1 Month Later

The school bell echoed around the halls for the final time that day. Just as it always does. Students filter out of classrooms into the hallway; some running straight for the doors to freedom, some hitting their lockers to grab their work before leaving. Just as they always do. The same scene plays out in front of Riley, just as it does every day. A monotonous routine of go to class, eat lunch, only talk to the same three people, then leave for the day.

She reaches her locker and sighs. It's almost painful how boring this is. I hate these classes. I hate these people. I hate this place. I hate this whole city. I'm only here because of Him. He might be dead, but that's not stopping Him from still ruining my life.

Opening her locker, she grabs her backpack and starts loading it with books and binders to keep her entertained later. She thinks about her night ahead. A small smile stretches across her face. I guess everything here isn't all bad. I have Wren. We have a roof over our heads where we're not constantly terrorized. We have food to eat.

Her smile fades and she sighs again. But if that's all it takes to be happy, why aren't I happy? Why can't I stop remembering Him everywhere I go? Why don't I fit in here?

She shuts her locker and gets ready to follow the dwindling crowd out the doors, but someone stands in her way. An average girl, medium build, medium height, very pretty face, stands in front of Riley. Her mouth stops half open like she's about to say something, but instead she's frozen to the spot.

Confused, Riley asks, "Uhh, do you need something?"

Shaking her head a little, the girl blinks and closes her mouth. She reopens and stammers, "Your name is Riley, right?"

"Um, yeah? Do I know you?"

"No, but we have something in common. I saw you in the gym that day Molly stopped you and asked about your leg." The mysterious girl goes on.

"Listen. I'm sorry I dove into my whole life story there. I don't want anyone's pity, I just…"

"I'm not here for that. I saw what you have on your side. Not the bullet hole."

"I…I…I don't know what you're talking about." Riley adjusts her backpack and turns to leave.

"I saw because I have one too." The other girl raises her voice to catch Riley's attention before she's too far gone. It works. Riley turns to see the girl lifting the corner of her shirt to reveal a branding mark with the letters G.O.D.

Riley's mouth hangs open and she's caught speechless for a moment as she walks back toward the girl.

"How…why…"

"I used to talk to Him because I had something He wanted. My dad is a very powerful man, with impressive bank accounts and assets. He wanted my help in getting the codes so He could have all of this money. I was young and he was nice and supportive. My dad never paid enough attention to me, and He did. So I tried getting into my dad's computer, but I kept failing. He did this to me to remind me that I had a goal, a mission to complete for someone else, so I could not fail again. The next time I got into my dad's computer he came in and caught me. He asked why I was doing this and at first I was stubborn and played innocent. I didn't want to sell Him out ya know?" The girl looks up at Riley while wringing her hands.

Riley nods encouraging her on. "What did He do when He found out you failed?"

"I never reported back to him. My dad touched my side when he went to pick me up to talk to me and I winced. He noticed the burn and I confessed everything to him. I was so upset with how He would react when I didn't return with what He wanted that my dad moved us here so He wouldn't be able to find us. I haven't seen Him since so I guess it worked."

"That's weird that He gave up that easily…when did all of this happen?"

"I was about 8 I think when He first approached me, and we moved when I was 9."

"He approached us around the same time, but He let you go…" He didn't need her like He needed me…He could find loads of money anywhere else, He didn't need to follow her around. But, me? He said it Himself, I was too perfect…I was what He needed and what He hated all wrapped up into one nice little package.

"And I'm thankful every day He did. I don't know what I would have done if He had followed us here."

Riley gives a little snort and a smirk as she looks down at herself. "This is what He does if He follows you somewhere."

The girl's mouth falls open, "He…He did all of that to you? Wh…Why?"

"I was like you, I ended up not wanting to give Him what He sent me to get. I had secrets He wanted bad enough to do this. At least, He did until I was what He wanted."

"I'm so sorry." She grabs Riley's hand in comfort.

Riley looks down at their hands and gives the girl a half smile. "It's alright. He…He can't hurt anyone anymore." She looks up into this stranger's eyes as tears threaten to leak out of her own. "He's dead. I killed Him."

The girl's mouth drops open and she lets go of Riley's hand. Riley shoots her gaze down to the floor, scared as to what this girl's reaction will be. Suddenly, arms wrap around Riley and hold her tight. A few seconds pass and Riley puts her arms around the girl too.

She's surprised when she hears the girl's voice close to her ear, "You made this world a better place." The girl pulls away, but holds Riley at arms length. "I mean that. He was…He was honestly evil. It's better that He's dead. Thank you."

Riley gives the girl another half smile. "I'm just glad it's all over." Riley doesn't talk about the emotional toll His death has played on her. The feelings of anger, depression, regret, self-loathing that she's felt since she pushed the gun toward his body and the trigger was pulled. But hearing this girl's words brings in new feelings surrounding His death: comfort, and a small sense of pride to be able to tell this girl she was truly safe again.

With a final smile, Riley says her goodbye to this kind stranger. She makes her way through the building and opens the doors to the outside world. Beams of light warm her face as a warm breeze, rare for this late fall weather, brushes past her. That feeling of comfort, this stranger gave her makes Riley think. She scrunches up her face in deep thought as she walks over to the elementary school to meet Wren. A rejuvenating sense of hope casts a new perspective on the idea of Riley's future. She begins to feel how free she is now. She feels light; like she could do anything. She wants to chase this feeling of happiness and an idea forms in her mind.

Riley sees Wren on a bench straight ahead and hurries to sit down next to him with a wild smile on her face. "Wren!" She sounds breathless with excitement. "Are you happy here?"

He looks back at her, confused. "What…what do you mean, Riley? Like here on this bench?"

"No, no, like with our lives here in D.C.?"

He hesitates, thinking, before he answers, "I don't know…I guess so? I like living with Reid now, it's a lot better than our foster home. Although he isn't home that much…and I think about that home a lot, and the people, like Justin…"

"So what you're saying is, you could be happier?"

"Why are you asking me all these questions, Riley? Are you happy?"

"If I'm being honest, Wren. No." Her smile fades and she looks down in deep thought. "Since we got back from the safe house all I can think about is all the bad stuff that's happened since I've been here. Sure there was plenty of good. I met you, didn't I?" She nudges his shoulder and they both smile. "And I like living with Reid too, but it is…empty, ya know?"

"So you're not happy?" He presses, confused why she brought this up.

"It's not that I'm unhappy, but yeah, I'm not happy. I just feel numb. Like I can't feel. I think it's this place. I don't…I don't feel alive here anymore. I'm going through the same routines that I have for months, but so much has changed and I can't ignore what's changed, but I don't want to keep reliving everything that's happened either. I need…something that's…fresh, new, a good different, but not too different."

"You don't want to be here anymore?" Wren asks trying to keep up with her train of thought.

"No, but I have an idea. It's gonna be hard; like really hard. It's gonna take a lot of planning and a decent amount of work from the both of us." She looks into his crystal blue eyes full of young wonder. "Are you up for it?"

Wren wraps his arms around her. "I'll be happy wherever you're happy." Riley returns his hug and smiles as she rests her head on his.