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Tonight was a good night

Tonight had purged h to be safe around Zel

To for a second chance

"Wake up, you idiot We’re home"

My left eye had swollen shut and the one that was still operational had a red haze over it fro frolared back, squinting against the lights of the house illu hiruntled father

Bet he was glad he wasn’thard, I focused on the aches and pains, so as not to re Zel--about the ht and practically fell out of the car

Oscar grabbedme to ers held violence not co , he shoved me forward as if he couldn’t bear to look at me "Get some rest I’ll send up a medic"

I stumbled and weaved forward My ears pricked as hehier salute overjourney toward my home

My body creaked and complained, but slowly remembered how to move

My blurry eyes peered at the horizon Heavy black velvet blotted out all the stars and

Shit All I wanted to do was crash and sleep, but I couldn’t

The sun would befor another four hours

I would have to wait for htun

Chapter 9

I’d always prideddown, but that changed when I was told Clara only had a few months left to live

The illusion of power over one’s destiny was a lie The biggest lie of all

Her immune syste passion I lost faith in humanity, in fairness, in myself

I let my weakness put e of me

But in his violence, he made e

He gave ain

I would teach hiun to make him pay

"Zelly, is that you?" Clue popped her head from her bedroom, black hair tussled fro "Yes, I’m back"

I hadn’t expected Oscar--the opinionated idiot orked with Fox--to bring h the se floor just before sundown, I worried he’d throw me over his shoulder and takea dick the night before and offered to take me wherever I wanted We didn’t say much on the way back, and we fell into a companionable silence that smoothed over the animosity between us

The drive froer than I wanted with traffic, and the lack of sleep caught up to et

About everything

Clue glanced at the door opposite hers and ainst inquisitive ears offorward in her pink unicorn slippers and e t-shirt, she looked about fourteen years old "I thought you said you’d be gone for a while?" She slapped a hand over her ht her unaware "What happened?"

The apartano and basil from whatever Clue had cooked for dinner The second-hand couch was covered in a daisy-print fabric, and our mix-match coffee table was an entirely different world compared to the sleek black violence of Fox’s mansion

This place resonated rainbows thanks to Clara’s bright artwork blue-tacked to the walls and an odd assortment of knick-knacks Fox’s place was ht No wonder he see dark

My hands closed around Clue’s dress, hating thatback to hi back, but he deserved a piece of his own medicine and I still wanted the money he’d promised

Every ti entle I let lust cloud ht had been awith ht he would have no effect on me as it was purely business froet about anything but scratching off the days on a calendar Counting down the hours before I never had to see hi the stolen black trousers and t-shirt I’d raided Fox’s wardrobe I didn’t want to travel ho the walk of shame Not that they fit me very well--the trousers were too loose and the t-shirt too long

Clue crossed her ar to tell me what happened? Explain why I had to tell Clara her ht of how that conversation e of plans" I hid my stress with a smile and e Her skinny arht I kissed her cheek, wrapping ainst her This little Asian woe for ht of her leaving if things worked out with Corkscrew hurt o I wasn’t ready for our little trio to change

It’ll change when Clara dies The inevitable doom sucker-punchedto be so happy to see you"