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"Leave me alone, Rev," came the weak reply

As if I possessed Super behind the door If I strainedof blood Taking several steps back, I ignored Bishop when he asked, "Rev, what the hell are you doing?"

Instead, I focused all the strength I had on the obstacle in front ofthe lock and sending it swinging open The scene before ined Annabel sat hunkered down on the toilet with a crimson river pooled around her The razor blade she’d used to slit her wrists lay in the e

"No, no, NO!" I shouted as I barreled forward into the rooreen eyes toher head "Don’t you understand? They’ve taken everything from me--my innocence, my will to liveeven my ability to bear children" Tears streaht a blood-streaked hand up to swipe the an to tear it into wide strips "This is not fucking happening Not on my watch"

When I knelt down beside her, she attempted to scramble away from me "Don’t you dare save me! This isit"

I shookthe fabric "I won’t let you do that, Annabel"

As I reached for her bleeding wrist, she shot up off the floor, trying to escape onized scream escaped her lips

"You fucking bastard! Stop being a hero Just let ainst the wall Like a caged aniht red blood began to paint us both I couldn’t iht after all she had been through

Bishop appeared behind et Breakneck or one of the nurses?"

"Just get the fuck out"

"Rev, she needs fucking sedation not only before she shreds you, but before she bleeds out"

"Get Out!" I bellowed

Gru under his breath, Bishop sto Annabel’s, I pinned her in place withthe ripped shirt around and around, IAs I surveyed the wound, I silently thanked God she had made a novice’s mistake and hadn’t cut too deep She would need stitches, but it was nothing life-threatening After tying the htly in place, I moved on to the next hand just as the palm was about to come in contact with my face

When I was done, I exhaled the breath I’d been holding The roar in an to dissipate