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"No," I announce grimly

Jackson’s s to fight aze slides over me "That could be fun"

"Yeah," Addy seconds Even in this lighting, the pit marks and acne on her face stand out starkly "That could be real fun"

My breath falls faster, chest rising with anger Heat creeps over my face as I stare at the shadowy faces of Jackson and Addy They’re the same, I realize Cut from the same cloth They both think they can do whatever they want--to who hi for the rope Before I can even think about what I’ainst his neck, just below his ear It’s a reflex Like the way your leg juh it feels as natural as breathing, shock ripples alonga knife to someone’s neck

He freezes even as Addy and the other two boys surge forward I press the tip deeper

"Stop," he bites out at thelance, satisfied none look ready to ignore his command

Without turning to look atwhat’s ours"

"You won’t You don’t have the nerve--"

And ht, but I say, "Want to test rowls, neck stretched tight against the prick of my knife But he doesn’t call uess no one would No one does Not here Not athe longest on Addy, sensing she’s the round All of you," I bark, s with force

They lower to the ground I look at Richard "Tie theleefully "Make sure you bind the free"

I look at Felix He stares at me ide eyes I jerk , Felix steps forward

"You’ll regret this," Addy snarls as her thick ar her "Don’t want hi loose"

Once Felix ties his hands with the rope, I ease the tip of the knife off his neck

Jackson’s eyes glealooround and starts tying his legs "Right now, you’ve won But what are you going to do when I’m free?"

I squat down and tap the knife to his nose Maybe I shouldn’t toy with hiood to have the upper hand, even as his eyes flash murder "I’m not worried about that" Not the truth entirely But since I got to this place, all I’ve done is worry I’ve been looking over my shoulder ever since Pollock showed up atnew Just another layer to my anxiety To the constant fear "I can take care of myself" I smile and eye his ropes "Clearly"

He doesn’t even wear the phony sood His lip curls over his teeth "You won’t see ht "We’re not supposed to har exercise My behavior will be forgiven, but you coht" I tsk and shake et kicked out of here Sent to a detention camp Or worse"

That smile returns, slow and easy and hateful I want to slap it off his face

"It ht be worth it To watch you bleed"

My throat thickens and the prickles are back, breaking out all over my skin Thankfully, it’s too dark for him to see me clearly If my face is splotchy and red he can’t tell No way for hies, clutching the rope attached to our prisoner

Snapping fro Jackson and his tea up the rear No one else sturounds without further incident Just as we clear the trees, our captive decides to put forth oneRichard with a kick to the chest The boy hits the ground The target spins and lunges away, but I’runts and starts talking, his words all a hot rabs his rope and yanks him to his feet

Felix offers , I accept his hand and rise When the guards and instructors see us approach, they sound the bell, signaling the end of the gauards and watch as the rest of the carriers trickle back toward theI can’t help but stand proudly, my shoulders pulled back Tully and the rest of our tea at nificant for me I’ve proven ht of them unharmed Until that moment, I didn’t realize fear for them had lurked in the back of my mind Cut loose in the woods with fifty ar

Sean’s eyes findin one of his rare shts his eyes He’d been worried ForthatHe shoots ers and brush theainstat ely and I instantly sober, facing forward again as the guards take a head count and recount And recount again One of them turns to Harris and calls out, "We’re four short"

"Well, what are you staring at me for? Go find them," Harris barks