How Far Will She Go?

Chapter Seventeen

Scarlett's POV

I watched as Kate took a deep breath as if preparing for something stressful. "Fifteen years ago I ran from the danger Scarlett. I knew those men could easily kill you but I thought only of myself." Kate whispered where I could barely hear her.

"Kate. I told you to run. I knew what I was getting myself into. I knew those men already. I know why they were there. This isn't your fault." I said squeezing her hand gently.

"But it is. Fifteen years ago I kept my mouth shut. If I had come forward with their descriptions you would have been caught sooner. And not as many innocent people would have been killed." Kate said and I could tell that she was crying.

"Kate. You didn't come forward because they threatened you. They threatened you by threatening to kill me. You did what you thought was the right thing. And if you had come forward we wouldn't be having this conversation now." I said as she looked up at me.

"What do you mean? If I had come forward you would have been brought home." Kate said staring at me.

"Kate if you had come forward I would be dead. Because even if they had been caught and sent to prison they wouldn't have told the police where I was. I would have died from starvation." I said looking into her denying eyes.

"Kate you saved my life by not coming forward. And then you came for me. When I gave up you came. You gave me my hope back. I thought I was forgotten. That's what they repeatedly told me." I said as she started to shake her head.

"When you were thrown into that room with me I couldn't believe my eyes. When I saw you I knew there was hope. I knew I finally had a chance at getting out of there." I said with a small smile.

"Kate you saved me no matter how late you were. Don't you realize that even being fifteen years late is more than many people like me get. I made a friend there. She was held for twenty years. They had her ten years before they got me. She never lost faith. Not until the twentieth anniversary of her disappearance." I said feeling the tears in my eyes.

"She killed herself. One day Cage came in. She jumped him. Took his gun had the perfect chance to run. Had a chance to kill him. But she stood in front of him and put the gun to her own head and pulled the trigger." I said leaning closer.

"Kate if you had been late five more years. I would have done the same thing Charlotte did. You came early. I gained my faith back. I came out. I'm going to get my life back. And together me and you are going to catch Cage. I know where he is." I said and her eyes met mine quicker than I thought was possible.

"You know where he is!!?" Kate screamed the question at me.

"Yes. Do you still the no that this is all your fault?" I asked testing her with my eyes.

"No. You make really good points. But deep down I blame myself still." Kate whispered looking back down.

"Kat. You should let it go already. You are not the one at fault. I'm going to talk to the person that is one day soon. But you are not him. Now I feel a lot better than I did yesterday. Can we go get Cage and stick him in jail for the rest of his life?" I ask standing and balancing all my weight on my left leg.

"Scarlett I'm not letting you go with me. You can't even walk. Thanks to me." Kate said standing and staring me down.

"Kat the stare down don't work on me. And you made a decision that needed to be made and I just wasn't awake to make it. But I would've made the same one. Now either I go with you or you don't get him.  And this scum need a to be off the streets." I said reaching for the crutches leaning on the wall.

"Scar I can't take you with me. If I don't come back with you I will lose everything. Most importantly my own sanity." Kate said trying to reason even though I've already made up my mind.

"Kate I'm going. With or without you. This man needs to be stood up to. If you don't want to come fine. Just give me your gun and I'll take care of myself." I said smirking on the inside as I saw her eyes widen in shock.

"Oh hell no! You are not going there alone! If you go I go!" Kate screamed and I grinned triumphantly. "Ah shit. I didn't just say that." Kate exclaimed upon seeing my grin.

"You did though. And it's to late to take it back now. Let's go. The sooner we get there the better." I said using the crutches to walk out the door.

"Scarlett!" Kate called and I stopped turning to face her. "I think you should at least tell Rachel what you are going to do. She was worried sick. It'll do her good to see you." Kate explained and I nodded.

We made out way to Rachel's room in silence. I pushed open the door glad to see that Rachel was alone. But up on getting closer I noticed that she was asleep. "Rach? Come on wake up." I whisper balancing on the crutches to shake her arm gently.

Rachel's eyes opened and she blinked up at me. "Scarlett!" She exclaimed sitting up quickly only to plop back down. "Sorry my head still bothers me." She said looking up at me sheepishly.

"Don't apologize. I'm sorry. You wouldn't be here if it wasn't because of me. I just decided to drop in see how you're doing. And to tell you something." I said balancing on the crutches.

"I'm doing okay. And it's not your fault. What do you want to tell me?" Rachel asked looking up at me expectantly.

"In going with Kate to take Cage down. I know where he is and I'm going with Kate to get him." I said as her eyes widened.

"No! Scar! Please you can't go!!" Rachel screamed then flinched in pain.

"Rach. I have to. I spent the past fifteen years stuck with him. The rest of them have or are paying for their crimes. I can't let cage get away with this. I'll never be able to live in peace unless he is caught. Do you understand?" I asked pleading her with my eyes to understand.

"Yeah. But you better come home. I can't live without you. You mean a lot to me and I don't want to lose you." Rachel said looking up at me.

"I'll be back Rachel. I promise." I whisper leaning down and kissing her cheek.

"Scar. Don't make promises that you can't keep." Rachel called after me as I walked out the door. I turned to look at her and saw the sheen of tears in her eyes. I gave her a smile then walked away without looking back.