Page 412 of Coal Hearts

Who knew if I’d ever be human again.

Who knew what I would do out there.

All I knew was...I’m done.

She needs to go.

The metallic rust of blood coated my tongue.

The urge to chase and pillage, savage and ruin made me shudder.

She needs to go now.

Smiling like a murderer, I lowered my arm and said softly, “What are you all doing standing there? Run.”

It took a moment for my command to ripple from ears to muscles.

A heartbeat for everyone to break ranks and go.

With sharp inhales and panicked looks, they bolted as one.

Up the drawbridge and across the heavy wooden bridge.

The thunder of thirty pairs of feet sounded like a stampede of wild horses.

Shadows swallowed them as they cut through the thick wall, then sunshine drenched them again as they reached the other side.

Water dapples from the moat painted their galloping legs.

Target marks bounced as they ran.

And like a flock of hungry birds, they all vanished to the left.

Thirty priceless jewels disappeared in a puff of diamond dust.

The Masters began to pace.

And I morphed into something obscene.

Black and seething.

Dreadful and diabolical.

Victor gave me a smile.

I sank into bloodshed.

And

the

clock

started

ticking

...

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