Page 32 of All Ghosts Aren’t Dead (The Forgotten #1)

My stomach lurched, and I nearly tripped over my feet rushing inside. I turned in a slow circle, heart racing as my eyes dragged over every inch of the cell.

Maybe I’d missed him. Maybe he was curled up and tucked behind something. Hidden.

But no.

He wasn’t here.

My chest started to cave in.

“Daddy?”

He was already there, stepping inside and scanning the walls like maybe he missed something, too.

“Daddy, he’s not—” I blinked hard. “He was supposed to be here. You said he was here.”

The stone bit into my skin when I dropped to my knees.

He was supposed to be here.

Daddy said he was here. Miller said he was here. The stupid map said he was here.

“I’m too late.”

My palms hit the floor. My ribs heaved. The smell of bleach was so strong I could feel it in my throat and in my eyes, burning and burning and burning.

What if they moved him?

What if they hurt him again?

What if he’s dead?

My fingers clawed at the ground.

“Baby.” Daddy’s arms came around me.

“He—he always came for me,” I choked. “Even when it got bad. Even when they said not to. He always came.”

I didn’t want to cry, but I couldn’t help it.

My chest shook, and I gasped for breath, pushing my face into Daddy’s collarbone. “I came for him, Daddy, and I’m too late. I failed. I always fail.”

Daddy flinched.

“Don’t,” he whispered, sharp. “Don’t ever say that.”

I blinked.

His arms tightened around me, one hand cradling the back of my head like he could shield me from the very thought. “You haven’t failed at a single fucking thing. Do you hear me? You came back for your brother. You walked into hell for him. That’s not failure, Blue. That’s love.”

The comms crackled in our ears. Daddy hit the button.

“Miller,” he snapped. “Are you sure this is the right goddamn cell?”

There was a pause, then Miller spoke. “Yes. Everything matches. Blueprints, camera logs, movement tracking. He should be right there.”

“Then why the fuck isn’t he?—”

“Wait.” Miller’s voice sharpened. “West stairwell, third floor. I’ve got movement. Whoever it is, they’re fast.”

Daddy’s head turned, sharp and focused.

Another crackle.

“Sam?” Simon’s voice came through, tight and breathless. “It’s Jonah.”

Everything inside me stopped.

Daddy leaned closer to his comm. “Say again?”

“The movement. It’s Jonah. He’s— fuck. ” Simon exhaled. “He came charging out of nowhere and tackled one of the guards. I thought he was one of theirs, but he’s definitely not.”

I surged to my feet and turned toward Daddy, eyes wide. “It’s him?”

He didn’t answer—just reached for his comm again, voice a growl.

“Simon. Is he lucid?”

“He thinks we’re a threat. He’s trying to block us from getting to the kids. Shit. Three guards are incoming. Bishop!”

I started moving.

Daddy caught my arm. “Bailey?—”

“I have to get to him, Daddy.”

“Jesus Christ. They have cattle prods. They’re trying to corner him. Hey, asshole!” Simon shouted.

A shot cracked through the comms. “Dropped one. Jonah’s still swinging. Fuck, he’s strong.”

My feet pounded against the floor. Daddy’s boots followed behind mine, fast and steady.

“Jonah,” Simon said, voice calm. “My name is Simon. We’re not here to hurt you. We’re going to get you out of here.”

There was silence, and then a grunt.

“I don’t give a fuck who you are, and if you touch any of those kids, I will break both your arms.”

“We’re not going to hurt those kids, Jonah. We’re here with your brother, and we’re taking you home.”

Home.

Jonah was coming home.

“My brother is dead.” Jonah’s voice was rough, not at all the one I remembered. “You’re lying. My brother’s dead .”

“No,” Simon said firmly. “He’s not. He’s here, Jonah. He’s alive . Do you want to talk to him?”

I took the stairs two at a time, lungs burning.

“You’re lying!” There was a pause, and then the sound of boots scuffing stone. “This is a test. Or a punishment. He’s not here. He’s dead .”

“He’s not,” Simon said. “Jonah, I swear, he’s here. He’s alive. Do you want to hear his voice?”

I cleared the last stair.

The hallway was narrow, lit by a flickering overhead bulb that barely reached the corners.

Jonah .

His back was to me, body braced in a defensive crouch, fists up and bloody. The lighting was terrible, and my eyes were filled with tears, but I knew that shape.

I blinked, just to be sure. And then I did it again.

It was still him.

My big brother.

He was taller than I remembered. Broader, too. All muscle and scars now, like every year we’d lost had been carved into his body instead.

His shirt hung in tatters, soaked with sweat and blood, one sleeve ripped clean off. Bruises of all shapes and sizes lined his ribcage.

But his hair…

It still curled at the ends like it did when it got sweaty, and somehow, that hurt the worst.

“JJ,” I whispered.

Jonah didn’t move at first. His back was still to me, fists clenched, and chest rising in short, ragged pulls.

I sucked in a breath, fingers curling at my sides as I waited, and then—he moved. Barely . Just enough to catch the sound of me breathing.

Shoulders rolling back, his spine twisted. One foot pivoted backward with a familiar caution.

Never trust what’s behind you, Bailey.

Jaw twitching, he turned his head. His eyes locked on mine, and for one suspended second, they didn’t recognize me.

I took a shaky step forward. “I—I did what you said, JJ. I fought really hard.”

Jonah’s mouth parted. His arms dropped an inch, and then his whole body caved in like he’d been punched in the stomach. “B—Bailey?”

My feet moved before I told them to, before my brain could even catch up.

“Bailey—” Jonah’s voice cracked.

I crashed into him, arms wrapping tight around his ribs, head burying into his chest like I was still seven years old and just needed him to tell me it was okay.

Jonah staggered back a step, then folded over me like his body remembered what his mind hadn’t caught up to yet. His hands were shaking when they gripped my shoulders, then one curled behind my head.

“B—Bailey.”

Behind us, I barely registered the buzz of the comm.

“Simon,” Daddy barked. “Get the rest of the kids out. Finish the mission.”

There was a pause, then Simon’s voice came through, clear and steady. “Copy that.”

I didn’t move.

“I missed you, JJ,” I whispered. “I missed you so much.”