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“Who is Death?” Guthrie interrupted “Why can I hear hiingly at my quail, but obeyed Guthrie’s order “Death is one of the Arcana, a group of twenty-two kids who’ve been chosen to play in a life-or-death game, all with special powers We’re commemorated on Tarot cards, yadda, yadda You’re one of us—the Hierophant You can brainwash people” I lowered my voice to a confidential tone “I know you think you see spirits, but it’s really the i over us You hear our calls e get near”
“Why should I believe this?”
“You heard a boyBehold the Bringer of Doubt”
His lips parted His were cracked als?”
“You ht want to rework sorimaced as I asked, “I just overstepped, didn’t I?” Way to insult your leader, Eves
“I-I don’t understand” For the first time I heard uncertainty in Guthrie’s ame? Why was I chosen?”
I put my elbow on the wet table—had so?—and settled in to dish “Oh, Guthrie Where do I even start?”
“At the beginning But first, I want you to have a bite” He flashed his pointy smile
Death whispered in our htered last week? This creature cut a , “What is he speaking of? Someone like you could never harain, Ifor composure, I said, “It’s an awful story, but if you really want to know” Then I proceeded to tell hirew paler, and his face started dripping with sweat
I’d had no idea I was such a coes of ht have done hi his questions to pinpoint it
Suddenly he clutched the table, nails digging in, and gave a long groan of pain I heard hout the cavern, people started dropping to the floor, convulsing, clawing at their throats as if they couldn’t get enough air
Guthrie shot to his feet, teetering as he swung his gaze on ht?”
My eyes ide “Oh, God, my poison! I didn’t know you then! Had no idea what you would coasp, he collapsed to his back, as if his legs had been taken out frouilt Below, chairs clattered, tables overturning Grown men screashackles
“There arerated to e They’ll feel my deathwill follow inning to fade, the death throes beloing quieter and quieter
With his eyes clouded like those of his followers, Guthrie yelled, “Avengethat is foul, all that is unclean!” His words boomed across the cavern
I was foul? If Guthrie said it, then it must be true Hadn’t I knoas a monster? Jack hadn’t been able to accept me until he’d heard all about ht he could help me with my problem
As life left Guthrie’s body, the echoes subsided His last words to me: “You’llrotin hellfor this”
“Wait, I’m so—” I fell back on izing to a aze locked on my plate, on the “quail” in the center Huna, only the layers were striations of skin, fat,that in ain, to have another control hts! I’d nearly eaten part of Tad I’d nearly become a slave to the Hierophant Fury boiled up inside ht, Guthrie?” I surveyed the aht your doo appeared Beside the Alcheers The Hierophant’s sylad Kill therinned down at my pair of icons, I craved more There were four other Arcana in this mine, chained and helpless
No! Rein it in, Evie! That wasn’t how this night would end My nexteveryone free On unsteady feet, I hurried toward the pantry, speeding down the stairs, winding around contorted bodies—
A hand shot out to seizea chunk of flesh in his other hand “You’re unclean Must die!” he choked out just before his body relaxed, his bladder eers off ate, I found Jack still straining against his chains When he saw eline, youback?”
“I’ate lock, then freed Jack He yanked ed the Hierophant!” Selena looked jubilant “You took him out, Empress” Possibly the first tiet out of here”
“Are you okay, Jack?” I reached up to gingerly touch his head “Goose egg, huh? Isn’t that supposed to be a good sign?”
“You’re worried aboutto you out there!” Jack was growing ht return soon Just because Guthrie’s dead doan mean the others’ eyes will clear They’re bound to hiht?”
“Yes” Meth-mouth’s eyes had still been cloudy, Guthrie’s last order forehts
Once I’d popped everyone’s cuffs, I helped the other prisoners to their feet, while Selena and Lark lifted Finn between the steady
We roup, Jack in the lead “We need to lay hands on our gear, our bows Do you knohere they stashed them?”
I nodded “Just ahead, there’s a hub You’ll see piles of supplies”
When we reached the central cavern, everyone froze in place at the carnage: Tad’s grisly re eyes, faces frozen in agony Meth-mouth with bloody flesh clutched in his hand
Jack drew back, yanking s Get your waroan to be okay, just keep your back to this place” He took irl
I understood his concern Now that the heat had passed, I didn’t want to see But I comprehended that I’d killed dozens I told myself they were murderers ould never have returned to nor off to reclaiainst a wall; then Selena ran after Jack
“Look for the littlest camo jacket,” Lark called, “that’sequally unco our protection—and standing near me
Jack and Selena returned shortly after to distribute a pile of our gear They’d also scored two flashlights, arrows, a torch, and soe
As Lark wrapped Finn’s calf, Jack helpedaway froot no idea where we are”