The Purge: Savior In The Shadow

9 - Reason To Die

Once they were out of the porch, Emilia grabbed Rafi's shoulder harshly. "We should-we should..." Emilia stammered over her words, breathing heavily from the pressure of the request. Rafi walked closer and cupped her face with his hands, directly looking at her eyes. "Breathe, Emilia. Breathe!" Following his request, she breathed slowly, trying to keep her nerves down.

Successfully, her breathing turned to normal again. Emilia shrugged his hands off of her, telling him she's okay. Rafi took the hint and settled his hands back in a normal position. "We should hand them over. That way we'll be safe."

Emilia looked at Rafi, whose face emitted an emotion of hesitance. "Why? Are you sure?" Rafi asked, unsure if he wants to sacrifice them. "Rafi, we have to. Unless you have a death wish." Rafi walked back slowly and sat on the couch, his eyes shadowed and mouth dangling. Emilia knew he was having a hard time trying to push back his emotions, for he and Melanie were very close. Even though she stole, he couldn't bring himself to hate her.

Emilia took a step, loud enough for Rafi to snap out of his thoughts. "I'll give you time to decide." Emilia walked down the stairs, leaving his sight. Unbeknownst to him, Rowan was looking down at him, holding a baseball bat in his hands, willing to fight.

Emilia looked around the basement, looking for a rope. She walked at the corner, peering at the floor. Lying there was an rope covered in dust. She quickly grabbed it and went down the secret pathway, ready to sacrifice them. She ran, minding the beam at the top. Melanie and Gaden quickly looked at her, wondering why she was holding a rope.

They both looked at her face, looking like she was slightly sorry. "I'm sorry, I have to do this." Gaden's eyes widened, knowing the rope's purpose. He quickly stretched an arm in front of Melanie, moving back to the wall. "Don't you even dare." He felt someone touch his arm, slightly scaring him. He looked at the hand then moved his gaze towards Melanie.

What he saw on her face was the mix of sadness and determination. Sad that she was about to die, determined because of... he hadn't had a clue. "No. Let her tie us up. We don't have to risk getting them hurt." Emilia looked bewildered, wondering how Melanie wasn't scared to sacrifice themselves. She expected a fight, but out of all things, she didn't expect Melanie to quickly give themselves up. Nonetheless, she walked closer and began to tie them up.

Emilia quickly flinched back, hearing footsteps thundering through the stairs. It was only a matter of time until Rafi's head was visible in their line of sight. Rafi glanced behind Emilia, noticing they were about to get tied up. "Oh. So you were already doing what I'm planning on doing." Although his voice was barely audible, it was obvious he had a hint of guilt in his voice. Rafi looked at them, eyes cast downward in sadness.

"There's nothing to be sad about, Rafi." Melanie looked at Gaden, who desperately shaked his tied hands in an effort to get out. "Gaden, stop. You know this is for their sake." He didn't listen, he just continued what he was doing. "Please, just stop moving, Gaden. I want this." Gaden quickly looked back at her and shouted, "Why do you want this?!" his voice echoed around the room. Rafi looked at Melanie, whose face was frowning in thought. They all waited for her to answer, noticing she was taking long to speak up. Finally, she answered,

"So that when we die, we will see our son again."

All of their eyes widened, not expecting that answer. Gaden's mind presented an ugly sight, making his eyes water from the painful memory. Rafi quickly asked, "What happened?" Taking a sharp intake of breath, Gaden shouted, "They murdered him by telling him to jump! Just thinking about it makes me itch more to kill them!"

"Will killing them bring him back?" Melanie whispered, not audible for Rafi and Emilia to hear, but enough for Gaden to listen. "I..." He looked down with tears running on his face, not knowing what to answer. "Tell us your story." Emilia sat on the ground, intent on hearing it.

They both looked at her in shock, not expecting her to listen to their story. Melanie quickly spoke up, "We don't have time to tell you it." Emilia shook her head, not taking that as an answer. Frustrated, Melanie shouted,"

"Why won't you just let us die?!"

They both took a step back. While Rafi appeared shaken, Emilia knelt down in front of Melanie to get on the same eye level with her. "Because even though you stole our money, we care for you. No one should go through the pain of losing their child." Emilia smiled and patted her shoulder.

"Please tell us. I want to." Melanie looked down in thought, unsure if she wants to tell it. She looked at Gaden for help who slowly nodded. She looked back at Emilia and said, "Fine. I'll tell you.

To be continued...