Chapter 713

Baxter:

Many Years Ago:

We were both running. At that moment, all I could hear was our giggling.

As we ran, we knocked someone’s hat off with a careless touch, then grabbed a guard’s gun and tossed it far away.

Laughing the entire time, we rushed out of the building and toward the garden.

Our hands were tightly intertwined.

One hand was clasped with the other’s, while the other held fresh croissants we had just stolen from the kitchen.

Finally, when we reached the shelter of a large tree, we decided to take a break. Guards stood in front of us. We were still within the asylum grounds.

“That was so much fun,” I said, pulling my hand away from his to press it against my chest as I caught my breath.

“I told you they are eating better than us,” he replied, taking a big bite of his croissant.

Sawyer and I had become good friends over the last three weeks.

It had been an amazing time with him. I never noticed how quickly time passed.

We would sit in our cell and talk for hours.

Sawyer was very charming, and everyone here knew him.

He was the president’s son, which was why he received a little special treatment.

By special treatment, I mean that if he requested drawing pads or sketchbooks, they were provided immediately.

Since we were usually together, I benefited from it too. We also received less punishment than the others.

But Sawyer always said the same thing.

“If my father found out, I am pretty much dead,” he commented as we both sat down against the tree trunk.

“Well, I won’t let that happen,” I said confidently, taking a bite of my croissant.

However, I noticed Sawyer had gone still. I turned toward him and found him staring at me.

“You won’t let my father hit me?” he asked, sounding almost surprised.

“Of course not. You’re my friend,” I replied, placing a hand on his shoulder.

I noticed his eyes drop to my hand before he looked back at me with a smile.

“I mean, why do you look so shocked?” I asked in confusion.

“Well, that’s because, my friend, I’ve never had any real relationships,” he replied casually.

But I noticed tears beginning to form in his eyes.

“Everyone who ever comes into my life, my father gets to them before I do. Then he makes some kind of agreement with them. Nothing I do or say is ever kept confidential. The person I think is my friend is usually just working for my father. Before I know it, all my secrets end up with him.”

The way he spoke, the way he kept avoiding my eyes, made my heart ache for him.

He had told me earlier that his mother had taken her own life after she could no longer endure his father’s brutal punishments and abuse.

I could only imagine the resentment he must have felt toward his father.

“What about you?” he asked, slapping my shoulder to bring me back to my senses.

“Well, I have friends. Elgin, Graham, Ron…” I trailed off as I thought of her.

“And who else?” he teased, nudging me with his elbow. “Don’t tell me you have a girl who’s your friend.”

“Well, she’s not like the others,” I replied.

“So there is someone,” he said with a pout, his expression full of playful annoyance.

“Yeah. Madeline. She’s really special

to me. You know, we talk a lot.

Whenever we meet, we do

everything together. Drawing,

sketching…”

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I was still talking when Sawyer suddenly burst into laughter, covering his mouth.

“Don’t tell me you two kissed.”

As soon as he said that, I grimaced.

“No, of course not. We don’t do that. Those are grown-up things,” I said, frowning at

him.

“Oh, so when you two grow up, will you kiss?” he asked.

I slapped my forehead.

“Sawyer, she’s really nice. I don’t know,” I mumbled, looking away.

“Seems like someone has a crush.” he teased.

“I want to see what she looks like,” he insisted, sliding closer.

“Well, I was brought here through trick, so couldn’t bring anything. With me I said

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watched how interested

was.

I was glad I didn’t have a picture of Madeline.

I didn’t want to share her as a friend with anyone.

It was already frustrating enough that Elgin and Graham were always around her.

That day, we sealed something between us.

Sawyer snuck out a small piece of broken mirror.

He cut both our palms and made

blood pact that we were brothers and would never leave each other behind.

I don’t know. To me, it was crazy.

Even with my best friends, we had never done anything like that.

But Sawyer seemed to take these things very seriously.

I understood his feelings, maybe because he had never had a friend.

And, to be honest, I was really glad we had met.

Making a blood pact still confused me, even if only a little.

Then again, I was never going to leave him behind. I had promised him.

I would save him from his father’s beatings.