Bo walked to the back, disappearing from my line of sight. I used the opportunity to reach out to Hayden, placing my palm over his. His skin was alarmingly hot, his chest heaving. I wanted to whisper something reassuring, but we were past lying.
I removed my hand when Bo returned, pushing a medical tray stand. He wheeled the stand between Hayden and Nick, and we all stared at the two items lying on the tray: a long metal needle and a spoon.
My face remained composed, but underneath my skin, everything quivered.
Bo picked up the needle, holding it under the sunlight like a diamond. “It’s bigger than the one you used on me.”
“Bo—”
“And why the spoon, you ask? Well, how else would you scoop out all the gross parts?”
I gathered saliva in my mouth because it had grown drier than the desert outside. “You know I won’t do it.”
“I know you better than anyone, remember? You’ll do it.” He put his hand on Hayden’s shoulder. “One eye from him.” He put his other hand on Nick’s shoulder. “Or two eyes from him.”
Nick bursts into sobs, making it hard for me to concentrate. Bo had known I’d choose to hurt Nick over Hayden, which was why Nick was at risk of losing both his eyes and why Bo hadn’t gagged him—so I could hear him begging.
“Sir.” Samuel cleared his throat. “That’s taking it too far.”
Bo gave him a chilling glare. “Stand back if you can’t stomach it.”
I heard Samuel’s footsteps, but since the door remained closed, he must have gone to stand at the back.
“My eyes,” Nick sobbed. “I don’t want to lose my eyes!”
“Well, yeah, it sucks.” Bo ran his fingers through Nick’s blond hair. “You have to be a real psychopath to take out both of someone’s eyes instead of one. Areal, cold-blooded psychopath.”
Hayden jerked in his chair, pulling at his bindings. Bo smacked the side of his head. “Quiet, you. You’re getting out easy, unlike poor Nicky.”
Nick’s sobs grew louder, and God help me, but I wanted him to shut up so badly. I couldn’t think, couldn’t plan.
“Pick up the needle, Prey. Time to get to business.”
I shook my head, my vocabulary a blank page.
Bo picked up the needle and held it in front of Hayden’s face. I stopped myself from reaching out to grab his hand. He ran the tip of the needle across Hayden’s bearded cheek. “Why are you being dramatic, Prey? He’ll be fine with one less eye, and I’ll have him back behind the mirror in no time.”
Hayden remained still, his breaths shallow and rapid, beads of sweat sliding down his face.
“Oh, I know what the problem is; you forgot how to use it!” He grabbed Hayden’s shirt and tore it open. I held my breath as he pinched Hayden’s nipple, pulling it forward while bringing the needle closer.
“Bo, stop!”
“Then how else will you remember?”
Hayden screamed into his gag as the needle pierced his skin. I gripped the armrests of my wheelchair, fearing that any attempt to stop Bo would make this worse. He roughly twisted the needle inside Hayden’s flesh, drawing blood. “Did he ever tell you he used to do this to himself?” Bo asked Hayden, who moaned in pain, his eyes tightly shut. “I used to find bloody needles in his room all the time. He said it helped relax him.”
He finally pulled the needle out, then scooped the blood with his finger and brought it to my face. “Sit still.” He smeared it at the corners of my mouth, drawing a bloody smile. “Now we have a happy, smiling Prey.” He placed the needle back on the tray. “Okay, now get to work.”
“Fuck you,” I hissed, the blood quickly drying on my skin.
“It’s either an eye or a bullet to the detective’s head—something you’re also familiar with, aren’t you?”
Hayden made a sound to get my attention. When our eyes met, I understood what he wanted me to do.
“I can’t.” I had no right to cry, but my tears didn’t care. “I can’t, Hayden.”
It sounded like he was saying,“You can.”
