Chapter 221: Caleb
Drip. Drip. Drip. The sound of the water dripping from somewhere a few cells over was driving me crazy. This place was driving me crazy. The daily beatings. Worrying about Grace, and Leon. Worrying about home and how my brothers were doing, how my Sammy was doing. Good god, Sammy. I couldn’t wait to get back to her. I had to get back to her. Grace had been telling me stories about her just earlier today. How she had enjoyed the movie night, how school was going, and how they had been at the picnic when everything went to shit. She had told me anything and everything she could think of, and I was grateful for it. I missed that little girl, even if she had only been in my life a short time. Goddess, I could have had her whole little life if I hadn’t been so stupid... How could I have ever been so fucking stupid?
A rustling in the cell next to me drew my attention out of my head. Grace was moving restlessly and her chains clanged loudly. My worry turned fully to her.
“Grace?” I tried.
“Hm?” She whispered, her squirming stopped.
“You okay?”
I could see Leon watch us from across the hall. I knew he longed to be closer to her. The beta in him wanted to protect her with his life, but the reality was there was no protecting anybody in a place like this. There was only complacent and empathic. There was no saving, and that hurt the most. Even with the semblance of a plan coming together, there was a limited window of opportunity, and an even small chance of everyone getting out safely. We would do our best, but that was all we could do. The rest of it? Was up to fate.
“I want to try something, but I’m going to need you to cover for me.” She answered in a low voice. I was surprised she had a voice left at all, they had had her screaming all morning, and not in the good way... Fuck. Now was not the time for those kinds of thoughts.
“How the hell am I supposed to do that?” I hissed a little too loudly, I had to look around and make sure we were both still alone. At least as alone as we could be.
“I’ll get me all setup... You just have to make sure they don’t look too closely...”
Her last words were mumbled, and I knew why. She wasn’t asking though. I thought she would at least ask if I would be willing to do it, but she wasn’t. She wasn’t asking, and that’s what was throwing me off about this.
“What exactly are you planning?” I questioned with a frown.
“It might not work,” She answered, slightly breathless, and I wondered how bad her injuries really were. I could only see so much in the dark. “It won’t matter if it doesn’t work.”
“If I’m putting my body on the line, Grace, then I think I deserve to know why. Especially since you aren’t even asking.”
She paused, her whole body freezing, her chains going quiet, and I almost felt bad for my comment. Almost.
“I’m sorry, I should have asked.” She whispered.
“Tell me what you’re up to, Grace. I don’t like the whole secret thing.” I growled slightly. Her apology was cute, but it wasn’t enough. I’m not sure anything was, honestly.
“I’m going to try and talk to Rhys,” Her voice was barely whisper with the admittance.
“What?” I gasped.
“I’m going to try and go meet with the Moon Goddess and convince her to let me talk to Rhys.” She answered casually, her voice still barely audible, but more confident.
“And how do you plan to do that?” I hissed.
“The same way I did last time.” She answered.
“Last time? What the hell do you mean last time?” I growled.
“Well, last time I was asleep... This time I’m going to try and meditate sort of. I don’t know if it will work, but I have to try. He can’t come here. It’s too dangerous.”
“Do you know something I don’t know?” I questioned, her words making me think that I was losing it.
“Yes.” She whispered.
“Care to tell?” I asked.
“No. Not right now. I have to talk to him though. He’s walking into a trap.”
“You’re scaring me, Grace.” I told her.
“I know. But I need you to trust me.” She answered.
“How do you wanna play this?”
“I need you to cover for me. I’m going to try and hide because I don’t know what happens to my body while I’m away.”
I hesitated. That was a dangerous game. Her plan wasn’t a plan; it was a hope. A hope that I didn’t really want to be a part of it, but I didn’t really have a choice now, did I?
“And how do you want me to do that?” I questioned bitterly, as she started to squirm again.
“Don’t let them look at me too closely.” She answered with barely a whisper.
I glared at her. I would do it. I didn’t have a choice. She wasn’t backing off, and I knew that there would be no talking her out of it. She seemed to think that Rhys was in danger, and that made me nervous. If he got caught, then we would be in trouble. There would be no leaving this place alive. So if she thought that the Moon Goddess would grant her an audience, she had to try.
“If you don’t want me to do this, I won’t.” She whispered.
“It’s not that. I just don’t know how to protect you while you’re gone.” I answered honestly.
“I just need them to not interrupt me.” She said quietly.
I stared as she positioned herself to be curled up under the blanket and tried to set herself up so if she disappeared, it wouldn’t look like it. I handed her my blanket through It didn’t look right exactly, but it was believable in the lowlight.
“Okay...” I said finally. “Okay, be careful.”
She nodded, and now it was just a waiting game.