Predator

Epilogue

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Epilouge

"You're good to go, Ms. Berry. Go take a seat in number seven, he'll be out shortly."

I give the guard a small nod and start to walk to the plexiglass booth.

"Ms. Berry?"

I stop, turning back to face the broad African-American man. He dismisses my concern with a kind smile. "You're real brave for doing this, young lady."

I return the smile and then take a seat in the plastic chair, setting the carseat gently beside it.

On the other side of the glass is a matching chair, empty, that will soon be seating a man I haven't seen in months. Will Schuester.

I hadn't quite grasped how much attention our story had racked up until I finally got home to Lima. The two weeks we were gone was one thing, but when the whole story was brought to light? The trial and sentencing? It got the entire country talking. I've always wanted to become a household name- not like this. People have been calling me everything from a modern-day heroine to a downright whore.

For whatever reason, when I was brought into captivity I assumed that the police would all be against me, angry at me for causing such a mess. I quickly found that to be the opposite. A kind lady with red hair was the only officer who was with me when I was being questioned. She was patient and concerned, and so I sat there and told her the story. The rape, the baby, everything. And then later, I told it again, still suffering my choppy bleached hair and in front of an entire court- as well as the entire country. The trial was broadcasted on live TV.

Will was sentenced to 40 years without parole. Of course, glee club was cancelled for the rest of the year and they're finding someone to take over, due to the media attention. If not for that, they probably would've done away with the club for good. Quinn had her baby on the day we would've gone to Sectionals, a beautiful little blonde who was adopted by a couple in Iowa. Quinn was glad that the girl, christened Emily Katherine, was far away enough for her not to be around, but sometimes I catch her staring off into space and I can just tell that the pain is lingering.

Then after everything had mostly died down, on a clear summer morning that was humid and still, it was my turn to become a mother.

My breath intakes when I catch sight of him. He stares at me, slowly taking a seat, in a ragged beard and orange jumpsuit. His hand tentatively hovers over the telephone, until he grabs it and speaks. "Rachel?"

An unexpected tear slips down the bridge of my nose. "Hi, Will," I say into mine.

He shakes his head slowly, confused. "Why are...what are you doing here?"

I sniffle, pressing my lips into a smile. "I. I don't know," I admit.

He looks somber. "How's the baby?"

"Perfect," I sigh. "Will, she's so perfect. She's healthy and beautiful, just...everything I could've hoped for and more."

"They won't tell me anything in here," he says. "No pictures...they won't even tell me my daughter's name."

I purse my lips, letting my eyes drift downward to the sleeping bundle beside me.

"Elizabeth Quinn," I tell him softly.

It was a funny thing that happened when I was back in the Oakdale corner store. I had just hung up the phone, the police were on their way, and the woman was consoling me as I sat on the floor crying. I was sitting there, for the first time regretting what I had done to Will and hating myself for it, when this old country song came over the radio. And on any other occasion I despise country music, but this song, 'Elizabeth' by the Statler Brothers, just...for whatever reason this immense curtain of calmness fell over me. By the time the song ended I knew then and there that Elizabeth would be her name; I always wanted to use a song name. I take it as a sign from God.