with a panel of glass separating me from my Forgery. Iâm only vaguely aware of the guards behind me because I canât take my eyes off Blaine and Emma. They are sitting on wooden stools, each bound and blindfolded. I pound on the glass, yell Blaineâs name. They both flinch at my voice.
âDo you think this is a game, Gray?â my Forgery asks. I can hear him as clearly as if he were in the room with me. I reach for the knife I tucked into my waistband only to find it gone.
Forged Me draws his gun and motions between Blaine and Emma. âPick one. Who lives?â
âWhat?â
âYou seem to think there arenât consequences for your actionsâfor attacking me, for threatening Harveyâs life, for trying to escape . Not the case, and I want to make that crystal clear.â He jerks the gun again between Blaine and Emma again. âSo choose.â
Thereâs a dull throb in my side from where he shocked me earlier, and while Iâve heard his words, I canât seem to process them. Choose ?
âIâll select for you then.â He takes a step toward Blaine.
âNo! Wait!â I slam a palm into the glass. I hate him, this version of myself, this horrible thing I canât believe is somehow built from me . I hate myself even more for what I have to say. Because there is no choice. I knew the answer the moment he first made the threat. I feel a tear trail down my cheek.
âIâm so sorry, Emma,â I whisper.
I can see the shock on her face even though her eyes are covered by the blindfold. Her entire body tenses.
I hate myself.
âOkay then,â Forged Me says. âThe girl goes.â
But he doesnât move toward Emma. He turns on Blaine, puts the weapon to the back of my brotherâs head, and pulls the trigger.
The stool kicks out from beneath him and Iâm screaming before Blaine even hits the floor. My fists are against thebarrier, banging, punching, willing the glass to shatter. But there is so much blood beneath his head. Itâs done. Itâs done and no matter how many times I blink, itâs not changing.
âThis was a reminder,â Forged Me says. âYou cross me, and I cross you. But if you work with me, Grayâif you are honestâIâll be sure to keep my word. Here: an example.â He turns the gun on Emma. âTell me what the man named Badger was planning, and Iâll spare her.â
I canât find my voice. I see the gun and the threat but I canât find my voice, canât stop staring at Blaine. And I certainly canât bear to look at Emma. Emma who I just handed over like she meant nothing.
âThree . . . two . . .â
âWe wanted to know what the Compound was,â I manage. The words come out hoarse and ragged from how much Iâve screamed. âI saw everything we were after downstairs.â
Forged Me looks pleased. âGood, good. This is progress. And when is your team coming?â
âGage would have killed them by now, and if not, they should have been here yesterday.â
He lowers his weapon. âThat was perfect, Gray. You see how this works? You give me what I want, and I donât have to shoot anybody. Remember that. It will make tomorrowâs session go much smoother.â He holsters his weapon and hauls Emma to her feet. âTake him back to his cell, Maldoon.â
Harvey waits for them to leave. Then, rather than dragging me out, he opens a door that connects the two rooms.
âItâll be your only chance,â he says, âif you want to say good-bye.â
I step through the doorway in a trance. Blaineâs just lying there and already the sobs are clawing their way up my throat. My hands are shaking, my legs unsteady. I sink to my knees beside my brother.
âIâm so sorry,â I manage. âI love you and Iâm sorry. I didnât mean itâwhat I said in Pine Ridge. I never mean half the
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