WARNING: Mentions of child abuse and rape, graphic and gory violence in this chapter.
Prison Break and Past Mistakes
At the maximum security facility where June Osborne was being held at, a van covered in blood from windshield to back door screeched in front of the gates, alerting the Eyes and Guardians. Lieutenant Stans and Aunt Lydia arrived with ten other Guardians with their guns ready. The sight of the blood staining the vehicle made the Aunt cover her mouth in disgust. She tried to peek through the tinted windows to check if her precious girls were alright, but could not see anything.
The driver side door wrenched open and a bloodied Guardian stumbled out with a cry of pain. Stans made his way to the Guardian, but froze when he realized the man's right arm was completely severed off from the shoulder. The Guardian sat on his knees crying in agony with only his remaining arm holding him up. Stans got out of his shock and quickly with the help of the other soldiers picked him up.
Aunt Lydia, though shocked at what happened to the Guardian, turned her attention towards the van and opened the door. What she saw wasn't her precious girls she so desperately wanted to see, but three more bloody dismembered bodies of Guardians. She stepped back with a scream when she saw severed limbs and male parts hanging from the van's ceiling and doors.
Stans and two more Guardians came to her side and were horrified by what was inside the van. He made a gut wrenching sound upon noticing the male parts hanging here and there. He fought to control his nausea, but lost the battle when it peeked behind his throat. Aunt Lydia turned her head away from the gruesome scene, but could not escape the smell as she stepped further away from the van. She took deep breaths to settle her stomach, but the terror was making it difficult.
Aunt Lydia turned her attention towards what could only be the surviving Guardian who was now being carried on a stretcher. She hastily made her way over to him and walked beside them. "What of the Handmaids? Did you find them?" She demanded desperately, the information they got from June cannot be false after meeting with her daughter.
The Guardian, answered weakly, "We did...but...something...found...us."
"What was it? Are the Handmaids still alive?" Aunt Lydia questioned, but the Guardian fell unconscious before he could properly answer as he was carried off to the hospital ward for treatment.
Aunt Lydia stood there, frozen as fear for her girls filled her being. Whatever attacked the Guardians must've killed the Handmaids. She contemplated going to June for answers, but felt the girl won't know anything.
Five hours later, Aunt Lydia sat in the recovery room where the amputated Guardian rested. She needed answers regarding the Handmaids.
Stans entered the room, looking paler than before. "The second team I sent found the location." He began as he sat down in a chair beside the Guardian. "It was a slaughter house. Bodies were everywhere, parts that can no longer be considered limbs were scattered all around. Half of them were burned at crosses, they were still burning by the time they arrived."
"The Handmaids?" Aunt Lydia asked, but Stans shook his head, "No where to be found."
Aunt Lydia let out a shaky breath, "They could not have done something like that. Not against experienced soldiers and their guns."
"No, they could not. Not unless they had help." Stans agreed with her assessment.
A groan from the bed alerted them. The Guardian blearily opened his eyes and was met with the face of his superior. "You're okay. You're safe now. Praised be for your return." Stans said as he addressed the Guardian who started to become more aware of his surroundings. He started to get up, but the pain in his shoulder stopped him as he groaned in agony.
Aunt Lydia came to his side, "By His mercy, what happened?"
The Guardian choked on a sob, "A monster...she killed them all, tortured them until they died."
"What are you talking about? Who attacked you?" Stans questioned as he watched the traumatized Guardian try to explain what occurred at the Handmaids' location.
He let out a shaky breath as he continued, "We found the Handmaids as you ordered. They're alive." Aunt Lydia let out a sigh of relief. "But we were ambushed. It was dark, we couldn't see them until it was too late. They disarmed us, held us at gunpoint." He swallowed his saliva. "Then she appeared, the Wrath of God."
Stans eyes widened at the name. "No."
"She said she came for the Handmaids, but she was waiting for us." The Guardian explained as he remembered the madness and anger in the woman's eyes. "She tortured us one by one until she got bored. She cut off their limbs and genitals and let them die slowly. It was all a sick game to her."
"How did you get away?" Stans asked, horrified by the very idea of God's Wrath existing in the form of a twisted woman.
"I didn't. She let me live to deliver a message. To let you know what happened." The Guardian gasped as pain throbbed in his shoulder. "She said she's coming for all of us. She'll be here any day now."
"What, she's coming here? Here? To this facility!" Stans exclaimed as terror gathered in his stomach. If what the Guardian witnessed was true, then they must prepare, call reinforcements.
