Page 102 of Wonder

I hate lies. Hate them. But I look into his face as I slide the needle into his skin. “I’ll find her.”

And it doesn’t even taste sour.

He takes a breath. Nods. “Do it.”

His eyes spill over, pain tracking down his cheeks as I press against the syringe, the liquid flowing in.

“She’s going to be alone. She’ll push everyone away.”

I don’t say anything. What can I possibly say?

My body feels heavy as I sit back and watch.

It’s not immediate. The minutes stretch into an hour. I catch him as his body slumps. His words, when they come, are slurred.

“You’ll find her?”

“Yes.” His hand is cold. “I swear it.”

Buck stares at me, his face expressionless. But he stays, too.

We both watch over Adam Lidell as his breathing begins to slow and shudder.

Rook steps forward. “Enough fucking around. We’ll take him now.”

“Wait,” I say harshly. “Just – just fuckingwait. He hasn’t got long.”

I don’t want him to die alone. But hands grab me, pulling me back. Buck fights with the men holding him as Rook offers me a smirk. He and one of the others grabs Adam Lidell by under his arms and drag him away.

And all he leaves behind is a promise.

That I will find Alyss Lidell, and tell her that her brother was sorry.

Red uses the whip that night. It cuts lines into my back, lines that fade into silvery scars as she takes out her irritation on my skin.

I tell her the truth she hates hearing, over and over again.

I hate you.

I hate you.

But with every slice, the promise I made to Adam Lidell burns deep in my chest.

I will not break this promise.

And I start to plan.

41 – Alyss

It’s cold. Rain lightly mists my face, coating my hair.

Groaning, I lift myself up.

“Lyss –Lyss!”

I hang on to Chess as he drops down to his knees beside me, let him wrap me up. “You got usout. We’re out of there.”

Not all of us.