Page 145 of Inside the Sun

Just like before, I’m seated in the corner next to Summer.

This is my chance to tell him what’s going on. I haven’t spoken to him since the day Anzo locked me in that cage.

I keep my voice low, there are cameras in here.

"I just wanted to let you know that Anzo’s thinks I know what your secret is, or that I can get it out of you. He offered to let me go if I betray you. But I want you to know I’m not planning to do that. Not even because I’m noble or anything. I just don’t believe he’d ever really let me go either way."

Summer doesn’t say a word. He just stares at the floor. We sit in silence.

Is he regretting saving me back then? When Anzo hung me from the hook? Is he thinking maybe I should’ve just suffered because then his secret would still be safe?

I don’t have an opportunity to ask him since the door opens.

Anzo walks in and right away announces, "For the next three weeks, until mid-September, I’ll be in and out of the house. A number of matters require my attention."

I blink. Mid-September?

Wait, so is it already the end of August?

I got here in the second week of July. That means I’ve been here for five weeks already?

It’s hard to believe so many days have passed. I’ve been drowning in stress and pain and barely noticed.

"First, you’ll be granted a little more freedom than usual," Anzo continues, narrowing his eyes. "You’ll be allowed to go to the store, maybe even to a restaurant, with guards, of course."

He puts something on the table.

"These are collars with a locator device, in case you try to run."

I stare at him, stunned.

"The ones we have don’t already have that?"

Strange. Seems like something he doesn’t even need to explain. He could just put it on us anyway.

Anzo’s face remains unfazed. "Well, they had shorter range, pet. Now put it on."

I observe his face. There's something nefarious about it.

And why does he want me and Summer to get closer? To spend more time together, even outside?

Maybe he hopes that once I feel the temptation the free world can offer, I’ll be more eager to pull the secret out of Summer, using our time together?

Three weeks from now, he’ll ask me that question again.

And if I don’t answer…?

RAGNAR

The whole Sunday I spend riding my bike. And I mean the whole day. I know each and every road in this district and don’t even need a GPS. I park near an untouched, wild beach and, leaning on my bike, stare at the sea.

My mind feels foggy, thoughts running aimlessly. I wish everything was easier: my mission, my life, my emotions. But even those wishes feel naive. That’s just not how life works.

I make an inner decision that if this all ends in a positive way, I’m not going back to the military. Even though I probably should. The NFH isn’t going away anytime soon, but I feel burned out. I just want to take a vacation, to forget about everything, just drive and stare at the sea, with my mind blank.

I hate the impossibility of my choices now. The horrible wrongness of what I have to do: take Summer and leave Sun in the fortress. I desperately need a new plan, but every option feels like a dead end.

My pocket buzzes; Hunter’s calling me. I pull the phone out and take the call.

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