Chapter 67. Useless

"Don't say that. You're just one person. You fought against the leader of an entire city. You-"

Aria let out a bitter laugh, her voice cracking mid-chuckle.

"Fought? I didn't fight. I wasn't strong enough to put up a fight," she said, laughing bitterly through tears.

"I tried to be strong. But I ended up nothing more than a pet. A... toy. I let him-" her voice cracked, "I let the same man who killed my parents touch me. I let him in. I am so useless."

Her fingernails dug into her arms in anger and frustration.

Emily's own eyes filled with tears.

"Aria, please... don't do this to yourself. It's not your fault. You couldn't have stopped him."

Aria snapped her head up, bloodshot eyes glaring.

"Then whose fault is it?!" she spat.

Emily flinched but didn't answer.

"I wanted to protect you... to get us out of here," Aria whispered, voice low and hollow. "Instead, I ended up in his bed. What a joke I am."

Emil