"Yes. She also said that everything that happens at this point is all the Waterfords' fault." The Guardian added, surprising the Eye and the Aunt.
"Why?" Aunt Lydia asked, since she was all too familiar with the couple for what happened to June.
"I don't know. She only made me the messenger." The Guardian said then shook his head. "We've angered God, sinned in His name. Now His Wrath shall come forth and deliver us into damnation. Our Judgment Day is upon us. Our end has come." He hysterically said before the building shook, throwing them off balance and onto the ground.
"She's here." The Guardian said in resignation as he succumbed to his injuries and welcomed oblivion, a small mercy compared to what happened to his comrades.
Wrath's trench coat billowed behind her as she marched through the now destroyed gate, her Purgatory soldiers followed behind her, donning demon masks as they open fired on any Guardian that crossed their path. She pulled the barbed wire off the fence and walls, the 'twanging' sound they made as they moved sent a thrill down her spine as she wrapped them tightly around her adversaries. Their screams echoed all around her as she tore them apart, their innards and guts showered the concrete. One of the Guardians who witnessed these gruesome killing ran away, knowing that any weapon they have is useless against a God.
Aunt Lydia ran through the halls of the prison, the shaking and jolts caused her to stumble here and there as she searched for June Osborne's cell. While the girl has caused her all sorts of trouble these past few years, she was still one of God's sacred vessels to deliver his bounty. To Lydia, June is a life giver, and she has to protect her.
She turned the corner, only to halt when a gun pointed at her face. She slowly raised her hands in surrender as she stared at the barrel of the gun. The man aiming the gun gasped when he saw who he was pointing at, "Ms. Clements."
Aunt Lydia looked past the gun and was met with dark brown eyes and dark curly hair. He was young, around his late teens by her estimate. His familiarity brought forth memories of a different life before Gilead, of a time when she was around children every day.
"Ryan." She whispered before she was struck on the back of the head and the world turned black.
June sat in her concrete cell tucked in the corner as she experienced the tremors shaking the building. Her eyes were vacant, she didn't care if the room collapsed and crushed her. Her meeting with her eldest child broke her, her sweet little Hannah no longer recognized her. Gilead broke her baby girl. A tear streamed down her cheek as she thought about her beautiful daughter's face filled with fear upon seeing her own mother. From the beginning, June vowed to live and fight to get Hannah out of Gilead. Yet, how can she keep fighting when her reason for living no longer recognizes her. June leaned her head on the concrete, she just wanted it to end. She failed her precious Hannah, her husband, Holly, her friends, and Nick. There's nothing left for her now.
The door opened, making her look up to see a woman with black hair and blue eyes. She wore a black trench coat over her dark shirt, black riding pants and boots. Guns and knives were strapped all over her body, giving her a dangerous assassins vibe. There was blood on her face, though June couldn't tell if it was the woman's or someone else's.
She assessed June with a small smile then approached her slowly. "June Osborne?"
Though mildly shocked at the woman's appearance, she nodded.
"I'm the Wrath of God, I'm here to rescue you." The woman introduced herself.
June was silent then laughed hysterically. Wrath was surprised by this outburst, but patiently waited for the prisoner to let it all out.
"I thought you were here to kill me." June said, calming down somewhat after a minute of laughing. Being locked up and tortured for weeks on end has pushed her towards the end of insanity.
"Sorry sweetheart, but I only go after the wicked. So, here's the deal, the Eyes and Guardians have been captured, we're taking the prisoners and setting them free. Right now, I'm offering you a choice, do you want to join Purgatory and let your anger out on Gilead Commanders and their lackeys, or do you want to join up with the Saint's Rebellion and rescue the oppressed and enslaved from this regime?" Wrath offered as she held a hand out for June.
June stared long and hard at the dark woman before her. She feels overwhelming hate and anger towards Gilead for all the pain and anguish they caused her and her people. She'd love nothing more than to rip them to pieces as recompense, to make them pay for stealing everything from her. But then she remembered her daughters, one was free from this hell hole while the other was trapped. The Saint always gave her hope that things will get better no matter how bleak it felt. Her benevolent visage and gentle voice that promised safety to those that were chained helped her through hard times. She even helped Janine's baby daughter escape this place before they could do any real damage.
"Don't worry, your daughter will not grow up as a slave to Gilead."
