Three Worlds Apart

Chapter XXIV, Evelina

How on Earth am I going to keep my promise?

How can I help Amelia and Ashlynn escape?

Samuel notices that I am distracted and keeps asking me what's wrong, I can't tell him. If I do figure out a plan then I don't want him part of it.

Maybe I do love Samuel, in what way I'm not sure but I do care that he stays safe.

What really sets me planning the escape is Ashton, he's leaving Amelia's holding cell when he mutters something.

"This will all be over in three days."

I want to scream. It can only mean one thing. He's going to kill her.

Never have I been this close to mutiny and I'm going to get worse. I promised Amelia that I would get her out of here and I don't break my promises. How am I going to get her and Ashlynn out? 

"Evelina?" I turn to face Samuel again at the lunch table. He looks worried, I know that when I help Amelia escape I will have to leave too. I wish I could tell him it will be okay but that would be a lie and I can't lie to Samuel. Not like that.

"What's wrong?" Samuel demands. He is so sweet, how can he stay here? I've never really noticed before but Samuel is kind and gentle, not like me. Samuel has always been the one to see both sides of an argument. Me? I'm the one who was loyal to Ashton without knowing enough about him, I don't think I have ever heard Samuel say anything good or bad about him.

"You can tell me."

I want to. I want to tell Samuel so bad. He could help me, he guards Ashlynn.

But if he turns me in... I'm done for and so is Amelia. I'm her only hope for escape, her only hope for life. Ashton wouldn't hesitate to kill me, if he can kill his own daughter then I won't mean much.

This is going to be hard on my own but Samuel could help me, I'm going to have to risk it. I need help, this is something I can't do alone.

I glance around the room to check that no one is close by before leaning towards Samuel.

"Ashton is going to kill Amelia." I whisper, "He's wrong about everything, we shouldn't have believed anything he's taught us."

I pause for a moment watching Samuel's reaction, he doesn't give one he just waits. He must know there is more for me to tell.

"I know we aren't really supposed to talk to the captives but I talked to her, she told me things. Any question I asked she answered, she hardly asked me anything." I take a deep breath, here goes nothing.

"And I promised her I'd help her and her sister escape."

My words hang in the space between us. I wait for him to speak, to answer me, to jump up and tell someone.

But he doesn't.

Instead Samuel smiles.

Huh?

"You don't know how long I've been waiting to hear something like that from you," He says. Now I am super confused, what's he been waiting for?

"What are you talking about?" I ask.

Samuel smiles wider and leans forward, "I've been part of the rebellion here for about six years." He says. I stare at him. Rebellion? Samuel? What?

"So all this time you've been faking... what?" I ask, my brain is working overtime here. It's like my mind can't catch up with what is happening.

"The only thing I was faking was weakness, I swear." Samuel says. I want to believe him, I want Samuel to still be my friend, the same guy I've been friends with for my whole life.