Chapter 22
Three days later, Hannah placed her suitcase on the bed and slid the glass door open to step onto the deck. The cold air hit her face and she lifted it to the sun.
“We stocked you with some homemade frozen meals and there are general items found in the cabinet, such as coffee, sugar, crackers, salt, and pepper. Check the kitchen before you purchase anything,” Kassie reminded her for the third time.
“Can I purchase things online and have them delivered?” she asked.
“Of course, let us know when you’re expecting a package and we’ll ensure you get it,” Kassie informed her as she walked inside the closet. “We have a panic button in here. If you need some quiet time or want someone to talk to, press the button.”
“Good to know,” she murmured.
“Claire will come here for your appointments. We have trails on the other side of this cabin. Feel free to walk them anytime you want. They light up at night, and the veterans monitor them continuously. Some of Victoria’s men walk the trails to discourage any wayward teens who find themselves in love or with contraband. ”
“Got it,” she said, nodding her head and hoping Kassie planned to leave soon.
“Then, you’re all set. My number’s on the fridge. Call me anytime,” she said as she walked outside.
“Thank you, Kassie,” she called out as she watched the woman leave. Kassie flashed her a smile before closing the door.
Hannah was finally alone. She took a deep breath and went back inside to unpack her few belongings. Yesterday, Samantha visited, bringing a bag full of new clothes and styling her hair. She felt almost like a new person. If only she didn’t have the scars and marks on her body to prove otherwise.
Opening the suitcase, she hung the tops and folded the sweaters.
She took her coat, hat, and gloves to the front closet and placed her new boots in there.
Realizing she wasted less than half an hour, she plopped down on the couch.
The quiet of the cabin seemed almost as disturbing as the machines’ beeping.
Her mind drifted to Cole and Brody. She even missed Nine. Apparently, he considered her a pity project. Since she showed up at the facility, he stopped dropping in at the hospital.
Hannah wished for a friend to talk to. Scarlett still glowed from her newly married status, and she refused to bother her in the evening. Kassie and Dr. Meyers seemed very nice, but she didn’t know them personally.
Her phone rang and she went to the kitchen to retrieve it. Seeing her mom’s name on the screen, she answered it.
“Hi, Mom,” Hannah greeted.
“How’s my baby girl doing? I called the hospital and Kassie said you requested privacy. What’s going on?” her mother asked. She heard the concern in her voice.
“I’m fine. I’m staying at a cabin on the mountain,” she said, unwilling to get into the logistics. Her mother tried to make up for her father’s lack of interest by hovering. She didn’t want to hand over more ammunition for her dad to find something wrong with her.
“Why didn’t you call?” her mother entreated. “If you’re feeling better, why don’t you come home for Christmas?”
“I’m still in treatment. The staff want me to stay here,” she lied.
“What can they possibly do for you there that we can’t do here?” her mom pleaded.
“I like it here, Mom,” she insisted.
Silence reigned over the line.
“Hannah, it’s your father. What’s going on? Your mother’s in tears,” he said briskly.
“I…I told her I can’t come home yet,” she stuttered.
“Did they convince us to send you to a cult? They can’t keep you there. Kassie Winters insisted I leave you with them. It must be some kind of scam.”
“No,” she exclaimed. “They’re helping me. In fact, I have a job. Serenity Securities hired me as their chief supply specialist.”
“I’ve never heard of these people. I’ll send you a ticket to fly home in the morning. Your mother will email you the flight information. You check out of there and we’ll meet you at the airport,” he insisted.
“I can’t do it,” she attempted to explain.
“That’s an order, Hannah. We’ll pick you up at the luggage carousel,” he ordered.
She disconnected the call. Her father didn’t even let her explain.
Hannah nibbled on her nail, making it bleed.
She already bit the rest down to the skin.
Bending her knees up to her chest, she rested her chin on top and let the tears flow.
The excitement of returning to life felt dimmed.
She tossed the phone toward the fireplace, refusing his commands.
She spent the rest of the evening staring into the void. Maybe retreating into her prison will protect her from her father’s harsh words.
Her stomach growled, forcing her to meander into the kitchen for something to eat.
Tomorrow, she planned to catch the van into town and get some groceries.
The idea felt foreign to her, considering she hadn’t set foot into one in over five years.
Fear settled in her stomach as she took out a bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup.
A noise outside made her rattle her spoon. She threw open the drawers, searching for a sharp knife. Sheer terror took over even as she tried to reason it might be the wind or the giant trees brushing against the cabin.
The closet popped into her head. Hannah dropped to her knees, accidentally knocking over the bowl of soup, and crawled to her room.
The sound seemed to echo larger than life, making her go faster.
When she got to her room, she slammed the door shut and locked it.
Did they find her? How did they get on the mountain?
Hannah’s heart raced as she ran to the closet and shut the door.
Scooting to the dark corner of the closet, she brandished the knife, waiting for the rebels to break in at any moment.
They always seemed to find her. Hannah bit her lip to keep from crying out loud, giving away her hiding place.
It seemed like forever as she waited for someone to burst through the door. Her senses heightened as the minutes ticked by. “It’s a dream. Please let it be a dream,” she whispered. In retrospect, leaving the hospital felt like a bad idea.
Her mind screamed to call Cole, the one person who made her feel safe.
No. He didn’t want to be her friend anymore.
The button in the closet beckoned to her and she recalled Kassie’s reminder.
If she made it across the closet, Hannah might be able to alert someone to the rebels’ existence.
She scurried across the floor, cutting her thigh, and not feeling any pain.
Her hand reached out, and she pressed the button again and again.
“Hannah, it’s Patch. Do you remember me?” A voice came over an intercom somewhere.
“Shhh, they’ll hear you. They found me,” she whispered.
“Listen to me, Hannah. I’m sending someone to you. You’ll be safe in a few minutes,” he assured her.
“No. They’ll kill them like they did the others,” she said, rocking back and forth.
“Stay in the closet, and my friends will take care of them. When it’s clear, they’ll knock on the door three times. Do you understand?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said, trembling.
“The closet door automatically locks when you’re inside. They can’t get to you,” Patch said gently. “You’re safe, Hannah. Hannah? Answer me.”
She couldn’t. Her body’s defenses went up.
Her mouth refused to move. Her body felt frozen in place.
This time, it told her, there was no going back.
A single tear trailed down her cheek. An image of Brody sitting at her feet while Nine, curled up at her side on the bed.
A pair of blue eyes encouraged her, but Cole didn’t care. He no longer existed either.