She remembered those words clearly. To her it was a vow, a reminder to keep fighting, to never give up. Looking up at Wrath, renewed determination set on her face, she grasped the hand offered to her and let the woman pull her up. She stumbled a little, using the wall as support as she rose from her so-called bedding.
"Before we go, there's someone I want to talk to one last time." June requested, ready to let her anger out. She needed to release all her rage before she can set out to find Hannah.
Aunt Lydia woke up with a gasp, her body ached, and her head throbbed in pain. She looked around and saw she was in a concrete cell. She pushed herself off the hard ground, groaning at the aches and strains it put on her body. At her age, it was impressive she hasn't fallen apart yet.
"Glad to see you're up."
She looked up, surprised by the voice as she finally noticed the last person she saw before she was knocked out. "Ryan? Is that really you?" Aunt Lydia asked in astonishment and wonder as she took in the young man before her. He grew up so handsomely as she knew he would. But he no longer had that smile like he did when he was a child.
Ryan sat in the chair in the corner, watching his former teacher with a stony expression. The years have changed him in both negative and positive ways. "It's been many years Ms. Clements, or should I call you Aunt Lydia?" He asked, though in truth, he doesn't much care.
Aunt Lydia finally stood up, but shook as she stared at the boy, no, man before her. "How-How are you here?"
"Through that door. Obviously." Ryan stated, his frown never left his face.
"You came here with the Wrath of God." Aunt Lydia stated, though shock was still written on her face.
"Didn't know a better way into this place. To be perfectly clear, I work for the Saint. When we got word that June Osborne was here, I volunteered to rescue her from your clutches. Wrath wanted to come along for the ride and let off some steam. Though I never really expected a blood bath. If I'm being honest, I find seeing a Gileadean dog slaughtered by his own barbed wire quite refreshing." He said with a shrug which frightened Aunt Lydia at how he was nonchalant about that.
"How can you say such things?" Aunt Lydia asked, horrified by the very image and by how Ryan relished in another's death.
"Oh please, don't act like I'm the bad guy here. After all, you yourself witnessed plenty of deaths and never batted an eyelash. So, pot meet kettle." Ryan stated then rose from his seat. Standing at 6'4, he towered over his former teacher.
"Saving June wasn't the only reason why I came here. I wanted to see you, the woman who betrayed my mother Noelle." Ryan said as he approached Aunt Lydia in a threatening manner. "You sold my mother out, and I was taken into the foster system. I wasn't allowed to see her, whenever I asked about her they talked about her like she was some criminal."
"She was." Lydia stated, remembering that woman all too well, "She hardly took care of you. Always went out with men who were already married and never even appreciated the gift God gave her. She was a sinful whore and you knew that deep down."
"I won't deny those statements. She wasn't ready to be a mother, but she wasn't ready to let me go either." Ryan glared, causing Lydia to shrink back. "She may not have been the best parent, but at least she didn't molest me like that sweet foster family you sold me off to."
The older woman felt her insides freeze at what Ryan just told her. "What?" She asked, choking on her spit, her eyes popped out of her sockets.
"That's right. Your 'good deed' sent me into the arms of a pedophile." Ryan said with a hate filled smile as anger burned within his eyes. "Just because they were pious did mean they were good. They were just like you and all of Gilead, hypocritical, evil, disgusting rapists with no remorse."
Lydia felt like her soul was sucked out of her body at what she was hearing. That sweet child she wanted to protect ended up defiled because of her. "No, that can't be. Not to you, never you." Aunt Lydia pleadingly said, wishing against everything that what he was saying wasn't the truth.
Ryan shook with anger and pain, tears gathered in his eyes. "You were family to me and my mother. Yet you betrayed us."
Aunt Lydia shook her head, "I was trying to protect you, your mother-"
"I was a child, Aunt Lydia!" Ryan yelled, releasing all the pent up rage. "I couldn't protect myself against them. I could not run away. They tied me down, strangled me, and raped me!" His hand shot out and grasped her neck tightly and shoved her against the wall with shocking strength. "I waited in that house for you and my mother to save me. I trusted you to protect me, you said you'd help me, but YOU LIED!" Tears streamed down his face as he tightened his grip on the woman's windpipe. Even as she struggled and pulled at the hand crushing her neck, his hold was strong.
"Ry-ah!" Aunt Lydia tried to say his name, but could not find the air to do so as she felt her lungs about to explode. Just when she was about to black out, Ryan released her, dropping her on her knees as she coughed and sobbed at his feet.
