Sadie laid awake in her cell bed for a while and thought.
Sadie was emotionally spent. She had only come to rescue Melanie, which made things more complicated.
The only bright side was that Sadie got to see Melanie again. Black Hat was as evil as the Nunjas said he was and worse. His abuse was horrific, but being able to bring Melanie even a little bit of hope was worth it.
In addition, Sadie would be able to tell her Nunja sisters how Melanie and their sensei were doing, so there was that.
All those thoughts clouded Sadie's mind until she finally fell asleep.
The next morning, Sadie got up as soon as her eyes opened. She pulled on the clean spare clothes that Melanie had given her, got ready for the day, and sat on her bed.
Sadie waited in her damned prison cell for Black Hat, Flug, Demencia, or 505. If she was leaving, she wanted it to be soon so she could plan a counterattack with her Nunja sisters.
This would not be the last time Sadie would see her friend or her sensei again. She promised herself that.
Sadly, 505 came and brought her breakfast.
Sadie sighed. She and Melanie were going to be fed separately. She supposed they wouldn't see each other again until it was time for Sadie to go to the hangar.
505 opened the door to the cell and walked in.
"Is Melanie okay?" Sadie asked.
505 nodded quietly and put the tray of food in her lap.
"Grand," Sadie said, smiling. "You know, you ain't so bad. And I guess your dad is once you sass him enough. The man is a real gombeen. I don't doubt he's done some really messed up things, but he sure has a heart in there somewhere. And yours, 505, is bigger than everyone else's."
505 smiled, picked his phone off the tray, and typed into his text to voice software, "Thank you, Sadie. You helped me find a voice again."
Sadie chuckled, "You always had one, 505. I've seen your videos. Even if you couldn't speak, you have always been expressing yourself."
"Do you really think so?" asked 505.
"Yeah, Melanie and I always enjoyed all your videos for that reason," Sadie said. "We couldn't hear your voice, but we always understood what you were expressing. We loved it."
505 smiled and typed, "Thank you. I have loved having both of you here."
"And I've loved being here with you, 505," Sadie said. "Will you stay with me until it's time to leave or at least until I finish eating?"
505 nodded enthusiastically and sat down on the bed next to Sadie.
The two sat down and talked until Flug came to get them and meet up with Melanie.
Then, their group, minus Lucy, headed to the hangar when it was time. Lord Reaper, Black Hat, and Demencia met them there.
Upon meeting Flug, 505, and the girls, Black Hat immediately focused on Melanie.
"What are you wearing?" asked Black Hat annoyedly.
Melanie swept back her long hair and looked at her black tank top with stylized butterflies flying up the side, her jean shorts, a black hoodie tied around her waist, and her sandals.
"Decent clothes," Melanie said confusedly. "Isn't that what you asked for?"
"And you don't have anything more decent to wear?" Black Hat complained.
"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" asked Melanie.
"It'll pass for now, but we need to work on your wardrobe," Black Hat sighed.
"I'll help her with this, Black Hat," promised Lord Reaper.
"Why do you care so much about what I'm wearing when your minions wear the same thing every day?" Melanie questioned.
"I do not," Flug argued. "I have multiple copies of the same outfit."
"Okay, fine, but what about Demencia?" retorted Melanie.
"We're just happy she wears clothes," admitted Flug.
"Sorry I asked," Melanie replied.
"They know when to get dressed for special occasions," Black Hat said, getting Melanie's attention again. "You don't. That needs to change in the future, apprentice."
"Whatever," Melanie said, more focused on Sadie.
Sadie stood there with a tote bag for her Nunja uniform, watching the sky and praying.
Suddenly, the medium-sized private plane came into view. Sadie recognized it immediately. She couldn't help but smile and hop up and down in excitement.
Her activity got the group's attention.
Everyone watched as the plane descended and landed in the hangar.
As soon as it landed, Sadie's parents practically jumped out of the plane and ran to their daughter. The Nunja who was the pilot remained on the plane.
Her father Jack O'Malley had red eyes, brown hair, a stylish beard, and a mustache. Her mother Grace O'Malley had green eyes and long red hair with freckles on her face.
Both the parents were no older than 32. Flug looked at them, surprised at how young they were to have a child as old as Sadie. Sadie was right. Flug could easily have been in the same boat.
Sadie gripped Melanie's hand and tried to push forward but Demencia held them both back.
Black Hat looked back and nodded, signaling her to let Sadie run into her parents' waiting arms.
Melanie tried to walk over to join them, but Demencia held her back while Black Hat smiled maliciously.
"It was a pleasure doing business with you two," Black Hat said.
"You've got our money, Black Hat," Jack O'Malley said. "Now please let us say goodbye to Melanie and leave with our daughter."
Black Hat glanced at Melanie, "Say goodbye, dear."
Melanie tearfully ran over to Sadie and hugged her. The girls held each other for a moment in a tight squeeze.
When they let go, Melanie took off her purse and untied the hoodie from around her waist.
"Sadie, I want you to have this," Melanie said, handing her the oversized hoodie.
