Page 123 of Kingdom of Death and Hope

“Avira has been good to a lot of people, helping us when we needed it the most. She wouldn’t do something that wasn’t for the good of Bellhollow and its people,” John goes on. “Enough talking. She gave me a mission and I am going to execute it.”

“Adeline?” someone calls.

Groaning, I roll my head to the side and crack my eye open. Wait. Eye?

“Adeline? Are you alive?” the man calls out. “Talk to me when you wake up.”

I slowly move my hand up to my face, hissing when I touch my very swollen eye. Everything flashes before me. The countless hits I took from John before I ended up passing out from the pain.

“Adeline?” Nas calls my name again.

Humming, I stay still and look around with my good eye. I’m no longer sitting in the chair but laying on the cold, damp, and hard floor.

“I thought you had died,” he sighs. “How are you feeling?”

“Everything hurts,” I manage to get out.

Tears pool in my eyes, and this time I have no energy to stop myself from crying.

Adeline? Kieran’s gentle voice rings in my head.

Sobbing, I close my eyes and curl my body in on itself. I mentally put the block back up, not wanting Kieran to feel the sadness and how much pain I’m in right now.

Sweets, what happened? Talk to me. Kieran’s voice sounds desperate.

Nas is nice, I whisper, not wanting to talk about what happened.

How long after did John continue to beat me? Did he stop when I passed out or did he continue?

“I know everyone is worried about you, but they are also super proud of you for not giving up,” Nas says. “I know it doesn’t make the situation better, but I think it’ll help you hold on a little longer. They are no doubt thinking of every possibility to get you out of here.”

Nas is still alive? Kieran sounds shocked.

Perfect, he took the bait to switch topics.

Yes, he is. He’s in a couple cells down from me, I reply.

How are you feeling? How are you really feeling?

I clench my eyes shut and take a deep breath.

“He says hi,” I lie to Nas, trying to avoid talking to Kieran. “Was shocked to hear that you were still alive, but he is happy.”

Adeline, please don’t shut me out. I’m worried about you. I felt blinding pain in my face and then it was all gone, and before I knew it, there were dull aches all over my body before you shut me out again. What happened? How are you feeling? Kieran keeps talking.

“Tell him I said hi and can’t wait to be reunited with everyone,” Nas replies. “Now focus on talking to him. We can talk after.”

Taking a deep breath, I try to move my body to a sitting position but everything screams in protest.

Don’t move too much, Kieran says. Your body needs to heal. Just lay there and talk to me.

Nas can’t wait to be reunited with everyone. I change the topic once again.

Maybe if I change it enough times he will give up.

Adeline, stop trying to change the topic. You are making me more worried and wanting to come and get you, not caring about any of the consequences. Kieran’s voice is firm with an underlying hint of worry.

I’m sorry, I whisper.