Ryan looked down at her as though she was a cockroach. "I never realized how angry I felt towards you until right now." He said, calming down slightly after his rage.
Aunt Lydia massaged her throat, wheezing as she looked up tearfully at her former student. She no longer had the strength or the courage to stand up anymore after this heartbreaking revelation.
"I'm sorry." She said, though it hurt to speak, she needed to say it. "I didn't know. If I had known-"
"You wouldn't have cared. Just like you never cared about the Handmaids getting raped and beaten." Ryan stated, looking down at her in pure and utter disgust.
Aunt Lydia shook her head, "No that's not true. Everything I did was to protect them."
"You have a hilarious way of showing it. I can see why God deemed you unfit to be a mother." Ryan threw in her face that was now filled with pain.
Aunt Lydia was silent as she bowed her head and sobbed over what her actions did to this once innocent little boy. "I am so sorry Ryan. I wish I could take back what I've done." She looked up as tears soaked her face, making her look much older than how she appears.
Ryan leaned forward until his hands rested on his knees. He maintained eye contact, his glare clashing with her pleading gaze. "'Sorry' will never change the past, and forgiveness will never undo the damage you caused us. Even if I did forgive you, it will never save you." 'Not from the next person that comes through that door.'
Ryan sighed and stood up, "I sometimes wondered what I would do to you if I ever saw you again. Will I kill you? Will I torture you until you begged for death?" He scoffed under his breath as he regarded Aunt Lydia. "But looking at you now, I realized you're too pathetic for me to kill, and you're too revolting for me torment. You're nothing. You were born as nothing, you'll die as nothing. A tragic mistake God regrets allowing into this world."
His words stung Lydia as she cried at his feet. Ryan watched her without any remorse and said, "Once I walk out that door, I will never see you again. You'll never see me again. But know you will think of me and all the people you hurt as you experience pain in the worst ways imaginable." He said as he turned away from her and strode towards the door.
"Ryan please..." Aunt Lydia begged, though it was hard to tell if it was for mercy, help or forgiveness.
"Goodbye Aunt Lydia, your Judgement Day is here." He knocked on the door before it opened to reveal June Osborne and the Wrath of God standing outside.
"Are you quite finished?" Wrath asked as Ryan stepped out of the cell, not bothering to look back at the now forsaken Aunt.
"Yeah, I'm done." He glance at the formerly imprisoned Handmaid. Though June looked tired, there was a gleam of vengeance in her eyes as she held the cattle prod in her hand. "I'll get the bus ready." He said as he left the two to relieve their stress on the old woman.
Wrath laid a hand on June's shoulder, "Take as much time as you need." With a final pat on her shoulder, June stepped into the cell as the door closed behind her.
Aunt Lydia looked up in renewed fear as she gazed up at the now freed Handmaid who had pleasant smile and insanity in her eyes. "Blessed day Aunt Lydia." She greeted, standing perfectly still as her thumb ghosted over the button.
The older woman tried to stand up, but her legs wouldn't listen to her. "June...dear, calm down. Think about what you're doing." She tried to placate the girl, but June took one slow menacing step forward. "Oh, I've thought about this many, many, times." She got closer with every word as her hand pressed the button, the sound it made, where before it frightened her now filled her with immeasurable thrill as she watched the Aunt cower in fear. "I've waited so long to do this." She snarled through clenched teeth as she raised the cattle prod.
Before Aunt Lydia had time to voice out a plea, June shocked her straight into the stomach, drawing out a pained cry from the older woman.
June pulled back and watched her tormenter writhe in agony. Anger was present on her face as she raised the prod again, "That first one was for me. This-" She dug the shocker into her knee, eliciting more cries from the older woman. "-is for Janine."
ZAP!
"Alma."
ZAP!
"Brianna."
ZAP!
"Ofglen."
ZAP!
"Emily."
ZAP!
"Natalie."
ZAP!
"Beth."
ZAP!
"Sienna."
ZAP!
"Frances."
June paused as she relished in Aunt Lydia's pain. Though her rage was unabated as she glared at the woman who made her life hell. She pinned her shoulder down with her foot and held the cattle prod tightly as she aimed the shocking end of the stick. "...Hannah." She set it on high as she pushed against the woman's genitals, drawing out the loudest cries from the Aunt who was too weak to escape the most painful torment in her life. June didn't let up, made sure the shocks traveled through every inch of her body until she literally wet herself, staining her once pristine brown uniform.
