Page 422 of Coal Hearts

The cartilage in my joints crunched against barnacle-sharp rock.

“No, no, don’t follow!” Charles glanced back. “You’re really not looking so good. Don’t worry, plenty more games to enjoy if you sit this one out.” Laughing again, he clambered toward the cave entrance where Kyle had disappeared.

Scrambling to my feet, I went to chase.

Vertigo kicked my ass.

I tripped to the left, the surf dragging me toward it with its salty song.

FUCK!

Unslinging my useless gun, I tossed it into the sand with a snarl.

Closing my eyes and balling my hands, I focused on getting my shit together.

I couldn’t think about Charles or Kyle or the other two Masters already in the caves.

Focus.

Breathe.

I tried to do what Ily did every morning and ground myself. I pictured the pain in my head trickling down my body and into the beach.

I felt ridiculous standing there with my eyes closed and pain tearing through me, but...slowly...breath by breath, my mind quietened just enough for the pain to cascade through my bones and seep out the soles of my feet.

What the hell?

Meditation, she called it.

Wrong...it was a fucking miracle.

My eyes snapped open, clear and focused again.

How had something so simple as shutting out the noise and concentrating worked so well?

Sure, I still hurt.

Sure, I was still cold and drenched and bruised in places I really wished I wasn’t, but...it was no longer debilitating.

The wooziness was gone.

The pain manageable.

I ran.

I chased after Charles and his sick confessions.

I had nothing but my bare hands, all while two guys—who just admitted they got off on chopping up human flesh and turning cannibal—hunted Ily.

If they find her...

The animal inside me prowled and snapped at its tether.

The darkness sucked me deeper.

I’d tried to play this smart.

Tried to stay human.