Page 30

Alone, I fall. Together, we rise.

Ever since the mass execution of prisoners, a swell of silent, solemn anger hung in the air. The festering emotions brushed against her skin, making her palms itch as she walked through the pit.

Khalani’s eyes lingered on the bloodstained spot, and a disturbing chill set in her bones, as if the souls of the dead lingered. Watching.

Judging the dark few who remained.

Everyone was on edge, even the guards, whose numbers had increased over the past week. They were preparing. For an uprising maybe—or something worse. The thought unsettled her, and her footsteps quickened as she moved toward Brock in the far corner, with Serene, Derek, and Adan in tow.

They weren’t thrilled about Takeshi aiding their escape, but they agreed to proceed with the plan simply because they had no other option.

Brock stood alone with his back against the stone wall, a foot kicked back, observing the prisoners with a sharp eye as he lazily drew on a cigarette .

Who gave that man a cigarette?

“Back so soon? Come to beg after you realized no guard will help you?” Brock exhaled a puff of smoke as they approached.

“No, we actually came to tell you we found one.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

Brock cocked his head and threw the cigarette on the ground, stomping on it. “Who?”

“That would be me.”

Khalani froze as the familiar, low rumble sounded behind her, sending a shiver down her spine.

Brock’s eyebrows nearly hit his hairline as Takeshi advanced to their group, huddled in the corner. His eyes found hers, and their depth made her pulse race, like black blades slowly splitting her open. Her gaze drifted down his athletic frame to the handgun strapped to his hip, one he usually didn’t wear.

Serene, Derek, and Adan stiffened.

Takeshi stood close, close enough for their fingers to touch, and Khalani didn’t breathe until his piercing stare shifted from her. The weight of his presence pressed in around her, placing every inch of her body on alert.

Brock gave a low whistle as he sized Takeshi up, turning to Khalani. “You managed to get the Captain on our side? Didn’t know sexual favors went that far.”

“I suggest not another word,” Takeshi’s voice deepened. “You’re needed alive for this plan to work.” The promise of violence hung in his obsidian eyes, like he was seconds away from slicing Brock apart.

Something told her he’d enjoy it.

“Hold on. Khalani may trust you to help, but I’m not so sure I do. What’s in it for you?” Serene regarded Takeshi with a serpentine glare.

“I don’t expect you to trust me. I actually advise against it.” Takeshi’s poignant gaze slipped to her. “But you wouldn’t be standing here if I wanted you dead. And seeing as I’m you’re only shot of making it out alive, that will have to be good enough for you.”

The antipathy in the air weighed like chains of metal around their shoulders. Serene’s jaw set with boiling resentment, but she nodded stiffly .

“What’s the plan?” Derek’s voice trembled.

Takeshi gave him an assessing look. “In two days, a few hours before the first shift, I will disable the cameras and alarms. That’s the easy part. The tunnels of Braderhelm are extremely complex, designed so that any who tried to escape would never find their way out.”

“But you know the way, I gather.” Serene’s brows pinched together, the enmity and distrust in her expression apparent.

“Naturally,” he replied in a clipped tone. “We have a measure to deploy gas in certain prisoner cells that will render them unconscious for transport. I’ll turn on the vents to knock out the other prisoners in their cells. We don’t want any additional noise. After manually unlocking your cells, I’ll guide you to the Braderhelm Gates.”

“What about the rest of the guards?”

“Most guards are asleep then, so few will be on duty. By knowing their rotations, sneaking past shouldn’t be difficult. But when we get to the Braderhelm gate, two guards will be stationed there. They have a separate alarm that will bring hundreds of guards on us within minutes if activated.”

They visibly gulped as Takeshi continued, “I can’t physically engage them without triggering the alarm. The risk is too high. One of you will need to help me take them out. I presume you know how to use a gun and not miss.” Takeshi turned to Brock, the tension in the air palpable.

“You’d be correct.” The corner of Brock’s lip lifted, and the hairs on Khalani’s arms rose.

Takeshi nodded. “Good. Both our guns will have suppressors to minimize the sound. We need to take them out at the same time. Once the guards are dead, I’ll open the gates, and we can steal one of the transports to escape. How far is this secret entrance to the surface?”

“Not far. Less than a kilometer. It will only take a few minutes to get there by transport. A hidden elevator in the tunnel will take us up to the surface.”

Takeshi was silent for a moment, studying Brock with a sharp eye. “So be it. I’ll grab us supplies for the two-week journey to Hermes. I expect you all to be ready.” He spoke with such calm authority and steady confidence that she was starting to believe it could work.

Brock crossed his arms. “Most of this plan relies on you, Captain . Hope you’re ready, or we’ll end up being another number in the long line of people you’ve killed.”

A muscle ticked in Takeshi’s jaw. “And you’re certain the radiation suits aren’t necessary?”

“Don’t question me. I’m sure.”

“I hope so.” Malice leeched from Takeshi as he licked his lips. “I’ll rip your intestines out and feed them to you if you’re lying.”

“I’d like to see you try,” Brock hissed, his giant fists tightening by his side.

The amount of testosterone in the air was stifling. Both men glared at each other with a blistering fury that was sure to erupt into a full-fledged fight at any moment.

And her money was on Takeshi.

“If you are done comparing dick sizes, we can get back to the plan.” Khalani pressed her lips into a thin line.

Takeshi kept his forceful gaze solely on Brock, the muscles in his body incredibly still, like the quiet calm before a trigger was pulled. It wasn’t until she said his name that he snapped out of his incensed fixation. Takeshi inched from the Death-Zoner, turning to her with a storm brewing in his eyes that had her brows pinch together.

What was up with him?