June took her foot off of the Aunt and removed the cattle prod. The twitches and jolts that ran through her system made June smile. The very woman who 'trained' them, 'taught them', 'cared' for them, 'protected' them, is now reduced to a quivering helpless bag of flesh.
"How does it feel? Not so fun is it." June taunted as Lydia moaned in pain.
She crouched down to get a closer look at the woman's face. "This may not seem ordinary to you now, but after a time it will. It will become ordinary." She said, remembering the old bitch's words the moment she entered the Red Center. How great it felt to throw those same words in Aunt Lydia's terrified face. How the mighty falls, as they say.
"As I've said Lydia." June spat in her face, "God has forsaken this place...forsaken you." She laughed, "It looks like God is on my side if He sent His Wrath to punish you." She sighed happily as she rose to her height and smirked down at Lydia. "You're fucking screwed."
June walked back towards the door, almost skipping as euphoria coursed through her veins. She hasn't felt this good in a long time. This was better than drinking and smoking. She knocked on the door and met the smirking face of Wrath.
"Feeling better?" Wrath asked as June let a relieved smile and answered, "That was better than sex."
Wrath chuckled through her nose then ordered her men to put Lydia into the crate, the same one this facility locked June inside of. "Let's go." Wrath said as she led June through the halls of the prison, every now and then they'd pass a mutilated body of a Guardian and massive blood splatters on the walls and ceilings.
"You sure you don't wish to join Purgatory?" Wrath asked, her hands behind her back.
"Yes. As much as I want to hurt Gilead, I need to save my daughter." June answered, dead set on saving her baby girl. She can't leave Hannah behind, not until they are both free.
Wrath nodded with a soft smile, "I understand. Your daughter needs you more than I do right now."
"Thank you for coming to get me."
"Trust me, the Saint wasn't the only one who want you out of Gilead's clutches. Pretty baller move you did with the 86 children." Wrath complimented June as they stepped over a blood puddle.
"Thanks. I didn't want them growing up in this hellhole. That, and because I wanted to hurt Gilead the way they hurt us." June said, relishing at how angry the Commanders and their families feel at the taste of their own medicine.
Wrath chuckled, "Yes that's one way to hurt them. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum."
June froze in her stride what she just heard. "What?"
Wrath smiled, "It's Latin, well, Pseudo-Latin. It's what my foster mother would always tell me whenever someone gave me a hard time. It means-"
"'Don't let the bastards grind you down.'" June finished, her eyes wide as she surprised Wrath.
"Those words, they were written by the previous Offred before me. They were scratched into the wall of the closet at the Waterfords house." June explained, that phrase permanently etched into her brain. The hidden message of defiance, the words that gave her hope and saved her many times. "Your mother, she saved me. She helped me find my way." June said with a melancholy smile.
Wrath's eyes filled with tears as she breathed out a laugh. "That's just like her." She smiled, shaking her head at her late mother's actions. "Even in death, she's still looking out for everyone."
June laughed as well, "I can't believe this. You're her daughter? Small world."
"Indeed it is." Wrath said as they shared a laugh at how they were connected. She stared intently at June and sighed, "I sense her strength within you, and you have her resolve. I'm not sure if this was God's work, or just a twist of fate. But I'm glad she left you that message, it proves she never truly gave up in the end. She still had hope. Her spirit lives within you. You are the soldier she sent to get our children out, and you did. Thank you."
June bowed her head, "I swear, I'll never stop fighting for her, for all of us." She paused as she raised her head then asked, "Can you tell me her name? I don't want to call her Offred." She doesn't want to call her a slave name.
"Sue. Her name was Sue Snell." Wrath answered.
"Sue. How beautiful." June commented as a shadow passed over Wrath's eyes.
"She was, inside and out. This world didn't deserve her." Wrath said with slight bitterness.
"No, but you did." June stated as the young woman's shimmering blue eyes met hers. June could tell she loved her mother fiercely. There was no denying the bond between a mother and her child.
Wrath breathed in deeply and exhaled as she wrapped her arm around June. "Come, we must not keep the Saint waiting." She said as she led June towards the exit.
They stepped outside and June took in the carnage around her. Mangled bodies hung off walls and fences by barbed wire and a variety of guts and body parts littered the ground.
"You did this?" June asked, impressed and disgusted by the massacre around her.
