Page 20 of Reckless
In a short amount of time, I’ve managed to take the life of three people. The thought has my stomach churning once again, and I twist to retch into the sand.
I never wanted to kill anyone. I never wanted—
But I had. I did. Ido.
What have I become?
The tang of blood stings my nose, so potent I would puke again if my body had anything left to give. Taking a deep breath through my mouth, I slowly stand on shaky legs to turn away from the scene.
I need to get out of here.
Blood is leaking into my mouth, forcing me to spit with every step I take into the city. I gingerly lift a hand to feel my nose, recoiling at the pain but relieved to find it isn’t broken.
One foot in front of the other.
I left him there.
One foot in front of the other.
He’ll rot in the sun.
One foot in front of the other.
I’m a monster.
One foot in front of the other.
CHAPTER 8Kai
Stabbed through the chest—her signature move.
I crouch beside the crumpled guard, blood-stained sand crunching beneath my boots. A face that can’t be much older than my own looks up at me, dark eyes leached of the life he barely got to live. Running a hand through my disheveled hair, my gaze travels over the bloody splotches staining his red uniform. Each one tells a story.
After drawing blood your whole life, every stain begins to speak, if only you listen.
Or maybe I’m just insane.
The wound to his heart seeps crimson across his chest, spilling over to puddle beneath him. The sand surrounding him shows signs of a struggle, a fight portrayed in footprints.
Well, she had a reason to kill him at least.
My eyes trail back to the man beneath me, skimming over the smeared blood on the hem of his shirt, opposite his wound. I inch my face closer, nearly choking on the metallic and morbid scent.
“This was her,” I say, without bothering to look up at the mencircling me. “She was here. Sheishere. He’s only been dead for a day at most.” I eye the blood on his shirt where she hastily wiped her hands.
She must have been in bad shape to leave evidence like this in plain sight.
At that thought, I sigh, running dirty hands through dirtier hair for what is likely the dozenth time. If she’s hurt, then she can’t have gotten far. If she’s hurt, then I have an advantage.
If she’s hurt, I need to be okay with that.
I shake my head, pitying the man who got too close to her. “Grab him. We’ll hand him off to his fellow guards to deal with.”
A few Imperials exchange glances, silently inquiring who among them will have the unfortunate task of dragging the decaying body. I stand, shaking out my sore neck before turning my back on them to stroll toward the looming city. “If you need some encouragement, I’m happy to…”
Uncomfortable coughs and shuffling feet drown out my words, the Imperials wasting no time before following with the dead body in tow. But we don’t have to trudge much farther before we’re swallowed by the swarming city.
I push aside a sun-bleached banner hanging low between crumbling buildings, offering me a better view of the city that is nearly as harsh as the people who inhabit it. Glowering glances greet us, eyes speaking of suspicions that the people of Dor are smart enough not to voice to the Elites strolling through their city. It’s like they can smell the abilities in our blood all while looking down their noses at us.
