CHAPTER 10
The world slows to a crawl, the noises of the others fading in my ears. There is only the weapon, the deep, dark hollow like looking into a black hole. I taste metal as if it’s already jammed between my teeth—as if he’s already pulled the trigger. When I blink, I see my father’s skull, the jagged crown of shattered bone at his temple.
I don’t want to end up like that. I don’t want to die.
I raise my hands—always a good idea when someone has a gun aimed straight at your face—but the weapon lowers to chest height before I manage to complete the action. The man behind the weapon is familiar, though I certainly never believed I’d see him again. We all thought he was dead.
He advances, the weapon held on me. I back up slowly.
“What are you doing here?” It’s a stupid question, bu
