Page 125 of Outcast’s Return

“We need to talk to the boys,” Elise mutters. “I can only imagine how Clement is reacting to all this. They need to work this out like men, and not boys fighting on the playground.”

Sylvie sighs.

“Good luck with that.”

“And what’s going on now?” Elise asks, nodding at the mansion looming over us.

“They’re inside,” I reply. “Deciding what happens next in the Order. We’re waiting here because, apparently, our gender can’t handle their mature conversations.”

“Ugh,” Elise says, rolling her eyes. “Castaways. Boys pretending to be gods, am I right?”

“Exactly,” Sylvie mutters.

“I wonder what’s going on in there,” I say. “It’s been an eternity.”

Sylvie shrugs.

“I just hope, whatever it is, that they’re safe.”

“I hope Clement has seen reason,” Elise says softly.

There’s a gust of wind. A chill rips through the mansion’s estate.

And then, suddenly, there’s a commotion behind us. The mansion doors swing open. A horde of men rushes out into the open air. There’s confusion. Heavy footsteps crunch on gravel. I sense panic.

And violence. It’s like a heavy stench.

Something’s happened.

I get to my feet.

“What the hell?”

And then I see him.

Fabien.

Not walking. Being carried.

His body is held up by a group of men. They descend the mansion steps lifting him above their heads. Fabien’s eyes are closed as if his soul has left him.

As if he has already uttered his final words.

And there’s blood. His shirt is stained red. There’s so much of it.

So much fucking red.

Oh, God.

Sylvie gasps. Elise cries out.

The yelling and all the noise around me dissolve into old radio static, and my entire world starts to narrow into darkness as I see the man I love motionless.

No, no, no.

My knees are weak. I can’t breathe.

I start to fall.