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Aiden: Where are you?
Me: Leaving house.
I’m scared.
Aiden: Keep phone on you. Call me and put it in back pocket. Give me clues as you talk.
Me: Okay.
Finished, I stood and speed dialed Aiden. The phone connected and I turned down the volume in case Aiden made a noise. Locking the screen, I put it in my back pocket. I was a nervous wreck, knowing Matthew’s life was at stake.
Me, leaving The Society, was what had caused all this to happen. I was responsible for his life. I stepped out of the bathroom.
“I always knew you were a smart girl, Sarah.”
I froze for a second, thinking I had been caught. A long silence permeated the room as he watched me, then nodded to the door. Making it to the first floor, Matthew quickly looked me over, scared. I gave a slight nod like I used to when we’d signal we were okay to each other. Relaxing minutely, Matthew stood as Abraham gestured with the gun for him to do so. Abraham gave Matthew a push, causing him to grunt in order to keep his balance.
I hated Abraham.
“If anyone does anything, Abraham will shoot. Does everyone understand?”
We both acquiesced to the Keeper’s no-nonsense tone. “Yes.”
Ushered outside, we entered a minivan. This was not the Keeper’s car I remembered. They’d probably rented it. I gave directions. Hopefully, Aiden would be able to hear where we were going.
Smack.
Matthew grunted. I turned and saw he had blood at the corner of his mouth. “That was for hitting me.” Abraham was angry. Raising his hand, he prepared to strike again. I looked at the Keeper. “Please make it stop, Keeper. We’re cooperating. Please, Keeper.”
“Abraham. No more.” The finality again had Abraham obeying.
“Yes, Keeper.”
Matthew had his fists bunched. Facing forward, I continued giving directions to the location that would most likely be my resting place.
THE PLACE WAS abandoned. I’d hoped bikers would be here, but luck wasn’t on our side today. As we got out, Matthew came up to me. I grabbed his hand as we kept going.
“Keep walking. Sarah, lead the way.” The Keeper grew impatient.
This place seemed lifeless, like a waiting tomb, as we walked up the meandering worn path. Birds grew quiet as they watched us march to our death. The leaves were gathered along the side of the trail. I stumbled and Matthew helped me gain my balance.
As the path kept going, the tears formed and I willed them away. I needed to stay on the rational side of my brain.
Maybe this was the chance to get the truth. “I know you’re sending us to our death. Why are you killing all those people?”
Ominously, the Keeper responded, “Sarah, I will not answer your questions. My mission is bigger than you’ll ever understand.”
I started to speak, but he cut me off. “It is time to embrace the path that has been chosen for you. Now be silent, or I’ll let Abraham do what he wants to Matthew.”
I hate the Keeper.
We were rounding the bend. The tall rocks that I’d loved the last time I was here with Aiden came into view. Aiden. I hoped the phone disconnected by the time they put a bullet in me. The last time we were here, Aiden had talked about how he didn’t have service. More and more, I regretted texting him. I’d given him an impossible situation to solve and he’d punish himself for the rest of his life if I died.
The Keeper called from behind us, “Okay, I think this is far enough. Turn around.”
Being at the steepest part of the ravine, I knew they probably planned to shoot us, then dump us down the hill. Closing my eyes, I turned and grabbed Matthew’s hand again. There was a slight tremble in mine.
Matthew stood strong beside me as I glanced at him. When I faced our killers, I saw Aiden silently coming toward us. Matthew squeezed my hand in little pulses. He’d known Aiden was behind us before me.
