Page 105 of Haunted Hearts

The other man picks me up, and I knee him as hard as I can in the chest but he barely reacts.

“You bitch! What did you do to her? What did you do to Gen!”

“Don’t worry, sweetheart.” Rosa begins walking toward me, her heels clacking on the ground; with each step I notice the red bottoms almost flashing me. Rage builds inside of me and I feel my body vibrate. The air around me begins to feel like static, but nothing comes to the surface.

Rosa looks at me and rolls her eyes. “Well, if you’re going to be a nuisance… Shoot her, too.” The man behind Rosa points the tranquilizer weapon at me and shoots.

I feel my body go limp almost instantly and everything goes dark.

My eyes slowly open and memories flash foggily through my head. Everything I lost over the last couple of days rushes back to me. A large pale man with blue hair, horns, and white eyes fights with Kai, I remember running from them. I met Gen for—she wanted to tell me, to warn me. The sad look on her face as her words come through quietly in the cold.

Kai is the God.

No… No, that’s not right. It can’t be true. I try to move my body, but I’m heavy and stuck in place. I see a warm light coming from the corner of my eye but am distracted by more memories flooding in.

Jack… Cade. Gen. Ben—is dead.

My eyes shoot open. “Gen!”

I hear a groaning coming from behind me. “What?” Her voice sounds annoyed.

“Were you actually working with Rosa?”

“Are you serious? Why the fuck would I be in here with you if I was working with her?” Her voice seems close by, and I realize we are both tied up on the floor.

“Were you working with her?” My question is more of a command now.

“I was following orders, that’s what I was raised to do. I didn’t know any better at the time.”

“That’s not a fucking excuse!” I spit.

“I said I was fucking sorry!” She exhales. “I stopped reporting to Rosa over two years ago; I didn’t know.”

“And you expect me to believe that shit?”

“Fuck you! I’ve done a lot of bad shit over the years, Calli! I wasn’t sheltered and kept away from the dark parts of the Order.” Her voice softens as she sniffles. “You can forgive your brother for the terrible things he had to do while he was still under their command but not me? I would never hurt you, and you fucking know that.”

“Maybe I do. But right now you’re just the bitch that got me captured.”

“Okay, that’s fair.” She sighs. “In my defense, your tech guy was possessed, so if you want to place blame, blame someone who could have prevented this.”

I try to find some give in the rope as the friction begins to burn my skin.

Gen begins to rock and shift, her small frame able to hoist herself up onto her knees. She bends down and begins to bite at the collar on my neck.

“Why are you helping me?”

Her teeth click together as she fails to bite it off. She sighs, blowing her hair out of her face.

“Because I meant it, I’ve done a lot of bad things. I know that. But I never meant to betray you. You don’t have to believe me, but I do love you, and I will help you.”

I can tell she means it, but that doesn’t mean I trust her.

“Why didn’t you tell me? Or Ben?” I ask, my voice calmer.

“I couldn’t tell him, not without him thinking I never loved him. I never thought Rosa would…” Gen trails off, her voice cracking. “Would you be able to tell the love of your life that you were the cause of their pain?”

Her words hit me sharp, like a knife in the gut.