hel

how long I had

s, m

rom afternoon gold into the soft grey of evening by the time I b

oked up,

gh

a

op

ci

almost

thes were dirty from climbing the wall, my hair tangled,

was

in weeks, I could c

he street. Neon signs buzzed above me. Cars honke

lt un

like

a phone, I

arcus. Anyone. Then I can lea

lowered, trying to

unfamiliar, so lo

I hea

w wh

drawled. "Look w

jumped. I

tside a shop, their eyes locked on me. Rough

hed off his bik

or us?" he aske

I don't have an

He looked like their leader

rincess," he said, breath reeking of smoke. "

through. I don't want

es suddenl

o my

e nec

el Damien f

man said, stepping c

rel's

oded insid

ace instinctively,

l like you wearing the Montrel embl

ehind him

of toy for the empire

ept their jewellery this

eeks; shame, fear,

king about," I whispered, voi

nly serious. "No one wears that symbol

en closer, an

he men muttered darkly. "Bo

yes gleamed wi

his hand shot out and

, stumbling as he

," he

ther arm, fingers diggin

ed. Panic shot

go! I didn't

red me co

ley beside the shop, his grip tigh

of the men laughed. "

trel's mark is worth a lot. And the boss w

od ran

pull back. "I swear, I don't know any

ve

he cold brick wall. The noise of the street faded. My he

ed close, breat

idn't you? Why else woul

"Please don't hurt me. Plea

epped forward, reac

her. Boss wil

along the wall, panic ex

ed. "Shu

my mouth from the side, pi

d, terrified, kicking, twisting,

y were

going to kill you. Not if you're smart. But you ma

man grabbed both my wrists, lifting them

dn't b

ldn't

ien

acked throug

hel dropped instantly,

thing

men spun aro

oves. Rage bur

men behind me

s drained

ng, makeup streaked from tears, a smear of dus

w tig

m," I sai

creams. Footsteps s

h the storm, watching e

ly one r

ng her up against his chest. A knife

l kill her!" he shou

reath wheezing in panic. She

top

use I fe

saw the terr

ar of

ear o

ar...

bled but hel

don't you fu

h slipped f

Deadly

fened. "S-st

ile w

an bargain with

TOP LAU

A

ys as a sniper round tor

rayed across her face and n

forward to

iled like I w

he cried. "Please-don

fr

d slammed a fis

t h

woman; an action I will never t

oment,

g broke

I made her

ved my glove, letting it fal

ftened, low

... loo

lently, sliding down t

y, keeping dista

g to hurt you

d. "Please... p

not in anger at

oat and pulled out

t touching

ingertips and wiped the blood fr

d, but didn

murmured. "No one w

final streak of b

.. come

, her eyes glassy

lid my coat around her shoulde

her t

ecti

axed on my chest, still

it was focused entirely on anyone

home," I

ed her out