Page 61 of No Man's Land

In the dark, he was aware of Dutta watching Alex, who stood in a fighting stance, braced for attack, one shoulder of his jacket torn and bloody.

Shit. Josef’s head swam in sudden dread.

Then the ghoul hissed where it crouched, an unnatural, venomous sound as it leaped for Alex. But he moved faster, spinning away from it. As he spun, he took hold of his stick with both hands. Josef didn’t understand what was happening untilhalf the stick went clattering to the ground and silver gleamed in Alex’s hand.

A sword.

A fuckingsword.

With the elegance of a dancer, Alex allowed momentum to carry him right around, sweeping the sword in a wide arc until it sliced cleanly through the ghoul’s neck, sending his head tumbling across the mortuary floor to land in a grisly mess at Josef’s feet.

In the sudden silence, Alex’s breaths rasped. “Are you all right?”

Josef dropped his hand from the back of his head, ignoring the pain. “I—"

The unmistakable sound of a revolver being cocked stopped him. Looking to his left, he saw Dutta with his arm raised and his gun pointed squarely at Alex.

Josef stared. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“He’s been bitten.” Dutta sounded cold, emotionless.

Alex jolted in shock, staring down at his torn jacket as if he’d only just noticed. “No,” he said airlessly, “it’s not...”

“You have. I saw it bite you.”

“Fuck.” With a clatter, Alex’s sword hit the stone floor as he scrabbled at the hole in his jacket. “Fuck!”

Josef’s heart did something peculiar, twisting in panic and pain. “Alex…?” It was barely a whisper, the word trapped in his tightening throat.

Dutta said, “Alex, close your eyes.”

“What?” Josef spun towards him again, his gaze fixing on that unshaking, unrelenting gun. “You can’t just shoot him!”

“I’m sorry,” Dutta said. “Truly. But he’d do the same if it were me.”

Suddenly, Josef couldn’t speak, or even breathe, his outrage overwhelming.

“He’s right.” Alex stood straight, stupidly brave, but Josef didn’t miss the suppressed terror in his voice. “There’s no choice.”

“There’s always a fucking choice,” Josef snapped, and in two steps he stood between Alex and the gun. He raised his hands, staring at Dutta. “Here’s your choice: let him go or see yourself named a murderer in theClarion. I won’t spare the details.”

Behind him, Alex cursed, but Dutta didn’t react at all, and the gun remained steady. “Alex is already dead,” he said cooly. “His noble sacrifice will not be forgotten by The Society; don’t make this harder for him.”

“Harderfor him?” Josef growled. “Fuck this and fuck hisnoble sacrifice.” He spun around to face Alex, taking an angry step closer. “For God’s sake, don’t you want to live?”

Alex’s dark eyes were agonised. “Of course I do,” he said stiffly, voice rasping. “But I’m infected. I’ve been bitten...”

“Barely a couple of minutes ago.” Josef kept walking closer, his gaze holding Alex’s. “We must be able to do something.”

It wasn’t much of a reaction, but Josef didn’t miss the tightening of Alex’s mouth, the way his gaze turned evasive.

“Wecan,” Josef breathed. “Fuck, we can, can’t we?”

Alex shook his head, brow creasing. “It’s not actually—”

“Step out of the way, Shepel. Do it now.”

Dutta’s voice came from right behind him. Josef stilled; he could almost feel the gun’s muzzle between his shoulder blades. His eyes locked on Alex. “And if I don’t?”

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