Page 37 of Cut Her Strings (Fractured Puppets #1)

The Host

T he Host finally escaped his shock and hurdled up from where he sat. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. He would save her. He sprinted across the room to the control panel. He was mere steps away when the screens showing the game below went blank, and he was frozen in place.

The last the Host saw of her.

Raven’s strings cut.

Jayce jumping over the podium to Enzo.

Maverick screaming at them both.

The Host found himself paralyzed, and he could no longer move.

A door behind him opened.

“Now, now, now,” the voice leaked venom onto the remaining hope Raven had sparked in him. “Put him back where he belongs,” they commanded.

Guards appeared at both of his sides and hauled him back to the leather chair he sat in previously. In the chair he hated, in the room he despised. Where he, for years, watched the players do their best to win but so often died.

He moved his eyes around, finally catching on the girl, and he tried to scream. No sound came out.

“Remember the agreement. You are our dutiful, good, cheery Host. And we keep her safe.” His eyes were not on the woman who spoke but on the child who stood beside her.

Her raven black hair and icy blue eyes were mirrored images of the woman he just failed to save.

“Sparrow, go give him a hug and keep him company, will you dear?” The woman faced him again. “This is your last warning. She is a happy child, but she doesn’t have to stay that way.” The woman turned to a game warden. “Finish this up. Use the backup room. Let’s go.” Everyone exited the room except for the girl.

Sparrow ran to the Host and wrapped her arms around him. “Unkie Julie, you said mama and daddy were gonna rescue us. Are they almost here?”

The Host couldn’t move to comfort the girl, but water leaked from his eyes. He wasn’t sure what was next. There was only one thing he knew for certain.

He always kept his promises.