It was a different feeling walking back to the cages, knowing that they were going to be opened and the people let out. I had never experienced what it was like to be freed back in Camp Hell. Maybe that was why the memories continued to cling to me like they did. I never had that closure, knowing it was over and done with.
Instead, it was like a dark spot in the back of my mind, reminding me that it would be easy to be taken back there. And if I was, I would never walk away a second time.
I shuddered, even though I was still in Rip's arms. Something told me I would have to face that demon at some point in time, but today was not that day.
Cheng Bo Jing touched each cage with our teammates inside of them, and I watched as the metal crawled up his skin, burrowing down until it created yet another tattoo.