Wrapped in a towel, I wipe the steam off the mirror. I avoid looking at my face as I focus on my neck. My fingers gently trace the tender dark blue bruises left from Klein's hands.

I clench the sink and lean over it, inhaling deeply in an attempt to steady my erratic breathing.

He's dead. He can't do me any harm.

Klein didn't succeed, but my mind keeps wandering into what-ifs. Images of what could have happened enter my head leaving me nauseous. I tighten the towel around myself.

I don't want to go outside. I don't want to face Zach or Doll because I'm still waiting for someone to turn up and take me. I'm waiting for Louisa/Lola/ Evil Incarnate to lead me away, for Jerico to come in and tell me he agrees with her research.

There's no way my ending will be happy.

'Sweetheart, are you ok in there?' Doll asks through the door.

'Yes,' I choke out.

'Are you planning on coming out anytime soon?'

I don't respond. I look up and stare at myself. I don't see a person with any fight left. I don't see the person I want to be.

'Kit, open the door,' Zach says softly through the door.

I rest my head on the door and imagine him doing the same on the other side. 'Why?'

'Because I want to talk to you face to face.'

I close my eyes. I'm so tired, even after all that sleeping in the truck. I still want to curl up into a ball and sleep forever.

'Kit, open the door,' Zach says softly but firmly.

I unlock the door and Zach stands there looking exhausted. I want to hold him, to lay down with him. I want to fall asleep in his arms. 'I'm tired, Zach.'

'Me too,' Zach exhales slowly. 'It will be over soon.'

'Will it?' I ask.

Zach frowns. 'Yes. Jerico and the leaders-'

'Will listen to Louisa- Lola and decide to keep me here too,' I say flatly.

'Is that what this is about?' Zach straightens up. 'Get dressed and eat. I'll be back soon.'

Zach strides out of the room while Doll sits in a chair eating from a container. She points at a pile of clothing on the bed. 'I got you a selection, sweetheart, take your pick. There's also some food here.'

I change into a pair of jeans and a short-sleeved fitted grey top, types of clothes I only started to wear once I crossed the wall. I drop into a seat at the table and start to eat the food.

I barely taste it.

'For someone who has just found out she's no longer gonna be hunted down, you sure don't look happy about it.' Doll puts her spoon down and stares at me. 'Zach said something happened with Klein and from the marks around your neck, I'm guessing he got rough with you. Want to talk about it?'

I shake my head and put the spoon down unable to force any more food into my mouth.

'Keeping it bottled up and blaming yourself won't do you no good.'

'I don't blame myself. I never asked for him to strangle me or try to force himself on me,' I spit.

'And you shouldn't,' Doll says matter of factly.

'Do you think people really didn't know what Klein was doing?' I ask.

Doll frowns. 'I think some didn't and others choose not to know. Ignoring the signs is easier than asking hard questions which might upset people especially when you have to live in such a small place.'

'But how could people like Olivia not realise what he was doing? She was adamant he was innocent.'

'He fooled me for a long time and I'd been in an abusive relationship. I knew what signs to look out for but I didn't see it. Admittedly, I was away tracking. Looking back, I think that's why he got me to be a tracker so I wasn't around as much to spot the signs.' 

Doll looks out the window. 'Then again, maybe I would still have been as clueless as the rest. He was clever in how he chooses his victims. He'd distance them for any family members or friends. He'd say things to convince them that if they told anyone they'd be rejected. For example, Klein made the village believe Ethel slept with multiple men in the village, she wasn't but he fuelled the rumour which made it harder for her to speak out because she thought less people would have believed her story. Some of the others victims were in relationships but he got close to them, made them feel special and then told them they had asked for it, that if they said anything to anyone he'd tell their partners they were having an affair.'

Doll sighs. 'He knew how to manipulate people and isolate them. I spoke to a few victims but none of them were confident enough to come forward. When one finally did and everyone turned on her, it eliminated any chance of any further victims coming forward, especially when a few of the other leaders where also involved in the abuse. Also, Klein had lots of good friends who supported him. Like Olivia who was incredibly close to Klein, she was adamant he would never act inappropriately, he'd always been nothing but a gentleman around her.' 

Doll shakes her head in frustration. 'I never understood how someone so clever could also be so thick. I mean abusers don't abuse everyone they come into contact with.'

'Why did Faith and Raz leave there?' I ask.

