Page 42 of Dark Surrender

“Pops came,” I rasp.

“He did.”

“I’m fucked up.”

“You are.”

“I’m sorry for everything.”

“I know.”

“I promise I’ll leave as soon as I can. I don’t wanna put this on you.”

“Dark, it’s okay. You can stay as long as you need.”

“Does Abby know?”

“Yes.”

“Has she seen me?”

“Yes, she has. For a moment. It was…” Trailing off, Kali shakes her head. “She’s moving on. She’s gonna be okay.”

“Good.”

“How’re you feelin’?”

“Like I got run over by a train, then eaten by a shark, and shit out into whatever the fuck this is.” I gesture down my tired body, exposed from the waist up. My legs are covered by a blue star blanket and a pink fluffy one, probably Lily’s.

“That’s very descriptive.”

“I’m a descriptive man.”

“Mmmm. Well, if it’s any consolation, whoever stitched you back together knew what they were doing. You’re gonna have some wicked scars, but the infection’s gone.”

“How’s Iris?”

“Who’s Iris?”

“The one who helped me.”

“Ah. Yes. The sister.”

“Don’t say it like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like she’s the bad guy here. She’s not.”

“Mmm hmm.”

“Don’t do that, Kali. I got myself into this mess. I wasn’t her target.”

“Yet you look like Freddy Krueger went ham on your entire fucking chest and stomach. Even part of your leg.”

“You poison people, Kali. You have no room to talk.”

“But I know who my marks are.”