“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” She shrieks in agonizing pain. The sizzle of her skin and smell of the burning flesh reaches even me. Her head flips back, the tendons tight, as her mouth opens to scream again.
The sound of her shrill vocals snaps Mac from his bloodied stupor, and the next part happens so fast I barely catch the blur of movement. Mac breaks free and uses his remaining hand to pull a dagger from his boot. He lunges forward and throws it straight into her heart with a sickening thump. Instantly, her chin flops to her chest.
“Oh my God!” escapes from my mouth.
Wilson shakes his head, aims his pistol, and blows Mac away. Bits of brain and blood spatter those closest to the stage and they frantically try to brush it off. I bend over and heave at the sickening sight.
“What a pity,” Wilson says. “I wanted to torture him a tad longer.”
The people around us stand with grim faces. I feel their hatred, anger, and despair. The message is clear—the guards still own the Hole and no one, not even their own, is free from their judgment.
I look at Cole, but he shakes his head as if saying don’t speak. I wonder if he knew the guard who was executed, but there’s no chance to ask him as he pulls me along while shoving through the crowd, dispersing with heavy feet. I feel hopeless.
Cole leads me around the back of the hospital and past the stares of several groups of distraught guards. The eyes I want to avoid most are Wilson’s, but he glares right at me. His uniform is slick with the blood of his victims—a picture of Satan himself.
“ID card and access code,” the guard says at the post. Cole hands over his ID.
“Access code 0406.”
“I need to see hers as well.” The guard motions to me.
After checking the paperwork, he turns, eyes me with a hungry smile, and winks. “You may proceed.”
I wonder what the paper says, but there’ll be time to ask later.
We enter a garage filled with tanks and other military vehicles. No graffiti lines the walls, no broken glass littering the cement floor. It’s the cleanest place in the Hole. The incandescent lights of the training center brighten the garage, making it seem almost livable in comparison to everywhere else. Halfway in, I stop to throw up between two parked vehicles. I can’t purge my mind of the images of the executions, and my stomach won’t settle.
“Pull it together. We don’t have time for this.”
“I’m trying,” I say, trying to catch my breath. But then I heave again, making a loud, retching noise.
Ugh, stop bringing attention to yourself.
“Is that it? Geez.”
“You could try being sensitive, you know.” I stand and wipe my face with my collar, trying to make myself presentable.
“You saw what happens to those who’re sensitive. Now come on.”
“But that’s different,” I mumble back.
He jerks me aside. “Are you trying to get yourself killed? Me? Just shut up and move.” He stands so close I can see the veins in his eyes.
“I didn’t mean—”
“Is there a situation here?” A guard interrupts us.
Cole steps back and salutes. “No, sir.”
“It sounds like your sinner has quite a mouth on her. Do you need me to set her straight?” His icy stare is unreadable, but his hand moves to the baton strapped at his side.
“No, that won’t be necessary. I have it under control, sir,” Cole says.
The tall guard glares at me with cold, blue eyes and steps forward until he stands in front of me. He twists his head toward Cole. “I know she’s your first female prisoner, so I’m making this clear now… Weakness is not acceptable.” Then he touches a lock of my hair, fiddling with it between his fingers. “She’s delicious though, isn’t she? Lust. How tempting. You should really watch that mouth of yours, darlin’, or we’ll find a better use for it.” He hisses in my ear like a snake.
I pull my head away from him and step backward into Cole. His chest tightens the second I touch him, so I freeze.
“At ease.” The guard spins, but shouts as he walks away, “Oh, Cole… don’t forget we’re watching you as well!”
For a moment, I’m frozen and Cole’s face turns various shades of red. I can’t tell if he’s furious with me or with the guard, but he’s definitely angry. Zeus whines at his side, startling me. With the intensity of the morning’s events, I forgot he was even with us.
“Let’s get out of here. And don’t speak,” Cole says.