'Klein started abusing Faith after her dad died. Raz figured out what was going on, confronted Faith but she was adamant she didn't want to tell anyone so they left. When she found out she was pregnant Raz pretended to be the father to stop people from asking questions.' Doll looks down at her food and prods it. 'They'd never even kissed. They were just good friends. Raz's mum had been given a copy of the map Roman made. She'd passed the map to Raz when he confided in her about Faith. I don't think he planned on staying but when she ended up being pregnant he took on responsibility. He was trying to do right by Faith which no one had done for his mum.'

I nod in understanding. Raz's mum had been given a map because she was a victim.

Doll clears her throat. 'I'm going to find Jerico, see what's going on. The sooner I can leave this place the better. Will you be alright here?'

'Yes.'

The door closes behind Doll as I get up and walk around the room. I circle it again then stop at the door and push a button.

The door opens.

Glancing around, I dart into the hallway. No one stops me. I walk through the maze of hallways, passing people who look at me curiously. Still, no one stops me.

I'm not sure how long I've been walking for but I finally found the correct door. Inside the men's toilet, I head for the end cubicle, ignoring the man washing his hand in the sink.

Standing on the toilet seat, I push open the window, climb out and jump, my bare feet landing onto the damp soft earth.

Weaving around trees and stepping over logs, my feet sink into the wet decaying leaves. My heart pumps rapidly as my body drives me forward.

I stop once I'm standing at the edge of the woods. Crouching down, I position myself so I'm tucked out of sight but I can still watch the cabin and I wait for a glimpse of my parents, slightly unsure if I really want to see them.

What if they look sad and miserable? What if they look happy? Will Mattan visit them?

The bell I've listened to all my life chimes, telling everyone it's mealtime. I can't ignore the relief I feel that I'm no longer controlled by that bell.

People exit their cabins. The distance kept between people seems strange now. I don't see my parents which could just mean they were out on the field and have gone straight to the dining hall.

A snap of branches behind me makes me spin round, my heart thumps loudly in my chest as I tense at the prospect of being dragged back to the Techie Settlement.

Zach approaches me slowly before he sits down over an arms length away. The distance between us fills me with sadness.

'Have you seen them?' Zach asks.

'Not yet,' I say.

'Are you going to talk to them?'

'I don't know,' I whisper.

We sit there in silence. It's not an awkward silence. It's a heavy silence, full of unspoken words and emotions.

I see my parents walking towards the cabin. They look older than I remember, they're faces lined and wrinkled. Have they aged suddenly or is my memory playing tricks and I'm simply remembering how they looked when I was much younger, like I used to do with Alma?

Daa wraps his arm around Dab's shoulder and gives him a quick kiss which makes Dab smile. They walk up to the porch. I don't move. They enter the cabin. I don't move.

The wooden chimes me and Mattan made sway slightly in the breeze making the familiar yet no longer comforting clunking sound. 

'What's going to happen to me?' I ask quietly.

'That's up to you,' Zach says.

'Is it really?' I sigh.

'The Techie Leaders didn't know what my mum was doing. She lied to them. They didn't know she had you, they didn't know she was organising the Drifter attacks.'

I frown. Could they really not know? Are they like Olivia and Lily who were so adamant about Klein's innocence? I guess keeping secrets is easy, especially when your secret could ruin you. 'Do they know I'm resistant to diseases including Virulence?'

'They do now and they still don't agree with what she's done.'

I can't bring myself to look at Zach. Every time I do, it reminds me of what Klein wanted him to see. I imagine what Zach's reaction would have been.

'The leaders are going to offer you the choice to stay at the Techie Settlement. They feel you are at least owed that after what my mum has done to you,' Zach says.

I nod, take a deep breath and release it slowly. I allow myself to imagine staying. I can't.

I don't want to stay.

I've always felt trapped here, as both a Naturalist and within the Techie building.

'I don't want to stay here,' I say with certainty.

Zach nods but his expression doesn't give away how he feels about my decision.

'Do you want to stay?' I blurt out.

'No, but if you did, I would stay too.'

'Why?'

Zach clears his throat. 'Because I love you.'

I don't feel the elation I should. The feeling and image of Klein's hands, Klein's words return. Would Zach still love me after seeing what Klein planned on doing?

'Kit, look at me,' Zach says.

I drag my eyes up. Zach's gaze drops to my neck and I touch the tender skin without thinking causing his expression to harden.

'What did Klein do to you?' Zach asks

'Cas stopped him before...' I taper off.

Zach doesn't look relieved. 'What did he do before Cas stopped him?'

