The Day Our Promise Breaks

Chapter 616

This was what kept her going.

She wanted, more than anything, to see her mom again.

She just wanted to know what it was like to be loved.

The truth was, she couldn't even remember her mother's name anymore. She couldn't remember her face, either. But every time she struggled through those brutal training sessions, whenever she was about to break, a gentle voice would float through her mind, calling her "sweetheart."

"My precious girl, you're amazing," the voice would say. "Hang in there. Mommy's always with you."

That voice was pure warmth, wrapped in love so real she could almost reach out and touch it. She could feel it in her bones.

Her mom always said she was her treasure, that she couldn't lose her, that she wanted her by her side forever.

Charlie had promised—she'd stay with her mom, always.

Now, Charlie's nose tingled. Tears threatened. Her mom had loved her so much.

And she loved her mom right back.

She had to survive. She had to get home to her mom.

Charlie forced down the last bite of bread. She'd been hungry for so long, the bread barely took the edge off, but it gave her just enough strength to keep going.

Years of relentless, almost inhuman training had made Charlie's willpower unbreakable.

She braced herself and pushed up from the ground, determined to find something else to eat.

She had to keep going.

Her mom loved her that much. And now that she was gone, her mom would be heartbroken, devastated.

Charlie gritted her teeth against the pain and started walking.

She'd just stepped out of the alley when she spotted Evelyn, heading her way with two girls Charlie didn't recognize.

Their paths drew closer.

was different, the sound- something about it-matched the gentle voice that echoed through Charlie's

She looked up and

She saw Evelyn.

The face was unfamiliar.

knew those eyes. She'd seen them

voice.

be her

wasn't sure, but the word tumbled out

didn't say it loudly, but the

way, Evelyn

suddenly, she she heard someone shee "Mom."

in her

second, she was

10°

one of her hallucinations, or

had gotten used to the tricks her mind

Charlie

never let go of losing her. Never

she'd hear her daughter's voice-at home, out in the street,

time she realized it was just her mind playing games, the grief hit

Charlie couldn't come back, but

Evelyn's first instinct was to assume she was just

girl beside her asked, "Evelyn, you

her head gently.

a quick once-over making sure

then slipped her arm

okay,

Evelyn's and kept walking.

AS

Charlie stood frozen, watching