Chapter 40 · It's clear

He looked at his fingertip. "It's clear."

"Then the tunnel is leaking."

"The ceiling is dry."

"Maybe my face is leaking."

"Lila."

"Don't say my name like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you know me."

His thumb rested beside her eye. Warm skin. A rough callus. A touch that should have meant nothing and somehow made her chest crack open.

"I know you lie when you're scared," he said.

"Everybody lies."

"You joke when you hurt."

"You kill things when you're upset."

"I don't want to kill you."

"That is a very low standard."

"It's the one I can promise."

Her eyes burned. She slapped his hand away.

"I don't need your promises."

"You keep asking for them."

"I keep asking you not to turn into a weapon and tear me apart!"

Her voice broke against the last word.

The sound filled the passage.

Lila pressed both hands to her face. She tried to breathe through her fingers, but her lungs refused to work right. The Hive. Her brother. The missing chip. Silas's voice. Cain's blood. All of it came up at once, ugly and fast.

"Lila," Cain said.

"Don't."

"Look at me."

"No."

"You're going to hurt yourself.