Page 40 of Survivor
“Vex, if they see you …”
“I don’t give a fuck. Fire up the engines, we’re on our way.”
* * *
BRAKER
“Is this what you wanted?” Jaron asks from the doorway. “To see her torn apart like this?”
I sip my drink. “How much money have we taken in tonight?”
“Is that all you care about?”
There is disgust in his tone, and for a moment, I feel the prick of an old friend called guilt. But only for a moment.
“Yes, Jaron. This place thrives so that we can remain untouchable. Don’t pretend that you don’t enjoy the notoriety and power that comes with our station.”
Jaron is silent. “I enjoy it. But not at the cost of an innocent life.”
“She’s a murderer. She’s killed plenty on Vesper.”
“To survive. She killed to survive.”
“And what do you think this is?” I shoot him a flat look. “This is how we fucking survive. Don’t forget where we came from. Don’t forget what waits for us if we lose the power.”
Jaron snaps his mouth closed, and his eyes go to the screen that fills the wall of my private quarters.
“She’s a fighter just like Elena,” he says softly.
The name is like a vise squeezing my heart. “Fighting didn’t save Elena. And it probably won’t save Rogue. But it’ll make good viewing. And that’s all we need.”
24
Icouldn’t hold them off for much longer. I ducked and kicked and punched, moving fast to avoid the snap of the pincer or the brush of leather face’s fingers. The goal now was to simply stay alive. I couldn’t kill them both. Not without a weapon, not when two of them were attacking simultaneously.
Despair surged up inside me like an inky black cloud, and then rage burned it away. I wouldn’t die. Not when I was finally free. Please. I pleaded with the beast inside. I need you again.
Can you hear me? I was too exhausted to rage. My swings were getting clumsy. I needed time to recharge.
A lick of heat unfurled in my belly.
Was that her?
The monster inside opened its eyes as if assessing the situation.
Come on… I die, you die. Get it?
My body tingled and then the periphery of my vision bled to crimson. Power flooded my limbs. Power that belonged to the beast inside. She couldn’t come out, but she was offering me what she could.
I’d take it.
I let myself go, falling into instinct mode. There was the crack of a throat being crushed. The wet tear as I snapped off pincer guy’s hand. The crunch of bone as I slammed it into leather face’s nose again and again.
My blood sang in my ears, a new melody of triumph.
“Rogue. Rogue. You’re okay. You’re okay.”
I knew that voice … I loved that voice. The crimson haze ebbed and then retreated. “Vex?”
