Everything that happened after Nicolas killed Caroline was a blur. Someone came into the room and brought me down from the chains, restrained my hands behind my back, and put a hood over my head. Eventually they walked me to a shower, where I was sprayed with cold water. The water stung the large cuts on my arms. The person helped me into a fresh pair of pants and a button-up shirt, for which someone aided them to ensure I couldn't get away. The hood covered my eyes so I couldn't even see their faces. I felt bandages be put on my arms.
Eventually, I was dragged back to the room and restrained in a chair. My muscles were grateful for the break from holding the weight of my body up by the chains. At some point I passed out, grateful for the numb darkness. But it didn't last long.
I was awakened by the sudden light that flooded the room. I grimaced; my eyes scrunched shut. As my eyelids fluttered open, I saw Nicolas. I began to thrash against my restraints.
"You son of a bitch, you killed her," I said, my voice hoarse and unable to yell.
"Unless you want Ashley to meet the same fate, you will calm down, now," he said. I glared at him, hatred filling every fiber of my being.
"What else do you want from me?" I asked, tired of this cat-and-mouse game.
"You are going to help us get safe passage out of the US," he said.
"Us?" I asked, cocking an eyebrow. "Let me guess, Pavlov still doing your dirty work?"
"That's for me to know and you to never find out," he said.
"Let me speak to Ashley," I said.
"Why would I do that?" he asked.
"Because then I will do whatever you want, answer whatever questions you want, and won't fight you anymore," I said quietly. "I want to apologize to her. And then after I do what you want, you'll let her go? And leave them alone?"
Nicolas looked at me, and for a second, I swore his steely gaze flickered with something else. Pity? Remorse? Sympathy?
"Fine," he said after a moment, "but only for a few minutes."
"Thank you," I said, knowing that I had just signed my death warrant. He nodded and left the room. I watched him leave and then looked up to the ceiling.
I wasn't religious, never went to church or anything. I had never prayed in all the years that I had been involved in this mess. But for the first time in my life, I felt utter hopelessness. I felt myself wish for something or someone to help. But not me.
Help my family. I didn't deserve such mercy.
The door opened, and I saw Nicolas enter, my sister's arm tight in his grip. Her lip looked better, but she looked exhausted. Nicolas put her in the chair next to me, restraining her tightly.
"You have five minutes," he said, leaving the room. I was surprised that he was giving us privacy.
"Dani, what happened to you?" Ash asked, her eyes tracing the bandages covering my arms.
"Ash, we don't have a lot of time," I said, "so I need you to listen to me."
"Dani, you're scaring me… what's going on?" she asked. I let out a breath and looked at the ceiling.
"He's going to use me as leverage to get out of the states," I said. "They'll let you go once I do it, so you'll be safe soon."
"Thank God," she said, a soft laugh tumbling from her lips. Then confusion filled her face. "Wait, what about you?"
"I think we always knew that this was never going to end up well for me," I whispered, not meeting her gaze.
"Danielle, no, please tell me you didn't make another deal…"
"He killed my only friend from the past four years. Her name was Caroline and he killed her," I said, tears welling in my eyes. "I can't let them hurt you, Ash… you're all I have left."
"Danielle-"
"Just, when you get out, I need you to do me a favor, okay?"
"Danielle! Stop acting like you're going to die. You are going to get out of here, okay?"
"Just in case," I said, smiling softly, knowing that she knew deep down there was only one way that I'd be leaving this building, "I need you to find a Doctor Spencer Reid in the Behavioral Analyst Unit at the FBI."
"Who is he?" she asked.
"He is – was – my boyfriend, well, 'Sarah's' boyfriend," I said. "I just need you to tell him that I… I'm sorry."
"You had a boyfriend?"
"Yeah, it was kind of a new thing," I said. "You'd love him. He's geeky and nerdy and totally awkwardly cute."
"He sounds like a catch," she said.
"Yeah…"
"Do you love him?" she asked. I met her eyes, and I knew that this would be the only way that Spencer would ever know my true feelings.
"Yeah," I said, a tear falling from my face. "I do…"
"Dani, you are going to get out of here."
"Tell Charlie and Ben that I am so sorry I dragged you all into this," I said. "I ruined your lives and I know that you can never forgive me for that.
"God, stop being such a martyr," Ash said. "We knew what the risks were, and that's why we went into Witness Protection…"
"Still. I am so sorry, this never should have happened," I said. "None of this should have happened."
"Mom and Dad would be proud of you, you know that, right?" she said suddenly. "They always encouraged you to follow your gut."
"And look where that got us all," I said.
"You cannot blame yourself for that," she said. "Horrible people killed our parents."
"I know," I said, my voice no louder than a whisper.
Silence overcame us. Neither of us spoke. We both knew that it was our last moments together, as much as we tried to fight those feelings of loss.
The sound of the door opening caught my attention.
"Time's up," Nicolas said, heading our way.
"I love you Ash," I said, tears filling my eyes. "Tell Charlie and Ben I love them too."
"No, Danielle, no," Ash said as Nicolas ripped her up from the chair, dragging her out of the room.
"I'm sorry," I whispered as she disappeared from sight, screaming. Her screams faded, and a minute later, Nicolas reentered the room.
"Are you ready?" he asked, a camera in hand.
"What do I need to say?" I asked, resigned to my fate.