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Prologue

Royce

Red and blue lights whirled through the deepest night, reflecting against the heavy clouds that hugged the city in a hazy glow

I raced down the dank alley, h the black puddles and dirt and debris Maybe if I ran hard enough, I ht be able to escape

Jagged panting rose into the dense air, aggression and fear and hatred a pulsing ache in my arteries

Thunder ruh the heavens, and I lifted an to pelt froainst my heated skin

What had I done?

I pushed harder, desperation seeping all the way to rew louder

Agony clutched h a tunnel of hopelessness that I knew led to a dead end

I skidded out of the alleyway and hit the sidewalk

My ribs were gripped in a searing blaze of pain from the blows I’d sustained

I sucked for breath For relief

It didn’tthat could have stopped e

The taste of vengeance still danced on ue

Violence lighting a path through my veins

Whirling lights closed in fro ive, I dropped to my knees in the middle of the street

I tipped an to pound harder, and I roared

Roared in surrender and anguish

But with it was a shout of victory

Blood dripped froned on the pavement

I had no place to go

No place to escape

I’d already been convicted

The reason didn’t count

None of it ain

A thousand times

Give up everything like an offering

Conde myself was the one sacrifice I could make

One

Royce

Present Day