Page 44 of Faith Among Monsters

It’s calculated. Sinister. A neat, bloody cover-up.

“I’ll take her with me.” The guard’s voice is almost lazy as he waves a hand toward me.

Every muscle in my body locks.

I flick my gaze to Zachs. This is it. This is shit hitting the fan. Where’s my backup?

Zachs hesitates. It’s so small, so quick, but I catch it. His mind is working. He knows exactly what’s happening.

“The inmates are still on the rampage,” Zachs says smoothly. “I can lock her in here. Safe and sound. Out of the way.”

The guard scoffs. “I can manage a walk across the yard.” He lets out a low laugh, shaking his head like Zachs is being ridiculous. His eyes flick over me again, slow, assessing. Lingering. “She’ll be here all month.” He smirks. “You’ll get your turn.”

A cold, sick dread settles deep in my gut.

No. No, no, no.

My eyes dart toward Trip.

Locked in. Expression unreadable. Unmoving.

No help.

I’m alone.

And I amsofucking screwed.

Chapter Sixteen

Faith

I walk with him, having little choice.

Zachs meets my eyes just before I go, and there’s something in his expression, something that says,stay calm, I’ll figure this out.But it does nothing to comfort me. Not when the doors close behind us, sealing me off from whatever chance I had at safety. Not when the only direction left to go is forward.

The guard doesn’t rush. He watches me, blinks slowly. Then he reaches out, dragging a finger over my lips. The touch is light, but it turns my stomach.

“You want to keep those pretty lips shut out there,” he murmurs. “I’ll give you something to do with them once we get where we’re going.”

Shit. Shit.

I nod, keeping my face blank.

He smiles like he’s pleased with my reaction, like he enjoys this game. His grip tightens around my wrist as he unlocks the door. “You try to run,” he says, casual, like it doesn’t matter to him one way or the other, “And I’ll put a bullet in your head.”

I nod again. I believe him.

The air outside is thick with salt and gunpowder and something heavier, something that clings to my skin and settles in my lungs. The brass have their own building, separate from the rest of the facility, positioned on a slight incline. Each step toward it feels heavier than the last. I don’t let myself slow down.

I scan the shadows as we move. Looking for monsters. Looking for heroes. Not sure there’s much distinction anymore.

Something moves ahead, jerky and unnatural. A figure stumbles into the path, dragging one leg behind it.

The thing is barely recognizable as human, its jaw slack, its head tilted too far to one side, like its neck isn’t working anymore. Blood stains its uniform.

The guard at my side doesn’t hesitate.

A soft pop cracks through the air, and the thing drops like a stone.

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