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My woman.
First things first, save Ethan’s woman.
Ana quickly tells us what happened to her, and to Sammi, as we walk. We took out most of the guards left behind, most having gone to The Tomb walls and gates once the alarm went off. Fire and riots are a great way to distract, and I can only hope Luis and the others can handle them. As Ana speaks, I notice the familiarity about which she talks about Sammi and wonder at the bond that seems to have grown in their captivity. Ethan’s jaw is tight and his fists clenched as he listens, urging Crow forward.
We get to a wooden door and Crow stops, turning to us.
“Down there,” he tells us, “there are six more cells toward the back.” Hesitating a second, he continues. “I have never known of people coming out from there alive. If she is there… just be prepared for anything.”
Ethan’s eyes flash painfully as he pushes forward throwing the door open and rushing down the stairs. Cursing, I look to Ana who nods before I run off after him. I see Brutus step up beside her and push myself forward, satisfied he’ll look after her.
It’s dark and bigger than I thought down here. There’s a long hallway, one lone torch at the end illuminating it but leaving dark shadows to dance along the edges. It smells of wet stone, sweat and fear.
At the end of the hall a thin trickle of light shines at the bottom of one of the doors and I step up behind Ethan in the same second he opens it.
A pained gurgle releases from his throat at the sight before him and my body seems to drain of blood, coldness and memory enveloping me immediately….
It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness of the room. The familiar smells of sweat and wet stone are quickly overwhelmed by the cloying, thick scent of blood and offal. My young eyes can’t seem to blink, wide and gazing at the scene in front of me.
“Mama?” I don’t even register myself saying it or stepping forward into the room.
Mama is naked and her face is so swollen, so red, that if not for the necklace hanging from her neck I don’t know if I’d be sure it was her. Her throat is split, a ragged gash across it with only a thin line of pale skin between the gash and her ruined face. She looks like an angel drenched in blood. I’ve seen Mama naked before, but her private parts never looked like that before.
All of this recognition happens in seconds and my body acts of its own accord. I can’t stop the sounds coming from me. I feel a heavy hand on my shoulder, and I howl, throwing myself forward despite the hands trying to hold me back.
Reaching for Mama, always reaching for my mama.
Finally, I stop trying to reach for her and drop to the ground sobbing. I don’t want this man touching me, but his hand makes soft circles on my back and he says nothing, so I let him stay. Fear and anger fill my fragile young heart and my ears are thumping and pounding.
I feel Crow tense behind me, and I turn to see a man standing in the doorway. He’s smirking as he looks down on us but says nothing before walking away and leaving us here. When he leaves, I sniffle a few times as Crow gently leads me from the room. This man looks and acts pretty crazy, but for some reason it seems like he understands me or something.
“Who was that?” I finally ask as we walk back to my cell.
Crows jaw tightens and he looks more serious than I’ve seen him in a long time.
“Richard Hinkley,” he says eventually. “A fucking rapist sadist piece of shit. Don’t you worry about him, kid. Shits gonna change in here real soon. Which is why I need your help now. Are you ready to help?”
I look up at him, the man who showed me the worst thing I’ve ever seen. An image that will stick with me forever. Somehow, I’m grateful for that.
A soft whisper caresses my mind, speaking of blood and pain. I welcome the voice and smile to myself, something inside of me cracking.
“I’m ready.”
Forty Six
Ana
When we get down, I see an open door at the end of the hall and rush down toward the sounds of struggle. When I get to the door my eyes widen at the sight in front of me.
Oh my god.
Ethan and Ax are standing just inside the door, watching Dick holding Sammi in front of him with a blade at her throat. Ax is pale, practically white, and his eyes seem far and unseeing.
Somehow, I don’t think he’s seeing what is in front of us.
Ethan, on the other hand, looks like the devil himself. His hair is wild around his head, his body coated in sweat and blood from before. I can hear what almost sounds like a growl coming from him as he slowly approaches Dick, who looks terrified.
“Back the fuck up!” Dick shouts and my eyes finally register him and Sammi.