Sadie picked up the hoodie and gasped. It was her favorite They Might Be Giants hoodie.
"But Melanie, this one's your favorite," said Sadie.
"That's why I want you to have it," explained Melanie. "If these guys take everything else away from me, I know this hoodie will be safe because it's with you. I want to give you this too."
Melanie pulled out her copy of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
"You really liked the book, so I figured you could keep this too to remember me by," she said. "I wrote messages on the inside covers you can read later."
Sadie tried her very best not to tear up, "Th- thank you!"
"Hurry up!" barked Black Hat. "I don't have all day!"
"I'm sorry I couldn't save you," Sadie said sadly. "I'm sorry I couldn't help you make your triumphant return. Listen to me. No matter what they do or say, don't forget who you are. In four years when you can leave or whenever you escape, come look for me. We'll take care of you since your own family won't. Alright?"
"Okay," Melanie said. "But don't be too hard on yourself. You made these past few days less dark and I can't thank you enough for the hope you've given me. No matter what I have to do to survive or what they force me to be, I'll always cling to that hope, to you, to God, and everything that makes us happy. Then, I'll look for you. Just don't get too cool for me. Okay?"
"Of course not, I love you, girl," Sadie reassured. "Us weirdoes have to stick together. I couldn't blow you off if I tried."
"If I turn into a full-blown stooge, you have my permission to do whatever necessary to free me or stop me from doing evil," Melanie said. "When I get out of here, I'll look for you and everyone else."
The girls gave each other another hug.
"Until then, text me," Sadie whispered.
"I will," Melanie whispered back.
The two girls held each other tightly, not wanting to let go. But after a few moments, Sadie's mother put a hand on Sadie's shoulder, prompting her to let go.
"Let's take a selfie together," Grace O'Malley said. "I'll take one on both your phones."
The other three agreed and crowded together for quick selfies.
Black Hat rolled his eye but didn't protest. Lord Reaper gave him a sideways glance to keep him calm.
In no time at all, the photos were taken and both girls got back their phones.
"There," Grace said. "Now, you both have pictures to remember each other by."
Melanie and Sadie both thanked her and hugged her. Jack O'Malley joined in with the hug.
Flug and 505 watched with pity. Demencia yawned where she stood.
"Melanie," said Jack. "We want you to know that none of us blame you for what has happened. We wish to God that we could take you with us. And when the day comes that custody no longer applies, you're more than welcome with us. We'll love you like our own as we already do. Until that day comes, you're in our prayers. This shouldn't be happening to you, lass. This is so unfair."
"Yes, we will always love you, Melanie," added Grace.
Believing that enough time had passed, Black Hat finally spoke, "Now then, Mr. O'Malley. I'd like to advise you on something."
"Yes?" Jack asked.
"Keep that disgustingly good two-shoes garbage, to yourself." Red veins popped on Black Hat's eye as he stared intensely. "And remember, if you fail to take care of your child and she returns, I'll find someone else who will."
Both of Sadie's parents glared back but didn't retort rudely.
"Sure..." Jack said flatly.
"Now, leave!" Black Hat spoke in his deep demonic voice.
Jack nodded, took Sadie and her bag, looked back at Melanie, and sang with his daughter eventually joining him, "May it please the King of Miracles that we see, though we may only live for one week after, Grainne Mhaol and a thousand warriors! Dispersing the foreigners!"
Melanie smiled with tears in her eyes and said, "Until we see each other again…"
Demencia scratched her head. "These guys are weird."
Melanie hugged 505 as Sadie and her family boarded their plane, waving all the while.
Melanie and Sadie locked eyes, refusing to look away until the door had shut. Tears fell as she watched the plane take off and fly away.
Demencia yawned, "Well that was boring. Wanna get some grub, nerd?"
"Sure," Flug said, walking behind Melanie and putting a hand on her shoulder. "Would you like to join us, Melanie?"
Melanie smiled through her tears and nodded, but unfortunately…
"Perhaps, save some leftovers for her, doctor." Black Hat placed his hand on her other shoulder as the air grew heavy. "I'm going to spend some time with her."
"I can bring you soup and a sandwich," Flug said, backing away. "You can text me what you want, Melanie. I'll see you later. Be sure to drink from your water bottle. It's hot today."
Melanie nodded sadly as Flug walked away with 505 and Demencia. She pulled her phone out of her pocket to text Flug her order while Black Hat talked to her grandfather.
"Are you sure that you don't need me for this, Black Hat?" asked Lord Reaper.
"You said yourself that I needed to bond with the child," said Black Hat. "You don't need to question my decisions."
"Of course not," Lord Reaper said with a shrug. "Just let me know if you need anything. I'll take my leave now. See you later, Melanie."
With that, Lord Reaper flew away to carry out his own business.
Meanwhile, Melanie had sent her messages and was now drinking from her water bottle.
Black Hat looked down at his apprentice, offered her his hand, and asked, "Shall we?"
Melanie wiped her eyes, put away her water bottle, and nodded once again as she put her hand in his claw.
Black Hat pulled Melanie in close while his shadows absorbed them both and carried them off to their next destination.