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I look out the window, trying to catch the catastrophic state of the mainland. The buildings look uninhabited and deserted. Wires and metal poke out. There are tents, and people live in the street. Neon lights hang on what seems like old shops. Mechanical robots line the streets, picking up metal and tossing it into a huge pile with a single bright light.
"It's bad, isn't it?
I glance at him. "Yeah, I wish I could help." I look at all the people living on the streets, looking for food.
"You are. By helping me keep playing both sides."
I feel good about that but also sad that it has to come to that for him. He sacrifices his life to make it better for everyone living here struggling to live normally. Even if I find him attractive and wish for things to be different between us, I know in his eyes, I will always represent what he’s trying to take down.
It's dark, and the roads are littered with debris until we reach what used to be a stadium with bright lights and people walking toward what looks like a huge event with floating droids and holographic screens. It reminds me of a darker version of the island, but at least here, people laugh and smile, living carefree in the chaos. They're not uptight with serious faces looking for more power and greed while people suffer in filth.
He maneuvers the car to park, and I love how his arms flex when he shifts gears. It looks like the car was built for him.
Blair walks over from the other car while Ciro lets the girls out from the back seat. Killian opens my door when I unclip the seat belt. "Ugh, what's wrong with her hands? Are they broken?"
When I step out, I meet Ciro's gaze. His lips are tight when Killian shuts the door. "No, that is what a husband does for his wife. He opens the door for her," he adds, giving me a wink.
"Stop being bitchy, Blair," Sydney chides, walking after Ciro.
Blair strides off in a huff. "Whatever."
After Ciro and Killian lock up the cars, they walk ahead, and I trail a couple of steps behind him with Sarah.
"I'm going to catch up with Blair," Sydney says, running up to her.
"He likes you."
I glance at Sarah, confused. "Huh? Who?"
"Your hubby, silly. He likes you."
"You mean he likes Blair."
She snorts. "I think you have it all wrong. Blair is obviously in love with Kill. Has been for years." The wheels in my head turn, thinking about the two of them.No."I have never seen him hold the door open for a girl. Ever. Even though he wears a mask, and it can look creepy sometimes, you can tell he's always staring at you because that mask may hide his face, but it doesn't hide the spark of heat coming off you two."
There is no way. She is just messing with me so it can all blow up in my face. Her loyalty is to Blair, not me. We walk the rest of the way in silence until we reach a lift taking us all the way to the top. When the doors open, I hear rumbling and feel the floor vibrating like the earth is shaking.
Vroom! Vroom!My hair whips to the side, and I take a step back, watching two motorcycles pass with so much force, I have to place my hands over my ears.
The smell of something burning from the heat of the motorcycles burns my throat. People scream so loud it causes my ears to ring.
I smile when I hear the beat of the music and see a holographic robot coming out of the screen, dancing to the beat. It looks like it is hovering over the crowd.
The crowd goes quiet, and a guy on the microphone screams with his hands up. "He's here! The man. The legend. Kiiiiillllll!" I smile when In This Moment's "Beasts Within" makes its way over the sound system, and the crowd goes wild. The screen displays a live feed of Killian.
My eyes scan the entire setup. This is wild. He's like their dark hero.
Girls flash him their tits and scream, "I love you, Kill!"
Another one. "Marry me!"Sorry, ladies.
My eyes narrow when Blair walks up to him and wraps her arms around his waist. I look away angrily. My stomach clenches in knots, filling my insides with jealousy and causing me to slow down my steps, letting them walk ahead. He probably won't even notice if I slipped through the crowd and left.I should have stayed on the island.
I look and see an exit sign written in graffiti. GET THE FUCK OUT. The entrance side says MAKE SURE YOU COME INSIDE.
The judges banned cans of paint years ago. Maybe I can find things here. Ethan told me they accept money if it’s untraceable when scanned. I brought my phone that gives me access to a special account I had made for Ethan to use to buy me books. Hopefully, it's still active.
Before Killian can turn around, I step away in the whirl of the crowd among the chaos and make a run for the exit as fast as my boots allow me. I make it down the metal steps as people give me weird glances, but I make sure to look away and act like I know where I'm going.
