Clean.
Violent.
I like Russ more every day.
Mason motions toward the rescued children.
“My men can get them topside.”
One of the little boys immediately panics.
“No!”
The word cracks through the checkpoint so suddenly everyone freezes.
The boy’s breathing turns ragged instantly.
Fear.
Pure terror.
“They said outside isn’t safe.”
Jesus Christ.
The other children start shrinking back too.
One girl covers her ears like she’s expecting punishment.
Hannah kneels immediately in front of them.
Gentle.
Steady.
“They lied to you.”
The children stare at her uncertainly.
The smallest girl whispers:
“Will we be corrected?”
My vision literally blurs red.
Clay. Easy.
Easy.
No.
Not easy.
Never easy again.
Hannah’s face crumples for one horrible second before she catches herself.
“No,” she says softly.
