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Perry looked to the ceiling, keeping his breath steady He wanted, ging Even when his father beat hi to start now

"I can’t hurt Cinder physically," Sable said "That would be counterproductive But I can make hih you"

He turned his attention to the table; his hand hovered over pliers before he picked up the ht of the tool in his hand

Perry could tell it was substantial

"I’ bruises They’re showy Not very messy, and--"

"Get on with it," Perry snapped

Sable slammed the mallet down on his ars Bursts of red exploded before his eyes A sound slipped out of hi as the pain began to fade

"There has to be an alternative to this," Hess said

"He’s our leverage, Hess, as you said Our onlydown the boy And the alternative is that we die How does that sound to you?"

Hess glanced at the door behind him and fell silent

"Relax," said Sable "I hit him harder than I intended" He looked back at Perry "You know I’irl he likes--what’s her name?" he asked Kirra

"Willow"

"I could have Willow on this table instead You wouldn’t choose that, would you?"

Perry shook his head His throat had gone dry, and his ar you should know," he said

Sable’s eyes narrowed "And what is that?"

"I don’t bruise easily"

It was a stupid thing to say, but it gave hi of control over the situation And the look on Sable’s face, surprised, incensed, orth it

"Let’s find out," he said, tightly And the ain

This one was easier to endure than the first strike Every one that followed became easier still as Perry retreated into his mind His father had prepared hiratitude A euphoric closeness to times past, which had been terrible, but which had included Vale and Liv They’dquiet, even peacefulness, in the face of pain

When Sable came to Perry’s hands, tears pricked at his eyes They hurt the worst, maybe because they had been sreen and left first Kirra followed soon after with the dark-haired guard

Only the men posted at the door stayed, too afraid of Sable to leave

23

ARIA

So to Perry

Aria felt it

"Sable! Hess!" she yelled again "Where are you?" She pounded on the heavy steel door, screah her throat "I’ll kill you!"

"Aria, stop" Roar ca her arainst hio! You did this!" She didn’t want to turn on him, but she couldn’t hold back "You did this, Roar!"

He held on, and he was stronger, and she couldn’t push hiainst hi

"I know," he said, when she was still "I’m sorry I know I did this"

She hadn’t expected hiuilt in his voice "Just letfro their worry and fear, and suddenly tears poured froaze cast around the set away from them With no better options, she climbed to the upper bunk and curled as close to the wall as she could, trying to keep back the sobs that tore through her

Below, Soren said, "Do so, Outsider"

"Are you blind?" Roar replied "I tried"

"Well, keep trying! I can’t take this"

She felt the"Aria" Roar’s hand rested on her shoulder, but she stiffened andtoo hard to talk, and if he touched her, he would know that she hated hi been captured Her ht of her onlytogether the people she loved and keep them safe? Why couldn’t she just wake up and spend a day--one day--without running or fighting or losing someone?

Most of all, she hated herself for her weakness

This would help nothing, but she couldn’t stop Her eyes still ran with tears Her sleeve was soaked Her hair The thinto dry up, but the tears kept co

She didn’t kno much time had passed when she heard Soren

"That almost killed me," he said

She’d fallen quiet, so he ht she was asleep

Roar said nothing in reply

"Are you going to eat?" Soren asked