He swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry, fighting to hold his ground against the overwhelming desire to run away.
“You caused it. You can stop it.”
After a long pause, August said, “It feels impossible.”
Clang. Clang.
“We don’t really have time for a motivational speech, Auggie. You need to do this now.”
August’s eyes flickered to Felix, then he gave a tired nod.
“Alright. Ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.”
Felix helped him up, steadying him when he swayed.
August stepped forward and held out his hands. He looked so small against the vast spread of darkness, and suddenly Felix felt it too—the impossibility of what they were trying to do.
Come on.
He watched, helpless, as August struggled.
After what felt like an eternity, August lowered his arms. “I can’t get a hold of it,” he whispered. When he looked up, hisrings shone a bright, metallic silver, eyes framed by dark veins that spider-webbed beneath his skin.
“Keep trying.”
August sighed and tried again. The strain was clear on his face, his scowl deepening with each ragged breath until, finally, he stumbled and collapsed to the ground, his chest heaving.
Clang clang.
“Keep trying,” Felix repeated, reaching to pull him back to his feet.
August shoved his hands away. “I can’t!” The words were like a gunshot resounding down the empty street.
Anger and desperation tore through Felix, hot and sudden. His friends were risking their lives for this. Marlow could be dead for all he knew, and he was wasting precious minutes standing around. It didn’t matter how impossible it felt. August didn’t get to quit. This was too important.
Felix drew his flintlock and aimed it down at his head.
August didn’t react. He didn’t even flinch. He stared up at Felix, the weight of defeat in his eyes as the glow faded.
“Do it, then,” he muttered. “I can’t fix this.”
Felix clenched his jaw, the fight draining.
August couldn’t do it. He couldn’t close the tear. They failed.
The smart thing would be to kill him, let the Watch find his body. Felix could still push on. Gather enough people. Continue with the rest of his plan. He’d have the ministry at his disposal. Maybethey’dfind a solution before this thing destroyed the entire city.
He gripped the handle of the gun tight enough to make his knuckles hurt. August couldn’t fix this. They didn’t need him anymore.
Finally, his hand dropped to his side. “I’m not going to kill you.”
August studied his face, like he was searching for something in it. “Why not?”
“Because I—” Felix scowled, reaching for an answer, but finding nothing. He shoved the gun back in its holster, frustrated with himself for this weakness.
He’d never been one to back down. He would do anything to save his people.
So why couldn’t he do this?
