Luke straightened her arm. She pushed at him, but he inserted the needle anyway and injected her.
Her body shot rigid before he even finished pushing the medication. A horrible scream pried from her lips.
Kira collapsed onto the ground, writhing, the muscles in her body contracting so hard that he could see the spasms.
Horror filled him at what he'd done, but this was best for her and Zayne. So, he forced himself to watch and witness the suffering he caused.
After a full minute of shrieking, her cries wilted and her body slackened. Her hands twitched. Kira whimpered constantly, struggling for breath.
Luke pushed her hair out of her face and turned her to be able to see him. “That's pain. That's what you'll be doing to your friends and yourself.” His nostrils flared. “That's what you'll do to Zayne if you don't stop.”
Unable to stand watching any longer, he placed water beside her, and then he left. His daughters' cries now mixed with Kira's and the sounds beat away at him as he walked down the hall.
Did Mom cry out before she died?
Zayne would find Kira this evening. Luke needed to prepare himself for that fight, to stay on guard for whatever he might do.
Those two didn't understand, but Luke just showed them kindness, giving them a taste of the hell that awaited them if they didn't relent.
CHAPTER 59
Miya
The Territories
Archai, Caspador
833 P.C. [Post-Collapse]
Whack.
Miya jostled even though no one hit her.
She sat on her knees, still silenced by the soldier's hand. Her spirit wilted with Lance’s body. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
Miya hadn’t looked away, not even when he couldn't keep his head raised to see her.
The captain wiped his forehead with his sleeve. Lance’s blood covered his knuckles and dappled his white shirt and forearms. He kicked Lance in the side with a sharp crack that was followed by a scream.
Miya yelled into the hand over her mouth. This had to end.
A low moan broke up Lance’s gasping breaths. His head hung.
He wouldn’t kill Lance. Not yet. She had to repeat that to herself to keep the terror at bay.
Finally, the captain turned his back on him and moved to Miya.
“Go. See what you’ve done to him.” The captain threwher forward. “Go.”
Miya crawled to Lance, arms shaky and tingling at the sight of his swollen face. She reached for him and then hesitated, afraid to touch him. A sob broke free. “Lance…”
“He’s fine,” the captain said. “Save your tears for when it gets bad.”
How was this not bad? The captain broke his ribs loud enough for her to hear. He couldn't suck in a single breath without gasping or moaning.
Miya carefully took his face in her hand and sidled close, so it felt like only the two of them. Blood wet her fingers. “I’m so sorry.”
He rested his forehead against hers. “I chose to stay... Remember?”
