Chapters (45)
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Contents
- Prologue
- 2046
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- About the Author
‘Outside to shoot paper targets.’
‘We’ve got work to do.’
‘Like I said, have fun.’
‘What the hell is your problem?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Ben, they’ll kill you. Is that what you want?’
‘Maybe I do.’ He pushes through the door into the corridor.
‘What the fuck is wrong with you?’ she shouts, running after him.
‘Nothing.’
‘Don’t walk away from me.’
‘I’m going outside.’
‘You selfish prick.’ She grabs his arm, spinning him round on the spot. ‘We are training inside.’
‘No.’
The fury in her face shows clear and true and the muscles in her jaw twitch as she grits her teeth. ‘We. Are. Training. Inside . . .’
He leans forward in emphasis of expression. ‘No.’
‘Ben.’ She grabs his arm again, refusing to let him turn away. He doesn’t fight against her but stays passive and non-committal.
‘Go play heroes with Harry. I’m not interested.’
‘They saved your life.’
‘Then they can unsave it.’
‘Ben. You will die. Make no mistake about it. They will take you back and leave you there then it’s done. Over. You’re dead.’
He shrugs and pulls a face, which just sends a deeper shade of red into her cheeks.
‘Selfish,’ she says, shaking her head with disdain. ‘You are a selfish man.’
‘Who cares?’
‘I DO.’ She flashes into rage, prodding him in the chest. ‘You will work. Do you understand? You will work.’
‘Stop pushing me.’
‘You will work to stay alive.’
‘I choose death.’
‘Grow up!’
‘I don’t want to be here . . .’
‘I don’t care what you want. You have to work.’
‘Stop fucking pushing me,’ he growls, but she jabs harder and faster.
‘Stop me,’ she shouts and jabs him into the wall. ‘Stop me. Do something. Get angry. React, for fuck’s sake.’ She jabs harder, driving him back so hard he bounces off the wall.
‘I do not want to be here.’
‘You are here.’
‘What do you care? Leave me alone. Go train with Harry and save the world because I ain’t doing it . . . stop it . . . stop pushing me, Safa. Stop fucking PUSHING ME . . . WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT?’
‘YOU . . . I WANT YOU TO WORK!’
‘I won’t,’ he snarls, forcing his body against her finger that jabs into his chest. ‘I won’t work for you. I won’t work for Roland.’ He pushes forward again, forcing her to take a step back. ‘I won’t do it. I don’t want to do it. I want out. I’m sick of running and jumping and taking those fucking guns apart and being thrown on the mats and doing wristlocks and armlocks and eating fruit and eggs. I hate it. I hate this place. I want my life and if I can’t have my life then I’ll take my fucking death.’