When I wake up, the first thing I see isn’t my ceiling.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgbakMehXL
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmUCbciJUM
No glow from my phone. No pile of empty chip packets.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVipoR9Buby
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXL8k12kBgd
Just a white canopy, silk sheets, and gold that’s way too shiny for my tax bracket.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvQC09Ato1
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUglBPCyCyS
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And then—139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxJSViddRe
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it hits me.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dpxN5blO0
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5AiUxh0cK
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAfaGKDumB
Not like a gentle memory montage.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KritiS2YP
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More like a truck.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXHERu7PBL
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Flashes. Fire. Clara’s face. His eyes.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTeLOwBYFf
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The Witch. The King. Me.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiy1nuv24C
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I sit up, heart pounding. My hands are shaking.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6tojPr4KG
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcSfgN2Aak
I know now. I know who I am.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0qCubc6VS
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And I know what’s about to happen.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflAqmWwSps
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7X6M8TYnb0
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuDt8OWtip
Somewhere out there, he’s about to die.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05EbbqZtMK
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWGtiqnBHl
For killing Clara.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdIzLjZ0Ol
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsKRZDh3uJ
And I… I remember why.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEOnjO6HH6
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTL59OiLPE
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I don’t even think.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nZYGySyDD
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I throw on the first robe I find and bolt through the hallways.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTOmhxb6aR
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAuxGNVHlz
Servants gasp, guards yell, someone calls me Your Grace —139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwppIwBdll
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but I don’t stop.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbQeYAiqg3
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeMNJXxHVm
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Because I can see it in my head —139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjzMDmTzbo
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNTr96vRpv
that boy, the one with the ocean-blue eyes and the calm that makes you want to scream,139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARfLlJETR8
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnDuh2zfwt
being dragged toward a block of stone.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBzLF55rdH
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uGDgyP1zd
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBcEqOov5G
By the time I reach the courtyard, my lungs are on fire.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Mz1cBqptv
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUT0aDpFBON
He’s there. Kneeling. Rope cutting into his wrists.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaNte4Ne6v
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLJXACtNJ7
The sword’s already raised.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VdnL4fPJM
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAreNKi5lb
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HAWDsthHD
And I just—139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2K5uVZWtj
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwi3f9AnQG
scream.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtGKmkZFPa
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEFSp1qgD0
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtssaKMU8yz
> “STOP! IT WAS ME!”139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0HjAOgazN
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdb8Cr1bFpx
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVsQjYjF9k
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFArk0gkZ2x
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Everything freezes.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpU9OzcHE8T
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Every single head turns.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaE49W0Pip
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucD1lCzlJM
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCwPolQpOq
> “He didn’t kill her because he wanted to!” I shout, voice cracking.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRVApOBaFf
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQw56tVW88a
“I—I blackmailed him! I told him to do it!”139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiBZcdwfdq
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFEp0TI1Nf
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5GBVhrpMq
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Gasps. Murmurs. Someone drops a goblet.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecOxUQEhU1
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunJFTyOxuq
And the boy — he just looks at me.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4Wtpx9bz5
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgg97h1Uhy
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlCktewcG0
Those same eyes. Blue and endless.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1vnH54eaH
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7H2OGhBJGW
No confusion. No panic.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH58KbjJ0X1
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRCpMJGeTN
Just that same maddening calm.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaIormzpVp
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDhgtTRdPJ
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ873aIRNSC
Like he knew I’d say it.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYeUU9NnQy
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqGYpieSDw
Like this was always supposed to happen.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXainaQOGq
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXZSmxEPz2
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3zUXkAers
And standing there, heart about to burst,139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8m8SlXlw0
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVyD9qkYT0
I realize something terrifying.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6t2hsc83Zk
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOgQ7o897R
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEh5UkG42t
Maybe I didn’t just play the game.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWgwzwlvli
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDsGvh0N24
Maybe the game’s been playing me.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkP212Uv9ap
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToDETCkLXA
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhunxhjCkuZ
The silence that followed my scream was so sharp, I could hear my own heartbeat trying to crawl out of my chest.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVs5ogXi1ZN
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVa5TpCC5a
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDm04YWCuPR
Then—139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBIaIymJMO
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a murmur.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXo1mk1wJK
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Then another.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JCOv3zU5d
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And suddenly the whole courtyard buzzed like a hive of very judgmental bees.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNec9jTBVhl
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoaSazD8Bs
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSnR99xUXv
> “Ah, a sibling quarrel, then.”139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTx8EZkbQWr
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9iGQgRRKt
“How typical of royal blood.”139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxG0BGAWMxv
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ajGV9EwdH
“The palace hasn’t had one of these in decades.”139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydHSYD9suu
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5sYklgi7R
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139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUO6Qh58J7j
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They said it like it was tea gossip.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VWrxh3v6V
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6K9eyKcYw
Like Clara’s death was just another headline for tomorrow’s banquet chatter.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBP7JOZK6QO
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5P3EpaxwOv
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvSLWUMXiq
The guards hesitated, looked at one another — and then at me.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbz8dzrG8Oz
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HkZf44D78
No one moved to grab me.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICjreCRZb2
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxiQsMlg7x
Instead, one of them quietly cut the ropes binding him.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQo6qDn5U5K
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDE9AwLeph
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYA78aMkpPx
I just stood there.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11X3i0YMoB
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIxbyb543w
Half-shaking. Half-laughing in disbelief.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzq5SVsND8
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8KebiDWps
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnE5HQ8RKd
He rose slowly, the faint sunlight catching on his golden hair.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUW1yynASq
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IvTbEkgrK
The blood on his hands looked like ink on silk.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgLid2Wibr
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDPnmi6Tpq
His calm didn’t waver.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsInIqTa36z
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Not once.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdnxxOtm5w
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPASiQa6u7C
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And the people… just watched.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yhBl0tbIY
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjI2DCqrfAc
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Not outrage. Not horror.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYO2ERnqDY
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSBjKb7zXo
Just detached curiosity.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1mXVCFfzc
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTxkIB6j0I
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FQd3atceg
I wanted to scream again, but all that came out was a small, cracked laugh.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgtswaFX5l
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSxhrAu3Ex
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> “Cool,” I muttered under my breath.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOLvqqKQa3
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5x1G4NYOLF
“Confessed to royal murder and everyone’s like—‘oh, sibling drama, how quaint.’ Totally fine. Completely normal Tuesday.”139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBzHLgiMTp
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEidPqqKq3L
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139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFwTf6c4UE
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The boy’s eyes found mine then.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEshYxqJNka
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8doe4Qebv
Blue. Cold. Still.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Uwwf0dYtt
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAiElQBRkK
No anger. No confusion.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4tqDcjuWq
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5L1hMkZYH
Just that same, knowing silence.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqJh841oCY
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoYBRS48Op
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xjn34iQ6g
And then he turned.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGQv8fNPrn
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Walked away.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEsDdUPanD
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Free.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIlr2Fj1Wl
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HKkK2bEFK
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevgNsJr4Ro
Leaving me there—139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQOBSkMqrw
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alone, surrounded by murmurs,139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUOSzs7QHq
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmzPvTmMA6
wondering what kind of nightmare lets you take the blame for a murder and still somehow feel like you’re the one being executed.1234 copyright protection135ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9hDk50cf8 尼

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