Page 107 of Irreversible

Adrenaline spikes, and my stomach cramps.

“As I said, my client is looking for his next challenge, and these two men have made the cut. But I only need one.” His eyes slice to mine. “I’ll let you choose who is set free. Your new friend, Isaac…or this man.”

My gazes ping-pongs between the two men.

No.

“I’m not choosing,” I hiss. “That’s sick.”

“Then they both die, and I’ll find a new contender.” A shrug. “At least this way, you won’t have two senseless murders plaguing that pretty conscience of yours.” He places a flat palm against his chest. “I’ll let the other man go home. You have my word.”

Oh, God.

I can’t see through my tears. “No…please, I can’t.”

Isaac’s arms twist, legs kicking, chest heaving. “Pick me,” he grits out. “Choose me, Bee. I’ll tear his fucking head off and get us all out of here. You know I will.”

My wide, teary eyes remain fixed on him as liquid heat swims through my veins.

Of course I need to choose him.

It’s Isaac.

He would do the same for me. In a heartbeat.

He already did.

I whip my head back and forth, nails digging into Dolph’s flesh so hard blood seeps to the surface. “Isaac,” I say, forcing back the guilty bile. “I choose Isaac.”

A smile lifts on The Timekeeper’s mouth. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. Let him go.”

Our captor stalks forward, approaching the body lying motionless in front of me as the man’s chest lightly expands with each shallow breath.

He leans over to set the hourglass in front of him…

And hesitates.

“You’re certain? This one looks a bit…scrawny.” He pokes the man’s hip with the toe of his shoe. “I don’t reckon he’ll last very long. Isaac seems to be the wiser participant.”

White-hot guilt filters through me, and I do everything in my power to keep myself from vomiting. I look back over at Isaac, who is still trying to escape his binds.

He won’t.

He can’t.

“Everly, listen to me,” Isaac pleads, tone gritty with desperation. “I. Will. Get. Us. Out. Of. Here.All of us.” He’s growling, spitting against the bag. “Pick me. I’ve got this. Trust me.”

“Isaac,” I shout again, slamming a fist to the floor. My throat is scraped raw with my cries as I internally beg for this moment to be over. “I’ve made my choice. Please. End this.”

“Mmm, I don’t know.” A sly look is sent to one of the guards. “Perhaps you need more context.”

He flicks his finger.

A burly guard crosses the room toward the other man.

“I’ll give you one more chance to make a final decision, so choose wisely. Once the choice is made, it cannot be reversed.” The Timekeeper sneers in my direction. “I hope you can live with yours.”

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