Page 28 of Sinful

I nodded without a word.

“I’ll make sure to get one. I’ll get more propane, too, so you can use that little stove over there. Beats eating beans out of a tin can.”

“So what? I can eat it out of a pan?”

He shrugged at me. “Beggars can’t be choosers.”

I scoffed at him, irritated at the current situation.

“Listen, it won’t be long. Asylum will let you out more.”

“And you know this how?” I looked over at him.

He stared into the heater. “Because he said he would.”

“Right. Healing takes time.” I held my bandaged hand out.

“You know why he said you couldn’t come out, right? Even with that bandage on your hand?”

“I’m aware. He’s punishing me for fucking up. Bandage or not, I must pay my penance.”

Sin nodded. “I know a thing or two about that.”

I studied him for a long moment. His blond hair had been cut. It was shaggier than normal. He lost weight from his sadness but was still a big guy. His muscles still strained against his clothes ever so slightly. Enough to still be intimidating.

“Are you still hurting yourself?” I asked in a low voice as if these stone walls could hear my words.

He continued to stare into the heater. “Sometimes.”

“You need to stop.”

“Do I?” His gray eyes met mine. “What good would stopping do?”

“There are far worse things to be punished for, Sinclair. I would know.”

“Then you also know that none of the shit that happened was your fault. You didn’t hurt Sirena. That wasn’t you.”

“Wasn’t it?” I raised my brows at him. “It may not have been me, but it was my fault. Asylum escaping and getting close to her. . .” I sighed and looked to the ceiling of the cave as if divine intervention would save my treacherous soul.

“I don’t believe you or Asylum are sick,” he said softly. “We’re all fucked in the head in one way or another, but I don’t think you’resick. Not likethem. They need to die, and we need redemption.”

“Ah, the villains’ redemption arc.” I let out a sour laugh. “Whatever could two monsters do to make our atrocities right, Sinclair?”

“She loves you,” he said fiercely, his gray eyes boring into mine. “You know she does. Through all the shit, she loves you, Seth. Even Asylum. She loves him despite his crimes against her. I-I worry for her.” He went quiet again.

I cocked my head to the right as I watched him.

“If she could forgive you and Asylum, maybe there’s room in her heart to forgive me too,” he finally whispered.

I studied him, hurting for his pain as if it were my own. Hell, in a way, it was.

“I believe you can have that. That we all can have that. Asylum is the way.” I chuckled softly.

Best believe I am. Follow me. I know the way.

I focused on the silence and edged him out of my head. It was quiet once more.

“I don’t even know how to go about proving myself.” Sin scratched his head and shifted in his seat. “I beat myself. Cut myself. I-I pray to a god who probably only wants my suffering. I’m at a loss.”

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