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“I’ll stick with the dagger Worked pretty well in the past” Her eyes dropped down, as if reliving the ?”

My sweatpants and bare chest had been replaced with black jeans, boots, and a long-sleeved black shirt But the biggest tell was the untouched scotch, probably “Yes”

Her hard expression suddenly tightened, her eyebrows furrowed, her eyes fearful Now she looked like the wo Claire leave while she was forced to stay behind

“Don’t be scared”

She didn’t try to hide it “I just… I feel better when you’re around”

“Just because I’m not here doesn’t mean I’m not around Those freaks know that”

“Then why did they take Claire in the first place?”

Having her hoone The strain of ain I did my best not to dwell on the past, because it would only drown me in sorrow, make me break my vow of peace, so the question of why didn’t enter my mind “They didn’t knoho she was”

She gave a nod in agreement

“But now they do know—and they won’t fuck with ain”

Her eyes dropped down to her hands, visibly uneasy

“And, by extension, you”

She raised her chin once again, her hands together in her lap “When I was there, it was only survival My entire focus was on finding a way out of that place But now that I’ to the future, all I can think about is the past I wish I were like Claire…just getting back to nor happened”

Her long hair was in a loose bun at the back of her head, her jawline sharp, her neck elegant and long When the fire wasn’t in her eyes, it was just a deep chasm of darkness Eternal “It’s normal”

“What’s normal?” she whispered

“PTSD”

Her eyes narrowed slightly, giving a knowing stare

“It’ll get better”