Page 757 of Coal Hearts

Pain crushed me.

I passed out.

* * * * *

“He’s damn well killing you.”

I groaned as consciousness slammed me awake.

For a single second, I had no memory, no discomfort.

But then...agony.

Everywhere.

My back, my thighs, my shoulders, my legs.

Fuck, make it stop!

I-I can’t do this anymore.

My groan turned to a tortured cry.

I tried to curl into a ball to hide, to die, only strong, no-nonsense hands kept me lying on my emaciated belly. “I’m not done tending to you.”

I cried out as something stinging splashed on the ribbons of my back.

Dr Belford cursed under her breath, her hands shaking as she nursed me back to life.

“Ily...” I gasped around the excruciating throb. “Is she...they didn’t...please tell me—”

“She’s fine. You passed out, and Victor let the Masters, who hadn’t had a turn, finish before everyone retired for the night.”

“Can...can you help me see her?”

“And get all of us killed?” She scoffed. “No.”

I gave up.

Collapsing against the pillow, I let overwhelming pain carry me away.

The last thing I felt was the sharpest prick in my arm. “When you wake, you won’t feel what he did to you. The drugs will numb everything, and you’ll feel a thousand times stronger than you actually are. Don’t think you’re cured. You’re not. Do too much and your system will shut down. Got it?”

I had no capacity to reply.

Her hand sifted gently through my shaggy hair. “I’m so sorry, Henri.”

And then, I was alone again.

* * * * *

“Tonight, you will get your reward, my sweetling.”

I flinched on my knees, not daring to look up at Victor.

Goosebumps covered me thanks to the cold winter evening and the fact that I wore nothing but white-wrapped cloth around my chest and back.

I’d woken a couple of hours ago and suffered through a shower before Dr Belford came to dress me in the softest bandages and soothing salves. She hadn’t spoken, but I’d whispered a quick thank you.