Page 153 of Once Upon a Fable

I couldn’t.

I couldn’tdothis again.

I couldn’t endure another night, another rape, another moment.

“NO!”

Poisonous air strangled my lungs.

My vision blurred in and out.

Frenzied fear made me swim in nausea.

I fought the rope.

I motherfucking panicked.

For a second, all I thought about was myself. I was selfish, absorbed, hysterical at my own impending pain.

But then, terror drowned me.

Them.

Nyx and Quell, Wes and Zanik.

Maybe this wasn’t a dream, after all.

Maybe I’d waged war on our guests.

Maybe I’d killed a few.

But, regardless of my success, I’d failed.

I’d failed because I’d forgotten one.

I’d missed a guest.

One was alive.

She’d caught me, trapped me, and was ready to make me scream.

I couldn’t breathe.

I can’t breathe.

Did she have the others?

Were they about to be ripped apart for my crimes?

No.

I can’t let that happen.

If anyone would pay, it was me.

I wanted to snarl, to curse, to tear her into pieces. Toendher.

Instead, I permitted a lifetime of obedience to wash over me.