Chapter 151

The Prey

The panic in my chest didn’t ease—it grew worse.

I could smell blood in the air.

I promised to keep you alive. And that’s exactly what I’m doing.

No. No, no, no! This was not saving. This was killing. For my sake! Why?! I never wanted this. I never asked for this. Then why did he have to? I wouldn’t let him do this. Not on my watch.

Before I knew, I was on him, grasping his arm in my trembling hold. “Judas, please. You don’t have to-“

His grip on my arm remained firm but his fingers dug into my flesh as though he feared I might collapse—or perhaps run. “Are you scared of me, Ptichka?”

I froze. Was I? I didn’t know. I was scared, and then at the same time I was not. I knew he wouldn’t harm me and that should calm me, yet the knowledge he would kill all the people in here, did not sit well with me. I might be anything, but not a murderer, even if I was not killing them myself, but I was letting them die.