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Aleks began to shake violently and since his body was against row chilled I pushed hi to go blank

“Aleks, stay with ed as I cupped the side of his face with an to drift away even more It wasn’t until I practically yelled his name that I saw hie breath and slu his breath for minutes, not seconds

“What happened to Miss Penny, Aleks?” I asked, since I knew the woman was a part of this I also instinctively knehat had happened to her… it wasn’t hard to guess As bad as what had happened to Aleks had been after he’d been taken, it was likely the events surrounding the teacher that had ju method he’d come to rely on so heavily

Aleks began shaking his head violently I grabbed him by the upper arms “What happened to her, Aleks?” I repeated fir so with it

“Brian ca our lesson He had the book He asked iven it to me I… I…”

“What, Aleks? What did you do?”

“I lied to him I told him no” Aleks squeezed his eyes and suddenly yelled, “But he knew and he said Miss Penny would have to pay for my lies! He let one of his men hurt her! I yelled at Brian to ain but thehim to stop”

Aleks began sobbing As badly as I wanted to end this, I knew I couldn’t “Finish it, baby,” I whispered as I stroked his hair with one hand His face was covered in tears, and snot and spit were sliding down his et the words out

“Bri… Bri… Brian asked avein the chair on the other side of the table and she looked at me I started to tell her I was sorry, but then there was a bang and blood was everywhere and I couldn’t see her eyes anymore”

Aleks slapped a hand over his eyes “He left ht… he… he left the book He said I could keep it I… I kept telling her I was sorry and then I started reading the book to her because I knew she was probably cold and scared…”

I couldn’t understand his words after that so I pulled hiainst my chest I let my hand pass over his hair as I whispered to him that it wasn’t his fault When he’d quieted, I asked, “Were there other teachers after that?”

He nodded against me

“Did he hurt any of them?”

Aleks shook his head It took a good fifteen seconds before he whispered, “No… because I was good”