“That’s not true,” I manage to say. “That’s not what it says.”

“That is what it says.” Claus fixes his gaze on me. “You were disgusted by her.”

“No. Absolutely not.” I search for the right words. “I…”

Claus’s eyes narrow. “You had the shock of your life when you saw her.”

“Go away,” I said.

Fender didn’t leave.

Instead, he just stared at me.

I thought it was so bad, how everyone avoided looking at me, but this was way worse.

“Let me hold you.”

“No.” I put my hands over my face. The face I would have to make do with for the rest of my life. One functioning eye, dozens of scars.

And lots more operations ahead to make it bearable.

I was no longer the girl he’d fallen in love with.

Not even a tenth of that.

“Go away!” I screamed. “Go away, go away, go away!”

I kept shouting until my throat was raw. And even then I kept going. I emptied out my entire body.

After what seemed like hours, I felt two hands on my wrists.

“Hey, hey, calm down.”

I was looking into a nurse’s face.

Fender had listened to me. He’d gone.

I climbed out of bed and looked around the corner of the door.

They were standing nearby.

Kate and Fender, by the coffee machine.

The two of them entwined.

Finally she could hold him like that.

She must have been waiting for that all her life.

Linnea

“This is ridiculous.” Kate shakes her head. “She’s acting like I was happy and—”

“You were,” Claus cuts her off. “Admit it. You have everything you want, except for one thing. Or should I say: one person?”

Kate’s eyes are filled with blind panic, as if she’s about to lose everything.

“Fender, don’t listen to him, it’s not true.”

But Fender doesn’t seem to hear her. He’s just staring straight ahead.

“We’re almost there,” Claus continues. “The last one’s for you, Lucas.”

Claus just keeps on going, like a bulldozer crushing everyone in his path.

“I’m not doing this anymore,” says Lucas.

“What?”

“You can read it out yourself.” Lucas looks up. “Give me ten electric shocks if you like, but I quit.”

I hold my breath. What’s he doing? We’ve all seen what Claus is capable of.

“In fact, we’re leaving.” Lucas stands up and looks at Fender and Kate. “You guys coming?”

Claus jumps to his feet and reaches me in two strides. He presses the stun gun to my temple.

“You’re going to leave Linnea with me?”

“Leave her alone.”

“I know what I said about it not being lethal, but if I use it in this spot, that might be a different story. So what’s it going to be? Running away—or Linnea?”