Cameras flash as Sheriff Brady comes outside to stand on the station steps. I crack open the window to hear him speak into a microphone.
“Earlier today, we charged Magnus Acacia, the lead psychiatrist of Sunnycrest Asylum, with the murder of his two daughters: Sarah and Erin,” Sheriff Brady starts. “We recovered the remains of, who we believe to be, Sarah Acacia on the asylum grounds. Acacia has confessed to his crimes.”
I glance at Sarah—serene, but very much alive.
A few cop cars speed past us with blaring sirens. They’ll be heading to search the Acacia house, where we’ve moved his records and some of the tapes—the full collection was too large to relocate. His office safe will be the first place they look.
It won’t be long until the true horrors of Acacia’s crimes come to light. We, and all the others, will finally get justice. How willhelike being locked in a cage?
When they find out about everything he did at the asylum, no one will question whether he could kill his daughters, even without finding a second body. The case will be airtight, coupled with his confession. We’ve compelled him to tell the truth. Ironically, this is the first time I’ve been grateful for his experiments.
“What’re you waiting for?” Lex says impatiently. “We’ve got everything we need.”
He’s right. There’s nothing left in Pasturesville but bad memories and lost years. What we’ve been through will never leave us, but at least now we might have a chance.
“I’ll never let you go,” Eli murmurs, stroking Sarah’s cheek tenderly. “All ours.”
Eli’s often underestimated, but he’s the most dangerous of the three of us. I see the possessive look in his eyes when he watches her. A look that says he’ll do anything to keep her.
No, he wouldn’t…
I push the nagging doubt from my mind. Nothing will ruin this. I won’t let it. This is what we deserve and what we wanted from the moment we met Sarah.
The four of us. Together. Forever…
Finally free?
EPILOGUE
SARAH
FOUR MONTHS LATER…
I waitfor the gas station attendant to finish ringing up the pile of candy and potato chips. He’s annoyed that I’ve interrupted him and keeps casting glances at his games console. A deflated bleep chimes.
“Shit,” he curses. I guess he’s lost. “No fucking fair!”
I rifle around in my purse for cash. Outside, the guys are waiting on their new motorcycles—swapping the truck for them was our best decision yet.
We’ve not stayed in the same place for more than a few days since leaving Pasturesville. After being locked up for years, it’s understandable the guys want to keep moving. It suits me just fine too. I enjoy seeing the country and visiting different places. Running feels safer.
But we’ve not left every part of our past behind. While hopping from town to town, we’ve been on a new mission. The guys remember the names and faces of my father’s clients—the sick fucks who tortured them for fun. With the help of Officer Blackwell, we’ve been paying them visits.
Showing up at their mansions unannounced has been fun. Their reactions have been priceless when they realize who we are. Lex would prefer to kill them, but Aiden insists that blackmail is more beneficial. With them bankrolling our travels in exchange for our silence, we can go anywhere. Although, after what we’ve endured, money is the least of our worries.
I slide the money across the counter. Behind the attendant, a small television mounted in the corner of the shop plays. I freeze when a familiar face flashes on the screen.
My face.
The guy notices me staring and turns to see what caught my attention.
“That’s some fucked-up shit,” he comments, shaking his head at the old photograph of me and Erin filling the screen. “How didn’t they know he was a crackpot before he killed his daughters, huh?”
“Beats me,” I murmur, glad that I’m still wearing my helmet.
Even with my red hair, I’ve noticed a few people look at me strangely, like they’re trying to place where they know me from.
He turns up the volume.
