Tonight is the night we die

Chapter Thirteen

JAKE'S POV

Letting her go is the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life and I had to do many horrible things before. I watch her walk away, resisting the urge to grab her hand and pull her against me. One last exchange of glances, full of many words we didn't get around to saying out loud to each other yet. Gloria is not hesitating or at least not showing her fear. I admire her bravery, it was to save someone she does not even know but it does not matter to her. I feel guilty, useless, helpless.

Hannah runs toward me and I catch her in time in my arms before she falls, in tears, to the ground. I get down with her, holding her close against me, letting a sigh of relief to have her here, safe and sound. Gloria watches us and smiles before disappearing. My guts tell me we are making a big mistake, something is not right, it is too easy. Hannah lifts her head up but I am watching the entrance of the mine :

" Jake ! Who is she ? Is that Gloria ? Jake, why is she going in there ? It's not safe, she will... He's and when... " She bawls, her words losing more and more sense. Hannah is completely petrified and that doesn't help my worry. I look down at her and this is when I realize how bruised she was, fresh blood still running down her nostrils :

" Oh my god... " I whisper as quietly as possible to not make Hannah freak out even more. Her hands are still tied down so I free her, she is as cold as ice, wearing only her thin dirty white jumper. I take off my leather jacket and put it gently on her shoulders. My blood runs cold in my veins. Gloria wants to help Richy but if I see him I am not sure he will be able to live for long. That is pure rage he put into his fists to hurt Hannah, his friend like that. What could he do to Gloria ? I grit my teeth, anger making my blood warm again, and even boiling.

" He wants to talk to her, that was his condition to your release. " I explain as softly as I can to Hannah as I put my nerves and my rage in the back to let appear a more comforting face. I am so bad at this, I am glad now than it was Dan that had to reassure Gloria earlier. My awkwardness would have probably only aggravated the situation. I am not insensitive, I simply have no idea how to make someone feel better and especially after they have been beaten down and held hostage for days.

This was a mistake, we were going to pay a huge price for that, we were too distracted and we did not consider all the options. I put my flashlight on the ground, the big spotlight Richy installed being enough to lighten us now. I put my backpack in front of me and thoroughly look into it. Getting my phone, the one that is connected to Gloria's, I send a search for her signal. I sigh and hold Hannah closer against me in the meantime, not detaching my eyes from the screen. I gently rub a hand on Hannah's back, trying my best to make her feel better and warm her body up a little :

" Jake, what is going on ? You should not be here... " She asks weakly, her eyes going from me to the phone on the ground to me again. I am struggling to reach any kind of signal " There are cameras. In the mine, he installed cameras everywhere " Her revelation is exactly what I needed to hear :

" A lot is going on Hannah, but you are safe now, ok ? I guarantee you ! "

Hannah nods her head and she pushes herself away from me a little, but her fingers are holding a piece of my jacket. After long seconds of silence only broken by Hannah's shaky breathing, I come out of my state of concentration to glance at her. She is all hunched up over herself, her eyes fixed on the entrance of the mine, scared to see him come out at any second:

" I am doing a shitty job at comforting you, right now, right ? " I give her a sorry look as she turns her head back towards me " I apologies Hannah. I apologies it took us so long to get to you. He will pay for what he did to you. He will not touch you ever again I promise ! " I put a hand on her thigh.