Page 159 of Trapped Truth

All this time, I was so scared of losing myself to this fight. Or letting the monster they made me into take control with no hope of wrestling it back. Meanwhile, Gracie has held herself together, death threats and all.

I’m fucking proud of her.

Seeing her pass the agents guarding our precious cargo to move from bed-to-bed, eyeing each liberated woman, it’s hard not to tear up. She moves like her freedom could be torn away at any moment. Scared to take up space. To breathe. To blink, even.

I hope that in time, she’ll find herself again.

That we all will.

In bay number nine, Gracie’s silent perusal abruptly halts. She wavers at the foot of the bed, one hand dancing in the sterilised air like she wants to move closer but fear entraps her. I meet Gunnar’s honeyed gaze at the nearby door to the suite then sneak inside.

“Gracie, everything okay?”

“I know her.” Her voice audibly shakes. “Her name is Ruth. We attended a few parties together.”

“Ruth… she wasn’t on your list.”

“I didn’t remember her until now.” Her head tilts, considering. “But her face, it’s so familiar. She has this light, tinkling laugh. It’s amazing. She shined so brightly.”

Joining her, I glance over the clipboard fastened to the end of the medical bed. “She’s being held in an induced coma while the team deals with a severe blood infection.”

“Is she going to be alright?”

“I don’t know, sweetie. I hope so.”

Her lip wobbles as she nods bravely. I watch in awe as she moves to the young woman’s bedside and takes her tape-wrapped hand, lightly stroking the visible blue veins penetrated by multiple needles. The young girl can’t be much older than Gracie.

“You’re safe now, Ruth.” Keeping her words light and feather-soft, she bends over the bed rail. “No one is going to hurt you here.”

My vocal cords spasm and contract, raging with unexpressed fire. I have to blink aside searing tears. I remember holding Gracie’s hand and comforting her like it was yesterday. Now she’s all grown up and doing the same for a new generation of victims.

It isn’t fair. She shouldn’t be here, forced to wade through the debris from Nolan Madden’s long reign of terror. But watching her step up to the plate heals something broken and ragged inside me. No matter what, I know she’ll be okay.

“Can I stay with her for a while?” Gracie lifts her tearful eyes to mine.

“I guess so. I’m not sure when visiting hours end.”

“I’ll leave if the doctors want me to. I just don’t want her to be alone.”

“Understood.” I paint on a smile. “Stay. I’ll be back soon.”

“Thank you, Ember.”

Once I’ve let myself out, the bravery drains out of me faster than blood down a plughole. I take the arm Gunnar offers without judgement. From the pounding in my head, I’ll need to rest soon or another seizure will hit. It’s been a couple days since any of us slept.

“I’ll keep an eye on the kid,” he offers sincerely. “She’s fine to stay.”

“Thanks, I didn’t have the heart to tell her no.”

“Go find the others upstairs, and take a break. You look exhausted.”

“Aren’t we all?” I laugh without an ounce of humour.

“Pretty much.”

“Have you heard anything about the interrogation?”

“Last I spoke to Axel, Madden was bartering for his life with the attorney general. He won’t get very far. His list of crimes was longer than my arm before he started blowing shit up.”