"I'm not the Wrath of God for nothing." The woman shrugged as she led her to a small bus which opened and out jumped Janine who rushed over to hug her friend. June sighed in relief as she embraced the one eyed ball of energy.
"You're all okay." June whispered when Alma peeked her head out and smiled upon seeing their leader.
Janine pulled away, happy to see her friend again. "God saved us. He sent Wrath and stopped the Guardians from taking us."
June turned to Wrath, "How-?" She stopped when a struggling Guardian was dragged forward, no matter how much he fought, he could not escape the Purgatory soldiers' grip.
Wrath sighed then gave an order, "Release him." The soldiers turned to their leader in surprise, but the villainous smirk told them they would be fine. They each let go of the Guardian who looked to be in his mid 30s and had an unpleasant look. He stared at Wrath, the monster who tore everyone apart before his eyes. Her smirk sent chills down his spine, he wanted to escape, but knew that would prove futile.
"Hello. Can you tell me your name please?" Wrath politely asked with a sickening sweet smile.
"Boris." He answered, trying to be brave, though his eyes spoke volumes about his fear.
"Boris, nice to meet you. I have a job for you and it's quite reasonable all things considered." Wrath said as she gestured to the carnage around them. "See, when your superiors ask what happened here, tell them exactly what happened in great detail. They should know what's going to happen to them if they don't own up to their crimes." She got closer to his face, relishing in the sweat that coated his skin. "Tell them that the Days of Judgement are here. They can't escape it, neither can you." She leaned back as her smirk widened. "Make sure you don't forget that. But just to be on the safe side, this should help you remember." She held her hand out, her palm facing the Guardian then quickly clenched her hand into a fist.
The sickening sounds of bones snapping and bloodcurdling screams filled the area. The Handmaids took several steps back when the Guardian fell to his knees in agony as he held up his right hand, his fingers snapped backwards at the knuckle joints, completely mangled and useless now. June covered her mouth at the sight as Janine turned away.
"Perfect, that should do it. Oh, before you go, tell them if they want to blame someone, blame the Waterfords. Okay?" Wrath said, happy with her work as she stepped away. "Run away before I change my mind." Boris nodded as he got up and stumbled away from the monster, clutching his wrist in pain as he escaped the insanity.
Wrath let out a breath of satisfaction then turned to the shocked Handmaids. "Were you about to ask me something June?"
June stared, her mouth gaped at what she just saw. There was only person who could do things without touching them. "You didn't even touch him."
Wrath shrugged, "Yeah."
"You're like the Saint in the White Mask." June stated in astonishment.
"Yeah, we're not alike actually. Same powers yes. But she doesn't like killing or mutilating. That's my shtick. Also, our personalities are very different. She's sweet and pacifistic, while I'm angry and sadistic." Wrath explained to the shocked audience.
"You did come from God though, right?" June slowly asked, disconcerted yet somewhat interested in how there was not one but two people who could do God-like things.
The woman in black gestured to herself, "Wrath of God. Get it?"
June nodded, "Yep, I believe it."
Wrath clapped her hands. "Now, get in the bus and go. The Saint has been worried about all of you and I would not want to keep her waiting any longer."
Janine tugged on June's arm. "Let's go June." She urged as she pulled her towards the bus. June followed her inside and saw the rest of the escaped Handmaids sitting or laying down on the seats. Ryan sat in the driver's seat tapping rhythmically on the wheel. and turned to the last passenger. "Ready?"
June nodded and smiled, "Yeah." She took her seat closest to the door with Janine in the window seat. The one eyed girl waved at the Wrath and yelled through the open window, "Thank you!" Wrath returned her wave with a smile. June swore that smile looked like the Saint's.
The bus doors closed before the bus revved up and drove away from the prison. June watched the facility get smaller through the rearview mirror, her body slumped back in exhaustion as she felt herself relax to the bus's lulling movement.
'I won't give up Hannah. I promise, I'll get you out of here.' She silently vowed as she felt renewed hope the further they got from the prison.
That's right, this is a complete alternate from 4x3. I hated how the Handmaids died trying to be free.
In case you don't know, Ryan was from Lydia's past in 3x8, years before Gilead came into power. I played with the idea of Ryan growing up and meeting Lydia face to face and give her the verbal smackdown she deserves.
From this point on, we are diverging from Season 4. The Handmaids will enter Chicago and meet the Saint. Thanks for reading this chapter, I didn't expect to write this much. Leave your comments below and have a wonderful day.