Whispered Promises

Unlikely Ally

Finishing up the hospital paperwork so she could return home, Brie heard a shy voice behind her say, “Thank you.”

Brie turned and was surprised to see the twins standing there, their wounds freshly bandaged. The two were holding tightly to each other’s hands.

She smiled. “I’m glad to see you’re both okay.”

One of the girls pointed to herself and said timidly, “My name is Mia.”

Brie nodded. “I’m Brianna, but most people call me Brie.”

The girl squeezed her sister’s hand harder. Looking at Brie with deep regret, she said, “When you walked into our cell today, I was terrified.”

Brie frowned in shock. “Why?”

“I could smell the smoke and was afraid my sister and I would burn to death in that dungeon. I can’t tell you the joy I felt when the door opened. But the moment I saw it was you, I was certain you would leave us to our fate.”

Brie shook her head, not understanding.

The other twin spoke up. “It’s because of me. The terrible thing I did…telling on you.”

When Brie reached out to comfort the girl, she flinched in response. Lowering her hand, Brie assured her, “I don’t hold it against you. You probably would have been punished if you hadn’t.” She looked at the young woman with sympathy. “What happened to me wasn’t your fault. None of it was your fault.”

The girl stared at Brie with tortured eyes. “You promised my sister and me that rescue was coming, but I didn’t believe you.” Her bottom lip trembled. “You were so brave, while I…acted like a coward.”

Brie felt compassion for her. “You did what you needed to do to survive. No one can fault you for that.”

“But I regret doing it,” she confessed tearfully.

Brie was instantly taken back to Mary’s terrible punishment, the whole grotesque scene suddenly playing out again in her head. She jumped, her dark thoughts mercifully interrupted, when Sir came up to her and announced, “It’s time for us to leave, babygirl.”

The twins instantly bowed their heads and began shaking. They squeezed each other’s hands so tightly that their knuckles were white.

Sir instantly noticed their discomfort and took several steps back from the two girls.

“Ladies, you will be driven to the Tatianna Legacy Center,” he informed them. “The woman who runs it is named Stephanie. She is a survivor herself and will take excellent care of you.”

They nodded but kept their heads bowed low.

Brie despised Holloway even more after seeing these women’s instinctual response to Sir, because of what they’d endured. It would take countless years for them to recover from the trauma.

Sir held out his arm to Brie, looking at the twins in concern. “Can I can get you both anything before we leave the hospital?”

The twins said nothing, shaking even more noticeably. Understanding his presence was only causing them distress, Sir quickly escorted Brie out to the vehicle waiting for them.

A police officer walked up to Sir and nodded at Brie. “I need to ask her some questions before you leave.”

“Mrs. Davis will provide a written statement,” Sir informed him curtly. “Right now, I’m taking my wife home.”

Sir helped Brie into the vehicle without another word to the man. Once he joined her inside, Sir slammed the car door shut and told the driver to head out.

Looking at her gently, Sir patted his lap. “Come here, babygirl.”

Brie closed her eyes and laid her head on his lap. She sighed gratefully when he began stroking her hair. Sir had arranged for a private vehicle for the long trip home. He ordered the driver to raise the partition so they could speak freely.

But Brie didn’t want to talk.

She longed to simply lay there and forget everything that happened. However, she felt a growing uneasiness that even Sir’s touch could not erase.