Page 149 of Crucible
They’re really going to torture and kill an innocent man and all because they won’t hurt me.
So many people dead because of me.
Tyler. Cassie. Harrison. Susan. Ronnie. Jonah. Sam. And soon, Pete.
And those are just the names I know. There are also the pilots and the rest of my security team whose names I never learned. How much longer will the list get? How much blood do I need spilled before I’m satisfied?
No.
It ends here.
I have todosomething.
Their focus is on Pete right now as Seth decides which hand he wants to cut off first. The psycho is actually reciting, “Eeny meeny miny moe.” When the knife lands on Pete’s left hand and Seth frowns his displeasure before choosing the right one, I know it’s because it’s the hand I grabbed when I ran from the meadow and from him.
“Are you watching, Sunshine?”
Hell no.I already feel like I’m going to pass out, and they haven’t even begun. My eyes are heavy, and I feel so sleepy, but I can’t. The only way to save Pete from being mutilated is to take their focus off him, so I burst to my feet and start for the lake. Even though running is what started this and is the last thing I should do, it’s the only way.
“Aurelia!”
I ignore Thorin calling after me, as well as the temptation of the van. There’s no time.
Besides, this isn’t about getting away. I’ll never outrun them. I just have to distract them long enough for Pete to save himself.
If he can.
I make it to the shore of the frozen lake, and even though the edges of my vision are darkening and my bones feel heavy for some reason, I keep going. I stumble my way onto the ice and ignore the terrifying sound of the subzero water moving beneath the surface. God, I hope the ice is still thick. Spring is just around the corner and the snow has already begun to melt.
“Aurelia! Aurelia, don’t! It’s not safe!”
They’re the ones who aren’t safe.
Somehow, I’d forgotten that, and I can’t even recall when it happened. I just stopped fearing them and started craving their darkness, but this…this is too much.
The sounds the lake makes under my feet terrify me, but I don’t stop. I don’t look behind me either to see which of them is chasing me. Hopefully, all of them are, and Pete got away.
I’m nearing the middle of the lake when a new sound reaches my ears that has me slowing against my will. The splintering and rumbling continue, getting louder as it reaches me. My stomach tightens and my ears ring from how hard my heart is pounding.
Don’t look down.
Don’t look down.
I’m too afraid of what I’ll see. Instead, I slowly turn and meet blue eyes.
“Thorin…”
His gaze is on the ice beneath my feet, and I swear I see him pale. “Songbird, don’t look down.”
“The ice.”
“I know, baby. Don’t move.”
A few feet behind Thorin, I see Khalil frozen in place, and then a few feet behind him is Seth.
I knew at least one of them would come after me, maybe two, but I was wrong.
They all came for me.
