Page 98 of Us Dark Few

Khalani surged forward, kicking up dirt as she stalked toward her. Dana reacted exactly as she predicted, by jabbing the knife straight at her stomach. Khalani dodged to the right and punched Dana in the throat.

The knife clattered to the ground as Dana staggered back, gasping for air.

A hundred gazes fell on Khalani in amazement.

Dana tried to compose herself and launched forward in a frantic attack. Khalani dropped her body to avoid the wild hit as it raced above her head. Quick as a flash, she twisted and rammed her elbow with brutal force into Dana’s already broken nose.

A chorus ofooh’srang out from the crowd.

Dana clutched both hands to her face, her fingers noticeably trembling. But Khalani wasn’t done.

She gripped Dana’s collar and punched the side of her head, and Dana’s knee fell to the ground.

“Take back what you said about my mother,” she rasped.

Dana shakily rose, swaying on her feet, and spat a glob of blood in her direction. “Fuck you.”

Khalani punched her again.

Dana fell to her hands and knees. Blood poured from her nose and splashed to the ground, reminiscent of the position Khalani was in when she last fought Dana in the pit.

A chorus of cheers echoed around her as Dana’s body started to shake. But it wasn’t from crying. Chills cascaded down her spine as Dana lifted her gaze. Bright-red blood seeped between the gaps in her yellowed teeth as she snickered.

“Didn’t think you had it in you. Turns out you’re just as mangled and broken as the rest of us.”

Khalani’s chest rose and fell rapidly. The painful vision of her parents’ picture tearing apart replayed once more.

Moments may fade, but scars don’t. The pain always remains.

Like a trained killer, she grabbed the knife from the ground and lowered to the balls of her feet. She placed the knife against Dana’s jugular, an eerie excitement coursing through her at the sight of Dana’s blood as the blade nicked her skin.

“You took away the last thing I cared about.Youwere the one that tried to ruin me like this place ruined you.” The harsh whisper grated against her tongue.

“So go ahead and finish it then,” Dana snarled.

The volume of the crowd faded into the background.All she could hear was the sound of her heartbeat raging in her chest. Khalani’s grip tightened on the knife, ready to take the final slice.

She’d been waiting for this moment for so long. To make each of her enemies pay in blood.

Her hands shook, and Khalani exhaled roughly.

Hesitating. Why was she hesitating?

Dana didn’t deserve mercy.

But Winnie’s face filled her vision. Images of the books she read, conversations they had, and the dreams she shared pierced her mind, kindling a fire that beckoned Khalani to see beyond her darkness.

People would perish. Pages could be ripped to shreds and burned beyond recognition, but Khalani’s own life meant the things that mattered most never disappeared from her—not while she remained. Winnie taught her that.

She didn’t need to take any more. What more was there to take when she already encompassed the world?

A sticky weight relinquished its hold on her body, her vision. She momentarily pushed the blade deeper into her neck and had the satisfaction of watching Dana flinch.

“Look at me,” Khalani commanded.

Dana’s first sliver of fear was present when their eyes connected.

“I’m nothinglike you. I won’t ruin others to fill my empty spaces.” She leaned down to whisper, “And I don’t need to finish what I already won.”

---