Last Words

Noose forgotten, phone humming, she let herself be called back into the real world—just one more time.

“Hello?” She does not even recognize her own voice—she sounds like a refugee. Like someone who has been forced to the brink of death and fought their way back, instead of the coward she is, one who runs for its comfort.

“Isis,” and his voice is familiar, even if he is lost, “I need your help.”

She has known Riel for over a decade. She wonders if he has ever asked for such a thing.

“Alright—what is it?”

“We’ve captured Lena—Matt’s going to have a raid on us, probably a suicide attack.” He stops short. She has the impression that he has just checked for eavesdroppers. “I need you to—I need you to play the hostage. For him.”

She stills. The plastic is slippery and hard, sliding as she grips it more tightly. She swallows.

“Why?”

“Because,” his voice is strained in a way that means he’s only going to say this once, “Because this is the only way that everyone will get out alive.”

Very slowly, she begins to understand.

“You don’t fool me,” she breaths, very quietly, and some secret part of her wishes that just once—just—

“You want to save her.”

The line goes dead, and slowly, she cuts off as well.

She takes a moment to look around her house to be sure that everything is in order. The dishes are done, the tables wiped down, the laundry folded—

She takes her keys, twenty dollars, her best pair of running shoes—and leaves.

(this is the fight for tomorrows)

die another day.