Except now we know the truth: the future is neither golden nor certain.
It's dark and uncertain and probably ending tomorrow.
"If we're going to die," I say finally, "I'm glad it's together. I'm glad I get to spend my last hours with you instead of alone."
"We're not dead yet." But even as he says it, I can hear the resignation in his voice.
We settle onto the thin mat, his good arm around me, my head on his chest. Listening to his heartbeat—proof he's alive, for now.
Tomorrow, Roman will come. Will end this.
But tonight, we have each other.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Maksim
I wake to Kira being ripped from my arms.
One second, she's curled against me, both of us finally at peace despite the nightmare surrounding us. The next, rough hands are dragging her away.
"No!" I'm on my feet before my body remembers it's injured. Pain explodes through my shoulder and ribs, but I don't care. "Let her go!"
"Wedding time." One of the guards—the tall one from before—grins as Kira fights him. "Boss wants the bride looking presentable."
"Maksim!" Kira's screaming, clawing at the guard's arms. "Don't let them—"
I lunge forward, and two more guards appear, blocking my path. My fist connects with someone's jaw, but then someone hits me from behind.
My vision blurs. I can feel blackness creeping in, but I refuse to be knocked out. I stumble but stay upright, throwing another punch. My bad arm is limp and useless, but it doesn’t stop me from trying to use it. I need to reach her. I have to stop this.
"Maksim, no!" Kira's voice is desperate. "Don't—they'll kill you!"
"I don't care!" I'm fighting like a madman now, wounded and fevered but fueled by pure desperation.
Then something hard connects with the back of my skull.
There’s no fighting the blackness. I'm falling, reaching for Kira even as darkness swallows me.
The last thing I hear is her screaming my name.
Consciousness returns slowly, painfully.
My head throbs. Everything hurts. It takes several seconds for me to remember what happened.
I force my eyes open and immediately wish I hadn't. The cell spins, nausea rising in my throat. Concussion, probably. Just another condition to add to my collection of injuries. Another hindrance to overcome.
They are becoming too many. I close my eyes and take stock.
I'm alone. Kira is gone.
The realization makes me want to scream. Or vomit. Or both.
How much more can I take?
Not much.
I’m half-dead already. And is there really any point in fighting? Giving up would end my pain. I can go to sleep and wait for the bullet that will end things for good.
