Page 183 of Girl Between

He pulled her closer, his lips brushing her forehead. "Then let's do it. Let's face everything together."

She smiled through her tears, a sense of relief washing over her. "Yes, together." She looked up at him, one last hurdle looming in her mind. “Us. Our future. And we can't have one if we're still haunted by Claire."

Jake took a deep breath, his gaze unwavering. "You're right. It's time to put this behind us. It’s time to make the call."

With a sense of determination, Dana picked up the phone anddialed. The conversation was brief but necessary, setting the wheels in motion for the confrontation they both knew they needed.

The next few days passed in a blur of preparation and reflection. They talked late into the night, revisiting memories, both painful and joyful, and reaffirming their commitment to each other. By the time they were ready to leave for Paris, a newfound sense of resolve had settled over Dana.

The morning of their departure, she and Jake stood in their living room, bags packed and passports in hand. "Let's do this," Dana said, her voice filled with a mix of apprehension and determination.

"Together," Jake replied, squeezing her hand.

They left their temporary home for the last time, ready to face the ghosts of their past and embrace the possibilities of their future.

Jakehad always knownthis day would come. They had discussed it countless times, the closure it would bring, and the weight it could potentially lift from their hearts.

Claire, the ghost of their past, was still casting shadows over their present. It was time to confront those shadows head-on.

The drive to the prison was silent, each lost in their thoughts, the memories of Claire haunting their minds. As they approached the looming gates of the penitentiary, Dana glanced at Jake, seeking strength in his presence. He squeezed her hand reassuringly, a small gesture of solidarity.

Dana had been right. Justice had been doled out without them needing to have front row seats. He was equally reluctant to revisit their past experiences, but he knew they needed to close this chapter if they ever wanted to start a new one.

As they passed through security, each step echoed their resolve. The sterile walls of the prison seemed to close in on them, amplifying their anxiety. Finally, they were led to a small, dimly lit room where they would face Claire. The door opened, and there she was, a shadow of her former self.

Claire's once-vibrant eyes were now hollow and empty. She sat motionless, her gaze fixed on some distant point, not even acknowledging their presence. The sight of her was a jarring reminder of the person she used to be and the choices that had led her here.

They took their seats, a wall of glass separating them—the free from the damned.

Dana spoke first, her voice steady, "Claire, we needed to see you one last time. To understand, to find closure."

Claire's gaze shifted slowly toward them, a bitter smile forming on her cracked lips. "You think you can just move on?" Her voice was raspy, filled with a mixture of hate and psychosis. "You think you can forget what happened?"

Jake leaned forward, his voice calm but firm. "We're not here to forget, Claire. We're here to forgive, to let go of the past."

Claire's laughter was a bitter, hollow sound. "Forgive? You think that will change anything? You'll never be free of me. As long as there's darkness in the world, I'll be there, waiting in the shadows to find you."

Dana surged to her feet with determination. She leaned close to the glass so there would be no mistaking her words. "Maybe so, Claire. But we don’t let darkness define us anymore. We won't let it control our lives."

Claire's expression twisted into one of disdain, but she said nothing. The silence hung heavy in the room, punctuated only by the muffled sounds of the prison beyond the glass.

Dana reached for Jake's hand, her grip firm. "Goodbye, Claire," Jake said softly. "We hope you find peace someday, even if it's just a small measure of it."

With those final words, Jake stood up, his resolve unshaken. They turned away from the glass, walking back through the labyrinthine halls of the prison, leaving Claire and the darkness behind.

The visit ended on a somber note, but as Jake and Dana walked back to the car, he felt a strange sense of relief. They had faced their past and were now ready to move forward.

They sat in Jake’s car in silence for a moment, the weight of thevisit still heavy on their minds. Dana glanced at their go-bags in the rearview mirror, a symbol of their new beginning.

“You ready?” Jake asked.

Dana nodded, taking his hand. This time she wasn’t running away; she was running toward the life she wanted—and shewasn’t alone.