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Back The Wishing Game
Chapters (66)
  1. PREFACE
  2. Full Page Image
  3. ONE
  4. TWO
  5. One week ago
  6. THREE
  7. Present day
  8. FOUR
  9. FIVE
  10. SIX
  11. SEVEN
  12. EIGHT
  13. NINE
  14. TEN
  15. ELEVEN
  16. TWELVE
  17. THIRTEEN
  18. FOURTEEN
  19. FIFTEEN
  20. SIXTEEN
  21. SEVENTEEN
  22. EIGHTEEN
  23. NINETEEN
  24. TWENTY
  25. TWENTY-ONE
  26. TWENTY-TWO
  27. TWENTY-THREE
  28. TWENTY-FOUR
  29. TWENTY-FIVE
  30. TWENTY-SIX
  31. TWENTY-SEVEN
  32. TWENTY-EIGHT
  33. TWENTY-NINE
  34. THIRTY
  35. THIRTY-ONE
  36. THIRTY-TWO
  37. THIRTY-THREE
  38. THIRTY-FOUR
  39. THIRTY-FIVE
  40. THIRTY-SIX
  41. THIRTY-SEVEN
  42. THIRTY-EIGHT
  43. THIRTY-NINE
  44. FORTY
  45. FORTY-ONE
  46. FORTY-TWO
  47. FORTY-THREE
  48. FORTY-FOUR
  49. FORTY-FIVE
  50. FORTY-SIX
  51. FORTY-SEVEN
  52. FORTY-EIGHT
  53. FORTY-NINE
  54. FIFTY
  55. FIFTY-ONE
  56. FIFTY-TWO
  57. FIFTY-THREE
  58. FIFTY-FOUR
  59. FIFTY-FIVE
  60. FIFTY-SIX
  61. FIFTY-SEVEN
  62. FIFTY-EIGHT
  63. FIFTY-NINE
  64. SIXTY
  65. SIXTY-ONE
  66. SIXTY-TWO

Going to the back, I open the pantry, looking for the hidden compartment on the bottom shelf. As my hand brushes against the handle of the secret door, I pull it open and take out the small first aid kit I stashed away. It's nothing fancy, since it's mainly comprised of items I've managed to steal from the drug testing facility. But it should be enough for now to ensure I won't get an infection. With Noelle so close to going into labor, I can't afford to become incapacitated. That would jeopardize her health and that of the baby, and I could never forgive myself for it.

I spread out the sanitary items over the kitchen counter, quickly surveying them and forming a mental plan. A quick glance at the clock on the wall tells me I have an hour to spare.

I purse my lips. Since time is limited, I need to work fast. Taking off my shirt, I undo my makeshift bandage and hold up a small mirror to see the extent of the damage. I wince at the red, angry wound and the red liquid oozing out of it. Every little movement hurts, the bullet wiggling inside my flesh and causing me more pain.

Goddamn it. Why did this happen today of all days? Why are we so unlucky? Since Sergio caught us attempting to escape a few months ago, it's been getting perpetually worse. He wants to make Noelle suffer for what she did to him, and he knows that he can do it through her baby and...through me.

I stifle a broken sob as I try not to think of the future. It's bleak anyway. As long as I can help Noelle and her baby survive this nightmare, I won't care what happens to me.

She has her whole life ahead of her.

Me... What is there left for me?

I have no family. No friends aside from her and...him. God, I have nothing but some broken and delusional dreams about a boy I once made the mistake of falling for; someone who for all intents and purposes might be married now, living his best life while I...

A tear rolls down my cheek.

There's no one waiting for me... At one time, I may have made the mistake of imagining what life would be like outside of the constricting walls of the hacienda—what I could do if I were free. But that's only brought me more misery for something that's never going to happen.

I've lived my worst moments on this land. But I've also had the most happiness. Maybe it was brief, but I'll always cherish the memory of the man who gave me a purpose...an identity. Because it's that identity that I'll take to my grave.