Page 88 of I Will Mend You
“Which way?” he asks.
“We keep to the dark side of the lawn, not stopping until I either climb or burrow my way to freedom. Once we’re out of here, I’m sure we can stick to the trees until I can hitch a ride back to town.”
He nods. “Let’s go.”
Gathering all my courage into a deep breath, I dash for the expanse of grass, making sure to stick to the shadows. Terror grips my throat, silencing the whimpers that try to break free. With Xero at my side, the pain from the cuts they made into my skin becomes more bearable.
Wind roars through my ears, drowning out my pulse’s rapid drumroll. Every distant rustle of leaves sends my heart climbingup my chest until it lodges in my throat. I don’t dare glance over my shoulder. My focus is on that gate.
Up ahead, two figures emerge from behind the trees, and my steps falter. One is tall and broad, the other petite.
“Why have you stopped?” Xero asks.
I point straight ahead. “It’s Dolly and Delta.”
He shakes his head. “The woman has straight black hair, and she looks familiar.”
When she waves, my heart skips a beat. “She almost looks like…”
“Camila?” Xero whispers.
“Wait—you think your people were looking for me? Because I…” The words stick in my throat. “They’re going to kill me for what I did to you.”
Xero shakes his head. “They won’t know unless you tell them. Don’t wait around, or Delta’s people will get to you.”
He’s right. My priority is getting away from those snuff-making psychopaths. Picking up my pace, I sprint toward the trees, my gaze fixed on Xero’s sister.
“Keep going,” he says, his warm hand pressing on the small of my back.
The heat from his palm seeps through the thick fabric of my robes, burning like a brand against my skin. The comfort is almost overwhelming, a stark contrast to the cold sterility of the infirmary. I steal a glance at Xero, who looks at me with an intensity that sets my nerves aflame.
My breath hitches. Whatever drugs they injected into me this time have heightened my senses, because he almost feels real.
“Amethyst?” Camila beckons me over.
“Camila?” I run, even though she might be a figment of my imagination. Because the next best thing to seeing Xero alive and well would be his ass-kicking sister and best friend.
“Come on,” she says, her voice breaking. “You can do it.”
Next to her, Jynxson gives me an encouraging nod. I want to know why they aren’t running to meet me halfway until I notice they’re on the other side of the gate.
“Keep going, little ghost,” Xero says, his voice choked with emotion.
Tears sting my eyes, and I blink them free. What if this is real? It’s the moment I’ve both been anticipating and dreading. Xero’s people will kill me for what I did, but they might make it painless if I lead them to Delta.
I continue running toward them, my steps plagued with a tumultuous mix of doubt and hope. Uncertainty gnaws at my resolve, threatening to trip me up. I stumble once, then again, but each time Xero’s hand remains on my back, his touch propelling me forward. His unwavering support fuels my determination, and I push through the fear, driven by the desperate need to reach the gate.
Glancing up for another glimpse of those pale blue eyes, my heart lurches. They’re so alive, so intense. Despite the physical impossibility of it all, the love and determination blazing through them feels heartbreakingly real.
My breath comes in shallow gasps. The tall iron gate is just ahead, and beyond it, Camila’s beautiful, smiling face.
“Nearly there,” she says. “Amethyst. Hurry.”
I pick up my pace, not stopping until I reach Camila’s outstretched fingers. She clutches my hands, pulling me against the bars into a hug.
Jynxson keeps his distance, but his presence is just as comforting. Xero stands so close that his body heat radiates into my skin, wrapping me in a cocoon of reassurance. His unwavering presence is a constant reminder that I am not alone. Every breath he takes, every subtle movement, fills my spirit with a profound sense of safety and peace.
“You’re real,” I say, my voice choking with a sob.