I let go and land back on my feet.
“Okay, Rose, I’m ready.”
I watch as her feet scoot to the opening, and then she falls down into my arms.
I squeeze her tight to me the second she lands in my arms. I’m never letting her go again. I hold her tighter against my body.
“Dad, you’re squeezing too hard.”
I chuckle, but don’t let her go. Based on how tightly she’s squeezing back, I don’t think she wants me to let her go.
Liesel found her. She protected her. She knew she couldn’t get Rose out of here safely on her own, so she sacrificed herself to ensure Rose and I could escape.
How could I have ever hated Liesel or thought she was a monster?
“I need you to climb onto my back, Rose.”
She nods, and I help her onto my back.
I don’t have a gun or any other weapon, but that won’t stop me from getting Rose out of here.
A part of my heart grieves as I leave Liesel behind, though. It’s the right thing to do. Liesel chose to make this sacrifice, but it feels wrong to leave her behind for any amount of time.
“I’ll come back for you,” I whisper, and then I get Rose out of this hell hole.
14
Liesel
There’s a shift in the air. Goosebumps form on my arms. My heart stops. My breathing slows. The world changes for the better.
I purse my lips and let out a long exhale as my entire body relaxes.
Langston found Rose.
“If you will all move to the table in the center,” the hose says.
There are only three of us left, so we’re moved to the final table.
Rose is safe.
But what about the others?
I thought I only had one child to worry about, but now I know I’m a mother of three. My heart is split three ways, trying to ensure they are all safe. I’m not going to survive worrying about all of them.
I wish I had a better connection to them so I would be able to feel the shift like I did when Langston found Rose. The only reason I felt it is because of my connection to Langston, not my connection to my children.
Our dealer starts handing out cards, and I try to focus. It doesn’t matter now if I win or lose, but I need to protect Rose and Langston by giving them as much time as possible to get away. And if I win, they’ll have no reason to go after her. She would belong to me either way.
So I’ll win—to protect her.
Whatever pain they want me to endure now is nothing compared to the pain I’ve felt in my lifetime. Now that Rose and Langston are safe, there is nothing they could do to me here that could hurt me.
Cards are dealt one by one, and I feel an icy chill curl around my spine, taking hold. I stare at the extra card that was passed out. Why is there an extra card?
I hesitate to pick up the cards, knowing that whatever is on that card is about to change my fate once again. For once, I’m desperate to know what my own future holds.
The other two men at my table have both picked up their cards. They scan them quickly before staring me down, trying to intimidate me.