Page 358 of Coal Hearts

Shifting on my knee, I went to stand...

But two things happened.

One, the softest puff of air shot past my face and a tuft of earth leapt from the ground.

And two, Ily touched my hand.

I froze as our eyes met.

My ears rang as the guards on the wall yelled in their loudhailer, “That was a warning fire. The next bullet won’t miss!”

I glanced at the pockmark by my knee. I waited for a kick of concern that a sniper could so easily end me.

But I didn’t care.

All I cared about was my little nightmare.

She’s still alive.

With every blink of her golden stare, her emptiness filled with everything.

Anger, sorrow, hate, and pain.

I felt her emotions as if they were my own.

I felt her.

Tangibly, invisibly.

I shuddered with goddamn relief.

The unfightable connection was still there.

Still humming.

Still haunting my every thought and heartbeat.

Words felt foreign on my tongue. “Est-ce qu'ils t'ont violé?” (Did they rape you?)

Tears welled in her eyes but didn’t fall.

With courage that made me hers for fucking life, she shook her head. “He...Y-You stopped him before—” Her face tightened. “No, he didn’t.”

All my rage snuffed out.

I bowed with relief.

Not too late.

Not too late.

I wanted to snatch her into my arms.

I wanted to kiss her. Hug her. Never let her go.

But she shifted away from me and tore out my putrid heart.

The animal inside me howled.