ued" me two

face a perfect mask of anguish and relief. He knelt by my side, gat

so sorry. I'm

nce, he held my hand and told me the story he had rehearsed. He told me the gang had retal

med down his handsome face

o keep her stable. She's lost a lot of blood, she's severely dehydrated.

versation with the head d

e Nicole's face is fully restored, we can... let Jocelyn go. Then I'

to let me die, attend my family's funeral with a grie

fted in and out of consciousness, my life hanging by

oor opened, and Nico

skin was red and raw, an ugly sight. She glided t

se sympathy. "Look at you. So broken. But don't you worry. Y

round the edges of her bandages. "Soon, I'll be perfect again. And

inside m

s. It was a strength I didn't know I had left. I lunged, my hand

am, I hurle

her head, sending water and glass ever

xed on a large, sharp sh

nd this on my own terms. I scrambled out of bed,

rming into the room just as I br

for me, I knew, but for the loss

ed the glass hard against