Another glance around and it’s clear that we’ve reached a dead end. There isn’t another door to push through, leading us deeper into Madden’s evil labyrinth. No more starving children left behind in this wing.
And no Gracie.
“Dead end.” I sigh.
“Apparently.”
“I’m sorry, Em. We’ll keep looking.”
“I really thought she’d be here.” She kicks an empty cardboard box, dislodging stacks of clean plastic baggies.
“We still have Madden’s residence to investigate. We’ll regroup and plan our next move. This isn’t the end.”
Ember creeps on silent feet to approach the desk. When her flashlight skims over the surface, we both stop dead. In the centre, an old-fashioned audio device rests ominously.
“It’s the same type of recorder.” She eyes the clunky plastic. “His handwriting too.”
Yet another scrawled message on a scrap of paper, containing the same basic command as Gael’s last taunt.
PLAY ME.
The endless theatrics are getting tiresome. I’m starting to think that Gael is bored.
“Do you think it’s a bomb?” She studies the note.
“I’d say that it’s unlikely. Not his style.”
“I’m going to play it.”
“Em…”
She reaches out to press the well-worn button, causing a tinny crackle to fill the room. The audio recorder flickers with a blinking red light to commence playing the message.
I’m braced for Gael’s voice.
Perhaps Nolan Madden’s.
Not a tiny, weak-sounding female whisper.
“I w-want to go home, Ember… Please. You p-promised to take me home.”
My arm snaps out to curl around Ember’s waist, stopping her from stumbling forward into the desk. She turns translucent, stricken by the fragile whimper of a lost girl.
“You l-left me,” the voice cries. “Left me h-here to die.”
“Gracie,” Ember keens.
“Breathe, Em. She’s alive. We’re going to find her.”
Breaking free from my hold, Ember seizes the audio recorder. She cradles it close to her chest, rocking back and forth to the sound of Gracie’s crying. It damn near breaks my heart.
“It’s y-your fault.” Gracie heaves between broken sobs.
“I know… I know. It’s my fault.”
“It’s your f-fault!”
“It’s all my fault,” Ember replies to the recording. “It’s my fault!”
