“We’ve never managed to transfer a demigod’s power into inferichite before,” the guard said. “We need more time to work on the girl.”
“We’ve never had arealdemigod before! All we’ve ever worked on is average supernaturals and the occasional prophet! Thisshouldwork!” Jaymin screamed.
It’s not going to work if you don’t know how to use them, I thought weakly. Jaymin thought she could be all-powerful, but she lacked the knowledge to use the inferichite properly. She’d never get my powers into those crystals otherwise.
But I was damn sure she’d keep trying anyway. I wasn’t sure how much longer I would hold up.
“Something’s wrong with the ceremony,” the guard argued. “If we take our time and learn what we did wrong, perhaps we’ll be able to obtain her powers on the next attempt.”
Jaymin took a moment to think, before she said, “Fine. We’ll take Ava, and kill the rest. Capture her Familiar. Ava needs the dog to stay alive.”
No. I heard the terrified screams of my friends and family as the guards went in for the kill. Even through my exhaustion and pain, I felt panic. If I didn’t manage to get off this table and find a way to save them, my parents and my friends… Charlie, the love of my life… woulddie.
I’d rather burn in hell.
The guards moved in, but I rolled off the table. I couldn’t access Fire, Water, or healing, but I still had my wit, and ancestors, it had to be enough to get us out of here. Before Jaymin could react, I grabbed the pistol she was holding and yanked it out of her hands. I pointed it at her and put my finger on the trigger.
“Stop!” Jaymin screeched. “Everyone freeze!”
Nobody dared to move. I took a couple of shaky steps backward. Everyone’s eyes were on me, waiting to see what I would do.
Jaymin stared down the barrel of the gun with an arrogance she didn’t bother to conceal. “What are you going to do with that, Ava? Do you even know how to use it?”
I swallowed. “All I have to do is point and pull this trigger.”
“To kill me, yes,” Jaymin responded dryly. “But I assure you, there are only five bullets left in that pistol. It’s not enough to get you out of here.”
She was right. Even if I managed to kill Jaymin and a few others, it was still too many for me to take down on my own with just one gun.
I was backed into a corner. There was nowhere for me to go.
My voice trembled as I said, “All right.”
I put the pistol against the side of my head. Mama let out an ear-shattering scream. My friends started shouting things, but I didn’t comprehend what they were saying. Daddy’s face blanched of all color.
Charlie’s eyes went wide. He had no idea what was going on, only knew that I must’ve done something insane.
Better he didn’t know. He didn’t need to see this.
“Don’t come any closer,” I warned. “I’m not fucking around.”
I didn’t know if this plan would work. But I’d use myself as a hostage if it meant saving the people I loved.
“You don’t dare,” Jaymin seethed, narrowing her eyes.
“Everyone always called me Crazy Ava-Marie, right?” I let out a hoarse, mad laugh, and I felt my eye twitch. “Let’s see just howcrazyI really am.”
My voice had taken on some kind of deranged tone that I didn’t recognize. It wasn’t me, and yet… this was moremethan I ever had been before. Jaymin had made a huge mistake. I was Ava-Marie Mitoh, and I refused to be cornered. And if I was, I’d fight. I’d fight like hell to get out, even if I had to kill myself to do it.
NowJaymin looked scared. “Now, Ava, let’s think about this.”
“Fuck you!” I screamed. “You come any closer, I’ll blow my brains out all over the fucking wall!”
Charlie looked like he was going to be sick as he realized exactly what I was doing. His emotions overpowered our bond, drowning me in nothing but panic, fear, and complete devastation.
“Ava, don’t,” he pleaded. “Please don’t hurt yourself. I’m begging you, pidge. No matter what happens, stay alive for me. We can get through this. Don’t pull that trigger.”
“This is for the best.” I swallowed as I tried to work up the courage. I didn’t want to die, but I wanted my loved ones to live. I had to choose between the two, because I couldn’t have both.
