Page 415 of Coal Hearts

Just because he had drugs in his system nullifying his pain didn’t mean his body wasn’t completely saturated with trauma.

God, how much longer can he run and not pass out?

Getting his rhythm back, Peter swiped at sweat running into his eyes. Looking at every fleeing jewel around us, he vowed, “I’ll kill you myself if I fail to give you freedom. How about that?”

I didn’t know if he was joking or serious.

He glanced at Suri who ran close by. Her black hair flew behind her; her slim figure covered in thin silver scars. “If we fail to get you out in a few months, I’ll kill you. I’ll make it as quick and as painless as possible.” He snickered. “You can even request the method. Pillow over the face? Drowning by bath? I’ll be the full-service assassin, how about that?”

Suri cried harder.

“Goddammit, Peter.” Kirk changed his trajectory to wrap an arm around Suri’s waist, awkwardly hugging her while running. “Don’t listen to him. He’s flying with the fairies. I’ve got you, Su. You can’t leave me, alright? Just...let’s get through today, and then we’ll figure shit out, okay?”

Suri gave Kirk an adoring, wet-eyed look.

The porn they’d been ordered to perform as the housewife and handyman might’ve been forced, but...the way they looked at each other screamed truth.

Oh no...

So that was why Kirk got so angry with Peter the night I’d sobbed in the vault. Why he’d warned Peter not to catch feelings for me.

He caught them himself.

I could imagine the helplessness of that. The sheer inability to protect the one person who held your heart.

Henri sprang into mind as we left the manicured grass and spilled into the forest. Immediately, the soft thunder of our footfalls turned into crunchy cracking over twigs and leaves. Our speed dropped as our tight group fanned out, dodging trees and falling into lines, following animal trails and slightly overgrown paths through the thick undergrowth.

I’d trusted Henri, and he’d broken that trust.

I’d felt something for Henri, and he’d scrambled my feelings until I had no idea what I felt anymore.

I’d come here as someone and transformed into something else.

Something I didn’t really like.

A nice girl turned nasty. A girl who would happily murder every Master she could get her hands on...but if a miracle happened and Peter’s vow came true...then what?

If we somehow got everyone free and made the Masters pay...could I kill Henri too?

Could I look him in the eye and hurt him the way he hurt me?

Because if I can’t, then...what does that say about me?

I glanced at the orange splodge on my upper thigh.

He’d shot me with his paintball gun.

He’d chosen me and fired, punching my leg with a horrible bullet that stung and bruised and exploded.

But...he hadn’t shot Peter.

He’d aimed at him, prepared to pick on him like he always had, yet...his eyes had glowed with horror as he’d noticed what Victor had done to my friend.

And then, he’d shot me instead.

And that made me...grateful.

Hopeful...