'It doesn't matter.' I stand up and walk back into the woods.

My throat hurts as the anger and fear I felt while Klein held me down resurfaces. The images replay but they don't end with Cas stabbing him, they continue with Klein succeeding and Zach walking in.

'Yes, it does,' Zach snaps behind me.

I spin round and press my clenched hands into my sides. 'He held me down and started to unbutton my trousers. He told me I was going to enjoy it. He told me you had decided to go back home, but before you went he was getting someone to bring you to us so you saw what he was doing to me. Is that what you want to hear?'

'Kit...' Zach says softly.

I shake my head. I don't want his pity. I want his love but only if it's unconditional love. I don't want it if it would have been destroyed by what Klein had planned.

'He told me you'd see me while he was doing...and that you'd be disgusted, that you'd never be able to look at me again. I couldn't stop him. I was powerless and Cas stabbed him, she stopped him from going further. But all I can think is what if she hadn't? How would I ever be ok again? I keep imagining what your face would look like when you saw that, saw him and me. How would you be able to look at me again? How would we ever return to normal?' I choke out.

'I would have been disgusted,' Zach says.

The truth hits me like a punch to the stomach. I knew he would but I never expected him to admit it out loud.

'I would have been disgusted with Klein because he forced himself on you. He deserved to die and if Cas hadn't killed him I would have done it myself,' Zach growls. 'And I'm not going to pretend I wouldn't be upset or that everything would return to normal if he'd managed to succeed. But there's nothing he could have done to ruin how I feel about you, Kit. I love you. I will always love you.'

My lip trembles. I believe him but I'm not sure if we can return to what we had.

He steps towards me. 'Cas may have stopped Klein from continuing but he still hurt you mentally and physically and I'm going to be there for you while you heal from that.' He steps towards me again. 'I'm going to be there for you with no expectations.' He takes one more step and he's so close I can smell him.

It's as intoxicating as the first time.

'I'm going to be here for you and it's not in an attempt to convince you that we should be together or that I'm the only one who deserves or wants you.' Zach brushes away a tear rolling down my cheek. 'Kit, you're clever and smart, you're strong and beautiful, and I once told you that you could have your pick. I wasn't lying. You could have anyone but I was the lucky one. If you don't want to be with me right now, I will accept that decision. If you want to take a break, fine. But I'm telling you now whatever you choose, I'm still going to be there for you and I'm going to remind you continuously of how amazing you are until you start to remember it for yourself.'

'Why?' I whisper.

'Because that's what we do. We protect and save each other. And right now, you need to be protected and saved from yourself, and I need you to protect and save me from a lifetime of regret because if I walked away now that's all I'd feel, regret.' Zach inhales deeply and cups my face. 'You were wrong when you said people get hurt when we protect each other. We are not responsible. My mum killed Ben not us, Klein and his people hurt Bo and Haiden, they killed Faith and Roman, not us.'

Zach lets go of my face. 'But I hurt you. I made a mistake. I should have told you about what my mum wanted me to do. I should have told you the thought of Klein and his people taking you scared me so much I was willing to do anything to keep you safe including leaving you. When you said you loved me, I should have said it back straight away because I'd felt the same for a while but I was too scared to tell you.'

I frown. 'Why were you scared?'

'You were brought up in a family who were open and free with their emotions. You all hugged and kissed each other. I never had that whereas you grew up surrounded by love. I bet you and your brother said you love each other all the time.' Zach runs his hand through his hair. 'What if I don't know how to love you like that?'

I chuckle. 'Zach, I really don't want you to love me like my brother or my parents do. And just to make it clear, I definitely do not love you like that.'

Zach smiles but it's forced.

'I fell in love with you, Zach, exactly the way you are. I don't want you to be anyone else.' I place my hands on either side of his face.

Zach rests his forehead against mine. 'Do you still love me?'

'Always,' I whisper.

'I'm letting you lead this, Kit. You have to be the one to decide what we do now.'

I close my eyes and inhale his scent. It still brings the sense of safety and ignites a spark of desire. It also brings a slight feeling of vulnerability but I'm realising that's normal. We're both human, we're going to make mistakes, we're going to feel frightened and scared but if we're open about everything, we have more chance of success.

I brush my lips against his and he kisses me back. It's gentle and slow, and he waits for me to deepen it, he waits for me to open up.

And I do. 

Authors Note:

It's the end.... Almost! 
Epilogue coming up Xxx