Page 23 of Pushed

Holding up his hand, he cut me off. “In here, your name is Pixie. Don't ask me why, just agree with me.”

Nodding, I fiddled with my hair, tucking a loose strand behind my ear. “Okay.”

I was trying to agree with him, I wanted to do what I had to do to get the answers I craved. If I had to play along, I would—for now.

“Good, see you're learning already.” Holding out his hand, he flipped his fingers for me to take them. “Come on, I have something to show you.”

“Show me what?”

“Exactly what you want to see.” Bouncing his hand in my direction, he nudged it closer.

I was hesitant, eyeing his hand like it would burn me if I touched it. “I can stand on my own.”

“I don't doubt it, but I'm not giving you the option. Take my hand.”

Reluctantly, I wrapped my fingers in his and stood. “Where are we going?”

“You want answers, I can give them to you. But, there are a few things you need to know. . .” Pausing, he took a small step ahead of me, keeping our fingers locked together. “I need you to keep your head down and stay a little behind me, and you can't speak, not a word.”

“Why?”I asked, my mouth hanging open and brows dipping in.

“Do you want answers or not?” Looking up at him, I felt his fingers twine firmly around mine. “I'm trying to give you a chance, I need you to trust me, even if it's just a little.”

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to think he was going to do the things he was saying, that he was giving me a chance to get my life back if I just listened to him now. That he was going to protect me even though he's the one who brought me here.

But how? How do you trust the Devil? How do you put your faith into the same person who brought hell on you to begin with?

There was no way for me to know if he was lying or not. But his eyes. . . They spoke truth.

From the hands that brought death to another, I felt the weight of his words, I felt the honesty in his voice.

And right then, all I had was his word to go on.

I had to trust him.

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