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“Long lost wife?”
Another no.
“Long lost kid?”
Negative.
“Undercover cops?”
“We’re just old friends,” Molly interrupts us. “We’re from New Orleans, and we need to tell him… his brother died.”
We’re walking, and I frown at her behind our jovial guide’s back. Gavin already knows that. She dismisses me.
Joshua’s voice turns solemn. “That’s too bad. I’m not close friends with the guy, but nobody needs to hear that. I’ll introduce you if he’s there.”
We follow Joshua up the semi-crowded street, past brightly lit cafes where hipsters are eating corn dogs.
“I want a corn dog,” Molly says almost if from a dream.
“Unicorn has the best corn dogs,” Joshua says. “I recommend the poutine dog.”
She blinks up at him and smiles. “You’re nice.”
“Don’t fall for it, kid.” He elbows her arm. “I’m just trying to get in your pants.”
I’m surprised when she bursts out laughing. Molly’s smiles have all but disappeared since we left the theater, her laughter is even more scarce. Whoever this guy is, he’s doing something right.
“Here we are!” We stop in front of a storefront painted like a carnival.
The exterior is a mixture of Pepto-Bismol pink, turquoise blue, and gold metallic fleur de lis, and the sign is a literal montage of bottle caps spelling out the name. It’s jam-packed with patrons, and Molly’s all set to charge inside.
“Wait.” I grab her arm. My insides recoil, and I’m not sure I’m ready to confront Gavin this way. All the memories of being in that theater, being one step above a prisoner, doing what he said, being trapped…
“What?” Molly frowns at me, and Joshua steps up beside her.
“You look like you’re going to be sick,” he says.
I turn away from them, going to the corner of the building, then I lean against the brick wall. I’m having a hard time catching my breath, and I recognize this panic. It’s happening too fast, I’m not prepared. Maybe I do need Mark here. Maybe I need him to hold my hand and tell me to breathe.
Molly grabs our guide’s arm, pushing him toward the entrance to the club. “Josh, can you give us a second?”
“Sure thing.” He trots to the door, and she storms to where I’m breaking down.
“What are we doing here?” I whisper half to myself, half to her.
“What are you doing?” she snaps. “I’m here to confront the asshole who turned me over to his fucking gang of rapists.”
My insides cringe, and I can’t stop shaking. She’s right. She has every reason to be the sword of vengeance. My situation isn’t as simple.
Gavin gave me a place to live. He knew my mother. He paid so I could stay on at the Catholic boarding school after she died. He tried to protect me from the monster.
The night he sent Roland in to save me drifts through my mind…
“Have you forgotten what he is?” I meet the cold blue eyes of the girl I thought I rescued.
Maybe I’m the monster… maybe we’re all monsters.
“Josh said he’s helping girls now. Maybe he’s changed?”
