“They wouldn’t,” I blurt, and he grimaces, dragging a hand down his face.
“That's what my last little brother said,” Jude grumbles, making my heart ache.
“Other brother?” I repeat, and he nods grimly.
“He didn't make the jump,” he explains, and I gulp.
“And what did they do to him?”
I think I’m going to be sick.
“You're not old enough to know. It’s too painful.”
Fear gnaws inside of me as I peer over the edge at thewater. The whipping wind almost sends me over the edge without any effort from me. It makes me grind my feet into the ground firmer as I contemplate the lesser of two evils, unaware that the worst is standing right beside me.
Leap or lose my family.
My throat is thick as I gulp, fear zapping through my veins as my fingers twitch at my sides. I squeeze my eyes shut as my heart hammers in my chest, and before I can think better of it, I jump.
A scream bursts from my throat, horror lancing through my veins as I prepare to meet the icy waters below. The plunge is treacherous, forcing me deeper and deeper into the murky waters below.
Delirious and disoriented, I flounder, unable to make my way to the surface despite how much I kick my legs and stretch out my arms.
Each bubble of air grows smaller and smaller until my vision turns blotchy, and I can't help but think, as my mind flickers in and out of the present, that I was destined to lose my family either way.
On the edge of darkness, I'm lurched to the light, coughing and spluttering with a body pressed against me. Water splutters from my mouth as I pry my eyes open, blinking with bleary eyes as my father looks down at me.
His lips are moving, but his gaze quickly cuts away, hisjaw growing tense as he speaks. Despite my confusion, I slowly follow his line of sight to find Jude standing on the other side of me, disappointment etched into the corner of his mouth as he speaks to my father.
“Why would he do this, Jude?” my father commands, and Jude shrugs.
“I don't know. I told him to come away from the edge, but he wouldn't listen. He said he hates us, said he wanted nothing to do with us anymore.” He drags a hand down his face, fake sadness seeping from his eyes. “He moved before I had time to jump into action.”
I’m yanked back from the memory, my chest pounding just as harshly now as it had then, as I recall another fateful childhood memory that my brother bestowed upon me.
A sharp inhale from across the room catches my heightened senses, and my focus is redirected to the girl as she wakes. Her hand slams against the glass of the tank, and I hurry toward her.
“Okay, you're okay. It's okay,” I murmur, unlocking the tank as instructed by Walker.
Her eyes widen as the lid opens and she stares at me. Her lips remain pressed together as I lift my hands in surrender.
“Are you feeling better? I'm going to need to take you back to the room now, but I want to makesure you are all right before I do,” I ramble, unsure of what to do as she nods, still mute. Unsure, I hold out my hand for her to take, and her eyebrows furrow as she stares down at my palm. Slowly, and seemingly confused, she shakes her head.
“Can you not walk? Do you need me to carry you?” I ask, although my mind is swirling with stress at the idea of tossing her over my shoulder once again. I'm sure I was a little unnecessarily invasive earlier, but I needed to get out of that room. She doesn't deserve that same kind of treatment now.
She shakes her head again and gently places her hand against mine, rising from the tank with ease, like she's done it many times before, and my heart aches for her.
Once she’s standing beside me, I release her hand and cautiously place mine between her shoulder blades, silently guiding her toward the door. She moves effortlessly at my side until we're back into the room with the other subordinates.
Nobody pays any mind as we enter, but as I guide her back to her spot beside Jenkins, she turns to me with guilt riddled eyes.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers, gnawing at her bottom lip, and my eyes narrow.
“Why are you sorry?” I breathe, and she gulps, lacing her fingers together as she peers up at me.
“Because he knows,” she mumbles, and it's my turn to frown.
“Who knows what?” I push, and her gaze cuts from me to the door three times before she speaks again.
