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Three heartbeats, three silent breaths—I give hih the space, swinging his weapon side to side Sawyer is at his side, and I’ forward to cover them

“Marley!” Taron’s gun lowers, and he rushes forward I’ off our friend’s face, and it hits me like a sucker punch

His head drops forward, bobbing like a top I don’t understand his mumbles A thick stream of bloody spit drips from his swollen lips

Rage mixes with adrenaline He’s been beaten almost to death, and cords of rope cut into his skin Taron’s quickly slicing his restraints as Sawyer and I case the hut It appears deserted, which puts ht, casting long shadows in the corners With a muted thud, Marley’s knees hit the floor

Taron bends to help lift hi like cat in the darkness

“No!” I shout as she rushes forward, screa, just in time for Taron to whip around and see the raised machete in her hand

Light flashes off the silver blade, the blast of Taron’s pistol deafens us in the small space, and she drops like a stone, a bloody splatter like aout on the floor in front of her s, caramel hair fans around her head, and she looks seventeen

“God, no” He lets out a pained groan as the sun falls to the floor

For a irl lying dead at our feet My eyes heat, but I squeeze theainst the emotion Marley mumbles incoherent words He’s barely conscious, beaten alnizes us The irl

She would have slashed them both if Taron hadn’t done what he did

Co Hesitation is how you end up dead, cut in half by a teenager you’d otherwise overlook A girl who never should have been here Bastards using children to fight their battles

“Get hiruff order When Taron doesn’t move, I raise the volume “I said GO!”

He struggles to lift Marley over his shoulder, and Sawyer steps forward to help hi it a final sweep before I turn, in tiround and then cry out in pain

“Mother—” He rolls to his side, blood soaking his lower back fro

“Patton, stop!” Sawyer yells, and I see the trip wire