Page 58 of Silent Oaths
“She’sthe only one who ever truly cared about me,”Isabelsays, and there’s fragility in her voice.
“Wecare about you too,Isabel.”
Shelets out a quiet, bitter laugh. “Right.Becausekidnapping me, threatening me, and dragging me into this nightmare was all out of care.Don’tsay things you don’t mean.”
“Iknow we’ve given you every reason not to believe that,”Isay, stepping closer. “AndI’mnot asking for your forgiveness—not yet.ButI’mtelling you the truth.”
Shedoesn’t respond.
“I’dbe lying ifIsaid it was just about the plan now.”Ipause, trying to find the words. “Youcalm something in meIdidn’t even know needed calming.Youchallenge me, infuriate me, and yet when you're near, everything else quiets down.It’snot just that we need you,Isabel.Ineed you.”
“Youdon’t get to say that,” she finally whispers. “Youdon’t get to stand there and act like this is something real when you’re part of the reasonIcan’t sleep at night.”
Itake the hit.
“Youdon’t get to want things,Theodore.Notwhen you’ve taken so much from me,”Isabelargues, exhaling sharply. “Youwant peace?” she continues. “Thenmaybe you should’ve left me alone.Maybeyou should’ve let me live my life instead of dragging me into yours.”
Itake a breath, the weight of her words pressing down on me like a stone to the chest.
“You’reright,”Isay. “Idon’t deserve your trust.ButI’mnot going to lie to you to make this easier.Ijust want you to know it’s the truth, even if it’s still a nightmare for you.”
Isabelremains quiet behind the door.
It’sbeen days with her locked away in that damn room, only acknowledging our existence by taking the food we leave at her door.Atleast she’s eating now, but that’s not enough.Sheneeds more than this self-imposed isolation. “Comeout,Isabel.”
Moresilence.
Itry again. “Please.”
Apause. “What’sthe point?”Shesighs, andIcan hear the exhaustion in it. “It’snot likeIcan go outside anyway.”
Somethingin my chest twists.She’snot wrong.She’sbeen a prisoner in this house since the moment we took her, no matter how much freedom we’ve allowed her within these walls.
“Youdon’t have to stay locked in there,”Iargue, my voice rougher thanIintend. “Atleast come downstairs.”
Nothing.
Iclose my eyes, gripping the back of my neck.Icould force the door open, drag her out ifImust, butIdon’t want to do that.
Idon’t want to break her any more than we already have.
“Comeout,Isabel,”Isay again, softer this time. “Please.”
“Justgo,Theodore.”
Idon’t move right away.Myhand is still on the door, my fingers pressing into the wood as ifIcan reach through it, as ifIcan force her to change her mind by sheer will alone.
“Isabel.”
“Leave.”There’sno anger in her tone, no fire.Andsomehow, that’s worse.
Forthe first time in a long time,Ifeel… defeated.
Idrag a hand down my face before forcing myself to step away.Mybody is heavy asIturn, my mind screaming at me to make her listen.
Withoutanother word,Iwalk away.
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