Justin Pov:
My vision tunneled.
I wanted to jump up. To crush his skull against the wall until nothing but pulp was left.
But June was trembling harder, curling into me, burying her face in my chest as if she could disappear inside me.
And I realized: if I exploded now, if I turned into the monster they always said I was, it would only confirm her worst fears.
I'd be no different to her than the ones in white.
The man tapped his clipboard, voice light, like he was asking me to sign a fucking form. "Well? What will it be, Number Nine? Will you help your beloved… or let someone else try?"
I couldn't speak.
My mouth tasted like ash.
June's fingers clutched my shirt, knuckles white, nails biting into my chest.
"Fuck you," I rasped finally. My voice came out low, hoarse, broken. "Fuck all of you."
But my arms stayed around her.
They knew.
They fucking knew.
June was my weakness.
My ruin.
And they were going to use her until there was nothing left of either of us.
