Chapter 17: Never take freedom for granted

Derek and I stared at Ellie in silence. It wasn’t a stare of horror, more of sheer disbelief. I couldn’t be more grateful that she had saved our lives.

What remained of Albert on the floor wasn’t a source of alarm. Despite his extended life, she had ripped him into enough pieces that if he had survived, he couldn’t speak and must have been in unbelievable pain. Just like the residents he tortured for years.

It would’ve been a cruel irony and I almost half hoped he hadn’t truly died, as sick as that may sound.

“Are you ok?” I asked Ellie. She had shrunken and morphed back into a smaller demonic child, something that I felt a need to protect, despite the fact she didn’t need anyone to do so.

“I’m fine.” She answered, head still hung as if she were ashamed. There was a pause for a moment.