Page 104 of Paper Thin Love

Does that make me the villain or the hero?

What’s good or evil when either outcome kills someone?

Dash swings his leg up down into Jared’s ankle, causing it to twist. A gasp leaves my lips. He won’t dance for a while with a sprain or break like that.

Oh, Mila, you’re still not in the present. Jared is never going to dance again.

Despite the cheering crowd, I can sense Jared’s suffering from his silent gasp of pain. Then, something happens that gives the impression of the end. Dash jumps in the air, spinning and landing a kick into Jared’s jaw.

My lips open in astonishment. I knew Dash was dangerous, but I underestimated how lethal he was.

Jared’s body goes limp and falls to the ground.

Oh god! Dash did it.

“More!”

“Blood!”

“Kill him!” My peers shout.

My skin is engulfed by an illness as I glance from side to side. These are the people I break bread with. I sit in class with them. I walk side by side with monsters and so far have blissfully tried to ignore them, but deep down, I knew this was their nature.

Perhaps it was mine, too; after all, I have craved seeing the blood pool from my own flesh. The need to feel some sort of power in my plotted-out life.

Dash inserted himself into my life and saw my flaws, perhaps my future. He made me crave him instead of this violence. If it wasn’t for Dash, would I mirror their shouts for brutality during the next Cleansing?

Jared stays motionless, and for a moment, all grow quiet unsure if this is the end.

“Dash can stop, right?” I ask Dante. The rules are last man standing. Jared is now unmoving; I think unconscious.“Dash can end it now.”

My heart is beating so fast that I can’t hear if Dante responds. One of the cloaked men steps a foot into the ring.“Is your opponent unmoving, Dash King?”The voice sounds like nails scraping over stone.

I swallow, realizing the danger. Dash must get closer to check.

Dash’s chest heaves up and down, labored; his body is covered with dirt and blood, causing some spots to cling to him in a thickness like clay. Blood drips from his ripped lip, and I already see heavy bruising on his jaw, but…he’s alive, and I will wash it all away like I always do.

For the second time tonight, Dash turns his face, finding mine in an instant. I expect to see the same hate dilating his pupils, but instead, I see sorrow and guilt, and I know in that second, he’s going to kill Jared and not just walk away.

There is an apology written in his eyes, eyes that I adore and also despise at times. Eyes that healed me, only to break me again just now.

“Show mercy.” I try to speak, but it’s as if my voice has been ripped from my tongue.

There’s a subtle shake of his head—a refusal. He understands what I seek, but won’t give it.

That’s his way. It’s almost as if Dash is trying to tell me this is what I need, that killing Jared is fixing me in some way.

Maybe it is.

Will it teach me not to trust? Not to give mercy.

How to hate?

Dash turns his head, peeling his eyes from me slowly. That’s when Dante grabs me tighter than anyone has ever held me before, so constricting I can’t inhale. Maybe Dante doesn’t want me to, and possibly passing out from lack of oxygen will spare me from witnessing what will happen next.

Dash stalks towards Jared. I note the slight limp in his walk. His newly healed leg must be aching. He needs more time to rebuild all his muscles.

Dash stands over Jared, just watching. Waiting.

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