Prisoner

Chapter 14

My eyes widen.

Images flash before my eyes even though all I should be seeing is Hero’s face. There are two people, a man and a woman, looking down on me with smiles on their faces. The woman looks like me, but I have the man’s eyes. The woman’s hand lightly brushes my cheek before they stand up.

No, I want to say. Don’t leave me!

As they vanish, another couple appears. This couple is wrapped in black, and their faces are disguised with shadow. I hear something—the sound of a baby crying—as they bend towards me and pick me up.

Another image begins. I am again a child with my uncle, clinging to his leg and walking through the maximum vaults. The eyes of the monsters are all on me. I can hear them talking even as my uncle leads me out of the room.

She’s different.

She’s young.

She smells strange.

She’s not like the Wardens.

I am in front of Vault 120. The door opens, and I see Hero. My uncle’s voice barely reaches my ears. The door starts to close, but I reach out towards Hero. I don’t want the door to close.

Even as it slams shut, I can hear him. He’s not laughing or rattling the chains that bind him. He’s screaming.

He’s screaming for me.

I yank away from Hero and stumble backwards. “No!” I cry, closing my eyes and shaking my head.

Hero’s hands gently touch my arms. “Noelle,” he says simply.

Tears pour down my face. “It’s true,” I whisper. “Everything you said…”

“Noelle, no!” Doll-eyes strains. I jump at the sound of his voice; I had forgotten he was even there. He struggles but still cannot stand. “Don’t forget what his power is, Noelle. He’s making you see something he wants you to see!”

“I believe him,” I say softly. I look up at Hero. “I believe you.”

He smiles and pulls me close, leaning his forehead against mine. “Noelle, my mate,” he murmurs. “I love you.” He takes my hand in his. “Let’s leave this god-forsaken place. Your family is waiting for you.”

“My family…” I swallow. “Is that who you showed me? The woman who looked like me?”

“Noelle, please!” Doll-eyes shouts. “Noelle! Noelle, don’t leave me here!”

His plea causes me to stop. I look back at him, his pale face and his cross-eyes. His eyes meet mine, and I am reminded of something he told me.

I look at Hero. “What about him?” I ask.

Hero tilts his head, puzzled. “What about him?”

“His eyes,” I say. “He told me you did that to him. Why?”

“That’s not important,” Hero says. “He’s not important. I am your mate, Noelle—and you are mine. You don’t need to worry about him, or about anything else as long as you are with me.”

“Just tell me why,” I say.

He sighs and runs his fingers through his hair. “I held a grudge against him,” he says. “He was ordered by the Wardens to help imprison me. While they were erecting Vault 120, I was fighting him. I found his doll and…” He looks down at the ground.

“You found his doll,” I finish, “and decided to give him Doll-eyes.”

“Noelle, please,” he says. “I want nothing more than to get out of here. I’ve spent enough time in this hellhole.” He grabs my hand and kisses me again.

When he speaks again, he speaks in my mind. I love you, Noelle. More than anything. I endured the Vault for you. Please. I want to go home. Your family misses you.

I close my eyes. Okay. Take me there. Take me home.

“NOELLE, NO!” Doll-eyes shouts as Hero wraps his arms around me and pulls me into his arms.

I again feel hesitation. What about him?

Hero kisses my hair.

Forget him.

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A/N – Sorry about the short chapter. The epilogue will be posted soon! Please vote and like~!