iya

ly way. "The only fix," I said, my voice barely a whisper, "is a Life So

in. "What are you talking about? How do you know such a thing?"

method for extreme cases. Not for the faint of heart. Something about ancient texts, Holland

her word, he released my arm, his fingers leaving angry red marks. He grabbed my wrist instead, his grip firm but n

ospital wing. Hudson burst through the door, dragging me behind

peaks of a 'Life Source ritual.' A full transfer

. Forbidden, almost. But yes, it exists." He paused, his gaze softening as he looked at me. "But it comes with a price. For the donor, it is...

his shoulders hunched, his rapid breaths the only sound in the room. He couldn't meet my e

was the only way to truly break free, to fulfill the pro

never seen before. "Why, Jamiya? Why would you do this?

ive all these years, and I owe you for marrying me and taking away your choice. This is my penance. My final payment." It

t, his jaw clenching. The internal

Hudson a chance to articulate his o

g strange instruments and bundles of dried herbs from a locked cabi

back to me, but I felt his gaze, a burning weig

tly drew intricate symbols on the floor with chalk, lit candles that cast dancing shadows

ear out her IVs had left angry red scratches on her arms. She was fading, fast. This wasn't just a rejection. This was her life force be

in the center of the room. My legs felt like lead, but

its heavy wool still warm from his body, and gently, surprisingly gently, placed i

he whispered, his voice rough, clo

y muscles seized, my bones ached, my head spun. I cried out, a guttural sound I barely recognized as my own. Through the darkness of the jacket, I saw flashes

n swam, and then, mercifu

he insistent beeping of a heart monitor. I was in a sterile white r

ad bowed. Hudson. He looked haggard, his usually imma

y throat raw. My voice

mine. "She's stable," he said, his voice hoarse. "Completely st

fatigue I'd ever known. It was as if a part of my very soul had been ex

gain, his eyes pleading for a

ching in my throat, "there are no more debts between us. None at

ya, I... I can get you the best doctors, the best healers. We c

ough my temples. "This is... my choice. My ending. I want to leave

wide with shock. "Leave?

rength. I looked him directly in the eye.

Gates," he muttered, answering. "Adaline's awake? She's asking for me?" He looked at me one last time, a whirlwind

ed in protest. I fumbled for a pen and paper. A short note

re I hadn't yet lived, I slipped out of

aline's recovery quickly turning to a cold dread. He searched

istance bus, headed towards the coast, had veered off a mounta

name, spoken over the airwaves, sealed my fate. The wreckage was too extensiv

Morrow