaded, “I need to know something. Please.” Keeping my voice steady, I only wanted to know one thing from this woman who walked freely through the facility. Pausing at the open door, she looked up.

“What?”

“The little girl. Jessica. Is she…okay?” I wholeheartedly expected her to respond with good news. Hopefully, the little girl was just fine or, even better, released and allowed to live a normal life.

The woman’s paled expression, however, dampened my expectations.

“I’m not allowed to talk about…things that go on here.” She turned and moved quickly out the door. Lunging for the door before it slammed shut, I managed to get my fingers caught between before it closed.

“Please! I just want to know if she’s okay!” I screamed as I tried to pry the door open. Someone on the other side smashed the protruding tips of my fingers with something hard. Shrieking in pain, I instinctively pulled my fingers away and held them to my chest. Throbbing and swelling, I thought for a moment that a couple of them were broken.

Jessica. What did they do to you?

Tears ran down my face as I pictured the beautiful little girl with the ocean blue eyes. I laid my hands protectively over my stomach as I realized my baby’s potential future.

I have to get you out of here.

I hoped with all my heart that Keanu’s plan would work, otherwise, I was going to go with Plan B.

If we don’t escape today, sweet baby, mommy will make it so they can’t hurt either of us.

***

Leaving the safety of my cell, I followed the guard down the hall to the showers. The hallway seemed much longer than usual today; probably because it was the last time I was ever going to see it, at least, I hoped it was.

With my head hung and my heart heavy, I walked the last mile of this nightmare. One way or another, it was going to end today. The only thing left to be determined was whether it was going to be a happy ending or a tragedy.

Images of my loved ones flashed through my mind. My grandmother, Amy and Keanu. Not a very large number of important people in my life, I realized.

There were so many things I wanted to do with my life. So many unrealized dreams.

The prospect of Archeology seemed so far away from me now, and honestly, quite trivial considering all of the other missed opportunities in my life.

Travelling the world. Marriage. Buying a house. Raising my baby in a happy, safe environment. Hearing her first cry, her first word and the moment she teetered with her first step, I was going to miss it all. I’d be lucky to even see her once in my life let alone care for her until she was an adult.

A large, painful lump formed in my throat as I smothered the tears welling in my eyes. Hugging my sides, I forced the unshed tears back.

The light padding of my bare feet on the polished tile floor was drowned out by the thudding of the guard’s army boots.

Walking steadily in front of me like a good soldier, he had no way of knowing that this, too, might be his final voyage. If Keanu had planted a gun, knife or other weapon, I might be the last face this man ever sees. Does he have a family waiting for him to come home tonight? Would I be taking away someone’s daddy today? Will I be a murderer in a matter of minutes?

I felt sick to my stomach.

Rounding the corner to the showers, my insides lurched as I realized the big moment would be only seconds from now. Positioning himself outside the door to the showers, he stood rigid. Staring straight ahead, he pretended like I wasn’t there.

Avoiding eye contact. Avoiding me.

I looked up to examine his face. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t at least acknowledge his existence, his life.

He’s so young.

So young, in fact, I now felt that he couldn’t even be married or have children. How could I steal that future from him?

Pushing the door open and moving quickly into the showers, I couldn’t tolerate to look at him any longer. It was unbearable to think that I’d have to harm this young man, probably fatally.

As the main door slammed behind me, the bang resonated loudly throughout the room. Holding onto the wall for support, I made my way to the last stall.

There were only four stalls in total but the last one felt as though it were over a mile away. As I passed each green door, I grew increasingly more nauseous and the anxiety was insufferable.

By the time I reached the third stall, I had to pause and hold my stomach because I was sure I was going to vomit. Breathing in and out slowly, I steadied myself as I reached the last stall.

Closed before me, I exhaled sharply as I placed a hand on the cool surface to push it open.

This is it, baby, this is where our future begins…or ends.