Chapter 47: Forgive to Live

Present

Mary-Allison Flagstone

Hanson reels back, holding his neck after he removes the twig from his throat. Blood flows between his fingers. Anger paints itself across his face, and his eyes penetrate me. But I have nowhere to run. I was only able to free one arm and the chains are impossible to break or loosen further.

“You idiot, have you learned nothing?”

Hanson removes his hand from his neck, there is no wound, only blood staining the area.

“You can’t kill me—What part of that do you not understand?”

“I understand plenty, but you still feel pain, and I want to cause as much of it as I can.”

And before I know it, a hand slaps itself across my face.

“You have nerve, girl. That’s more than I can say for Christopher and Adam.”

Hanson steps to the side and picks up his shadow helmet with the red plume.

“You’ll soon feel their nerve, creep.”

“And you’ll soon be dead, witch.”