Oh the caged bird dreams of a strong wind
That will flow beneath her wings
Like a voice longs for a melody
Oh Jesus, carry me
-From this Valley by The Civil Wars

Kate sat in dark, completely alone now. She leaned her head back on the wall behind her and closed her eyes as the world spun uncontrollably. How long had it been since the explosion? Hours? Days? An eternity?

She kept Reggie's still hand in her own as time crept by. The pain in her back was now radiating through her whole body, washing over her again and again in an endless loop of misery. The pool of blood beside her was now a small stream as it ran down the concrete beside her and she knew that wasn't a good sign.

She felt the lull slip up on her as the world began to fade away. She was all too familiar with this feeling. She use to wait for its serenity, for its nothingness to extend its fingers around her and spirit her away as her father railed against her. Giving in to the oblivion was as easy as falling. Only, it was exactly what her father always wanted. For her to submit to him by whatever form of punishment he seemed fit. Grinding her down until there was nothing left.

But then, she eventually learned to not to completely give in. She'd find something to hold onto in her mind. A way to keep inside herself in order to take the pain and, therefore, to beat him at his own game by staying conscious as he left scars across her body and across her soul. So time after time she'd find something in her day to keep her focus on. Her bible scriptures, favorite hymns, the ducks at the park, the couples walking hand in hand. These simple things kept her alive in her father's worst moments.

Now as she lay in the dark, waiting for that empty stillness once more, she wondered what her father would say if he could see her now. He'd probably tout one of his favorite verses about reaping what you sow. Or maybe he'd whisper for her to give up. To abide by his authority and accept she wasn't worth saving to the people on the outside. It would be so easy to give in to the quiet oblivion. To just slip away, like a feather in the wind, listless and free.

But she wouldn't. She couldn't give her father that satisfaction, not even after being dead for over a year now. Not after how far she had come. She'd find something to hold onto…

"Here's the deal ladies, if you do fine embroidery, you can ensemble a time fuse, if you sew buttons, you can sew a detonator, if you can pour tea, you can pour amatol. It's no big whoop."

Kate closed her eyes as Betty's voice rang out in her mind, warming her all over, just as it did on her first day at VicMu. She wanted to lean into that warmth over and over again.

"If I had a voice like that… I might actually believe in God."

"Hi… Gladys Witham. If I knew there was a morning confab, I'd gotten here early."

"Do you wanna try a twirl?"

The memories flowed easily through her mind now. Like greeting an old friend and instantly falling back into step with each other again. She had to hold onto them and let them hold her firmly to this world.

"You're Kate Andrews now. New name. New job. New life."

"Leon says I gotta meet some guy name Billie Holiday…"

"…I can make the introductions."

"You wait, Betty. They're all going to see what I see… a hero."

Kate heard a voice in the distance. Her head fell to the side and she strained to open her eyes. Was it her father? Shaking her head to clear it, she listened carefully. It was a man's voice, but not like her fathers. It was on the other side of the debris, but now it sounded as if it was getting further away. Like they were walking away.

"…Hey…" She heard her hoarse voice rasp out. She wanted to jump up and scream for help, but she could barely keep her eyes open. "…I'm here…"

She had to get their attention. She had to let them know she was there even though her arms felt so impossibly heavy. She slowly lifted her left hand from her lap and felt around for the broken piece of pipe beside her. She had to find the strength to try.

"I need help chasing down a thief…. We'll storm in like its Leningrad, catch her red handed..."

"…Or Purple handed!"

"This is the new you… and this is for you."

She lifted the broken pipe that was about the size of her forearm and let it fall heavily to the ground, causing it to clang loudly against the concrete floor.

"Isn't it beautiful? …Imagine living here…"

"… Yeah, I do actually…. Of course, I'd need housemates… or, at least, one…"

"…You're on."

She reached for the pipe once more and raised it up, slamming it down to the concrete this time. It was using all the energy she had left, but the memories kept her going as she lifted the pipe and let it fall heavily against the floor again and again.

"If you're in that revue, I'll be there…"

"…Ditto!"

"…So you'll at least have two cheering for ya."

"Honey, I just fake it. It's all an act. Now show me yours!"

It may be the last thing she did. She may even cause a spark and blow all that was left of VicMu up to the heavens itself, but they would know she was there. They would know that she didn't give up.

Kate heard the voices again, closer this time. She heard metal scrapping as it was being pulled away, she lifted the pipe up again and let it fall heavily to the ground.

"…He told me none of us can hide forever…"

"…We do what we have to… to survive…"

"… but when we're finally safe, it's okay to stop fighting."

A beam of light bounced around her as a flashlight shone through the darkness from a newly made hole on the other side.

"Hello?! Is anyone there?" Marco's voice called out somewhere in front of her, his voice loud and strong.

Kate lifted the pipe up again.

"Growing up in that awful caravan, I'd never thought that I'd have a future. But, in the last year, I've lived more than I ever dreamt. I found a real home… Annd I met a man who was good to me… and I found a friend, Betty… a real friend….

… Who loved me."

"Kate!" Marco called out, climbing through the debris. "She's in here! Bring the stretcher!"

Leon and Dr. Patel were close behind, making their way to her as they climbed through the open window and into the lab where she still sat holding Reggie's hand.

"Hey there, church mouse," Leon coolly greeted her as they crawled to her side. "Boy, are we glad to see you."

Kate's eyes were heavy as she looked up at them. Dr. Patel began looking her over, so they helped her sit up where he found the metal jutting painfully out of her back.

"She's lost a lot of blood and her injuries are quite serious. We must get her to the hospital right away."

Kate slumped heavily against Marco as they carefully placed her onto the stretcher. Once she was lying down, she looked up at Leon.

"…Is she…Is…"

"Your friends, they're okay," He whispered, leaning down so she could hear what he really meant. "They're ALL okay."

Kate looked up at his reassuring expression and tried to give him a thankful smile.

She felt the blackness closing in on her as they lifted her up in the stretcher. She looked over at Reggie's still form, her hand still in hers.

"It's okay," Marco said, gently. "We'll get her out of here next."

Kate's brow furrowed as Leon and Marco carried the stretcher forward, she looked over to the hand that was still grasping onto Reggie's colder one and watched as she opened her palm and let her friend's hand slip away into the darkness.

They began the rigorous task of getting her over the destruction while keeping the stretcher level. She could see the light from the factory floor now.

Just as they pulled her stretcher into the light of the factory, Kate felt the darkness circle in as her world began to fade away. She was heading towards safety. Towards her friends again….

…Towards Betty…

"Hey… Whatever you're running from… you're safe here now. … I'll make sure."