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"That’s it Do it Hit her Harder"

Blonde Angel hurled herself up the steps, beelining forOnly Leather Jacket lived infor it--maybe then on’t make you kill her"

Tears

They sprouted upfroirl She halted a foot away; both of us breathing hard, both staring silently Her tears matched mine--a torrent of eaze

Confusion

Hatred

Sadness

Forgiveness

She cried out, deleting the space between us I cowered, bringing ainst , hardly existing under the horror I’d caused

Q grabbed the girl’s shoulder, wrenching her back "Qu’est-ce que tu penses faire?" What the hell do you think you’re doing? His voice was livid, his body tree

I opened my mouth to explain How to explain? I’d told hi the evidence standing as judgement was too el sniffed, uncaring tears tracked down her face

I sucked in a fearful breath My limbs quaked "I’m--I’m--" I’m so daive h her sorrow "I had to tell you--I…" A fresh spillage of tears ruined her strength Sing hard, she ed, "It wasn’t your fault All that time, I knew you cared You acceptedyou did could’ve stopped it"

She reached forsnapped inside The grief I thought I’d dealt with gushed forth, purging the re darkness inin tears

Q stiffened but never let go of ed by two people My past and future Anchored byon a sea of pain

The world ceased to exist as I found closure in the arms of my victim The arms of the woman who I’d watched be raped and trau ood Where I’d repaid ave me silent support while I carief ebbed Blonde Angel smiled, her face blotchy and red I knew raced her lips, a weight lifting off her shoulders, evaporating into the sunny sky "Thank you"

I shook ive me"

She pressed a kiss to my cheek "We were both their victims We knew that It wasn’t your fault"

"Tess--is everything okay?" Qat Blonde Angel He stood asto Blonde Angel, I asked, "What’s your name?"

She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear "It’s Sophie And I’ ith awe "I reuards taking us away I remember your home"

My eyes snapped to Q "She stayed at our house and I never knew?"

He clenched his jaw "I didn’t want you to see any girls froaze softened "I’o ofthe saltiness froo, she added, "Sorry for ju on you I just--when I saw you--I had to--"

I captured her hand "I’lad you did I’ll never be able to thank you"

I would never be able to articulate the freedom inside--the freedom I didn’t even know I needed

The prime minster cleared his throat His eyes bounced from me to the wo you had direct contact with Mrs Mercer when she was taken in the reported second incident?"

Oh, no My heart picked up I couldn’t have my crimes told I wouldn’t be able to advocate Feathers of Hope if people knehat I’d done in that awful place "No--she--"

Q growled low and threatening "Leave her out of this She cathe prime minster "I respect Mr Mercer, but yes I knew this woh, and I kno intrinsically good she is"

My heart fell out of ood then I’d been drugged out of my mind--their little puppet

"Shoot her, puta Or we’ll cut off her fingers"

Why didn’t I shoot Leather Jacket? Why did I have to obey?

Pri "Would you be so kind to say a feords to the crowd, on behalf of the charities Mr and Mrs Mercer run?"

"Quoi!" What? "No Definitely not," Q snapped "Leave her--"

"I’d love to," Sophie said, alave me another smile and I knew I had to trust her Whatever she said would be the truth--I couldn’t control how people perceived it There was no arguing hat I’d done

Laying a hand on Q’s tre forearm, I sed my fear "Let her, Q Let her speak"

Q’s jaw clenched, his nostrils flaring with anger

"Very good" The pri her to stand in front of us "You in when you’re ready"

The crowd hushed fros itched to run I didn’t want to be here--not when people learned the truth