He turned to the others, barely acknowledging her. “There’ll be an inspection in three days, and the guards will be on stricter watch then. That’s why we do this in two days or never. All five of you must be prepared.”

“Six,” Khalani interrupted.

Takeshi whipped his head to her. “What do you mean six?”

“I’m asking Winifred to come with us,” she replied in a tone that brokered no room for argument. She refused to leave Winnie behind.

“The crazy librarian?” Brock scowled.

“Why?” Takeshi seethed .

“I know you won’t understand, but she is like family to me and won’t be a burden. Winnie is smart. She wants to leave,” Khalani insisted.

Brock shook his head. “The woman is old. She’ll only slow us down.”

Her expression hardened. “This isn’t up for debate.”

“Fine. But no more,” Takeshi growled and turned his head toward a couple of guards walking in their direction. “No more talk of this. Be ready in two days.”

Takeshi marched toward the guards and spoke with them, heading in the opposite direction of their group.

“This is really happening,” Serene whispered, as if only now grasping the implications of their daring plan.

In a few days, they’d either be standing on the earth’s surface, breathing the free air, or be buried beneath it. No second chances.

Only potential beginnings and assured endings.

****

A frenzied anticipation built inside her as she hastily ran up the stairs to the library. She hadn’t spoken to Winnie since their last fight, and the knot in her chest tightened with each step. She didn’t bother knocking and let herself into the library.

The familiar sound of music echoed through the room, and she inhaled deeply. The warm aroma of old books and a faint hint of rosy perfume enveloped her senses.

A small smile curved her lips, as if she could finally breathe again.

Khalani slowly walked past bookcases as a delicate song whispered through the air, hauntingly beautiful. She rounded the corner, and Winnie’s eyes were closed, swaying as she sang. Khalani took a step forward, and the wood creaked under her feet.

Winnie’s eyes snapped open, and she turned to her in shock. “What are you doing here?” Her mouth opened as she hurriedly stood and turned off the music.

The wary look in her eyes speared Khalani’s heart.

“Hey.” She fiddled with her hands. “It’s good to see you. It’s been a while.”

Winnie nodded, loneliness clear in her gaze.

“It has.”

The uncomfortable silence grew, like a monster widening its jaw before snapping.

She bit her lip, the pit in her stomach expanding.

“Winnie, I came to tell you that I’m sorry. I am so, so sorry. You were right. About Apollo, the surface, the Governor. Everything. And now I’m starting to believe that Timothy Talbot might be right, too.”

Winnie stood silent, her expression unchanged. Winnie, the most vivacious and vibrant person she’d ever met, looked…numb. Her eyes were sunken, and Winnie’s body appeared frailer since Khalani last saw her.

Was she not eating?

“Winnie was waiting a long time for you to say that. But you were right. There is nothing we can do about it. We will never be able to leave.” Winnie bowed her head.

“That’s not true, Winnie! We have a plan. We’re escaping tomorrow morning. Brock knows a secret entrance to the surface, and Captain Steele is going to help us. You are coming too.”

“A plan?” she asked, lifting her head.

“Yes.” Khalani smiled. “We’re gonna finally make it out of here.”

The tiniest flicker of hope appeared in Winnie’s eyes but was quickly snuffed out. She shook her head, glancing down at her palms.

“There’s no plan for Winnie, Khalani. Winnie is getting old. She would be a burden.”

Khalani surged forward and grabbed her shoulders. “Don’t you say that. Don’t even think that because you could never be a burden! I have learned more through my time with you about love, art, and passion than I have my entire life. Those things are worth fighting for, just like Timothy said! You can’t give up now. I love you too much to let you give up. ”

Tears started to form in Winnie’s eyes. “Winnie forgot what it was like to hear someone say they love her.”

Nothing could have prevented Khalani from wrapping her arms around Winnie. “You know I do. I love you, Winnie.”

Prison beat her body to a pulp, but her many scars only began to mend when she met Winnie. Not because she forgot the past. Healing was never that easy.

Freedom lay in forgiveness.

The little girl who’d lain on the floor all those years ago needed to know that it wasn’t her fault. It wasn’t her parents’ fault for leaving. And it wasn’t her fault for putting her broken pieces back together the only way she knew how.

“Winnie could never replace your mother, Khalani.” Winnie cupped her face, a soft glimmer in her eyes. “But her love for you knows no bounds, just like a mother’s. If Sarah had lived to be your age, Winnie would’ve wanted her to be just like you.”

Khalani’s chin trembled as the aching contents of her heart threatened to spill over. “That’s why we’re leaving this place, Winnie. Together. Captain Steele will get you tomorrow morning, and we’ll finally be free.”

“Winnie can’t bring the typewriter with her, can she?”

Khalani’s heart clenched. “No. But when everything is better, we’ll return for your story and complete it.”

“Promise?” she asked.

“I promise.”

They held each other for as long as they could, tears streaming for all they had lost and gained in Braderhelm.

No sleep would be had for Khalani that night as she tossed and turned in bed. After a few hours, she gave up. She sat on the cold floor, restless energy prickling inside her, untethered and expanding.

Her chest rose with a deep breath as she wrote her very last poem in Braderhelm .

Songs of Surrender

These walls built to contain, whisper in my ear

The Songs of Surrender beckon me closer

Those barriers represent eternal fear

While the music tells me to be my own composer

Letting go is the hardest thing

Holding on to time as if it equates to meaning

But now I know the truth and raise my own wings

Barricades may block the physical, but they can’t contain the feelings

The sweetest lies will drown out the soul

While doubts beckon you to remain

Darling, do not wait for those bells to toll

I beg of you to rise and break the chains.