Page 53 of Devoured

But her eyes were wild, unfocused. “I can’t do this. I can’t—”

The Executioner’s footsteps entered the cafeteria.

Isaac pressed his hand to control his pain and whimpers. Tobias took in a deep breath, pressing himself so flat against the floor he looked two-dimensional. Even Sela went silent, her eyes wide, fixed on the approaching sounds.

The Executioner moved through the cafeteria. I could see his scarred chest through the gap beneath the table. Marion trembled uncontrollably now.

“Please,”she breathed into my hand. “Please don’t let him take me. Not like this. Not here.”

The footsteps grew closer. I heard him overturning tables, bone furniture crashing to the floor with wet thuds. He was searching methodically, patiently. Like he had all the time in the world.

Then the footsteps stopped—right next to our table.

I could see his boots through the gap. Massive, black leather, splattered with things I didn’t want to identify. The blade’s tip rested on the floor beside them, still making that low, moaning sound.

“He knows we’re here,”Sela whispered.

The table creaked above us. Then it lifted—just picked up and tossed aside like it weighed nothing. We were exposed, flattened like insects under a rock.

The Executioner loomed over us, that terrible helmet tilted downward. Steam rose from his bare, scarred chest. The blade hung at his side, the hungry metal singing softly.

“Run!”Isaac screamed.

We scattered like roaches under a light. Isaac tried to crawl on his shattered leg. Sela stumbled toward the exit. Tobias ran for the serving line.

But Marion—Marion was too slow. Too broken. Her injuries made her clumsy. She fell after just a few steps.

The Executioner was on her in seconds. His massive hand closed around her throat, lifting her off the ground like she weighed nothing. Her feet kicked uselessly in the air.

“No!”I screamed, running back toward them.

The blade rose, ready to split her in half.

I threw myself between them without thinking.

“Take me!”The words tore from my throat. “I know you want me. You’ve wanted me for a long time. Here I am. Take me.”

The Executioner went perfectly still. The blade froze mid-swing. His helmet turned slowly toward me.

Marion dropped to the floor, gasping and clutching her throat. “Zahra, no!”

“I know what I am,”I said, stepping closer to the towering figure. “I know why you’ve been watching me. Following me. Here I am.”

He didn’t move. Just stood there, studying me. The blade stayed raised, but his grip had shifted—less threatening. More... considering.

“Zahra, get away from him!”Marion screamed.

Isaac was dragging himself toward us. Tobias had stopped running and stared in horror.

But I held my ground. I looked up at that terrible helmet, at the weapon that could end me in one swing.

“Go!”I shouted, never taking my eyes off him. “Run! Now!”

“We’re not leaving you!”Marion cried, but Isaac was already grabbing her arm.

“Move!”he gasped through gritted teeth. “She’s giving us time!”

Tobias snapped out of it and helped pull Marion. Sela was already limping toward the exit, blood still trickling from her mouth.