Chapter 46 · Stop putting yourself between me and every bad thing

She came around him anyway. Cain caught her arm, but she jerked free.

"Stop putting yourself between me and every bad thing," she said. "I can see the bad things."

"Then use your eyes."

"I am. I see you standing there like this is your fault."

"It is."

"You didn’t build this place."

"I worked in it."

The words came out before he could stop them.

Lila went silent.

The siren screamed again.

"What did you do?" she asked.

Cain looked at the collar rack. "I followed orders."

"That’s not what I asked."

"I killed people."

"The hunters?"

"Before them."

"How many?"

"I don’t know."

"You don’t know?"

"They erased parts of me."

"Convenient."

The word struck cleanly. He accepted it.

Lila stepped closer. "Did you kill people because they told you to?"

"Yes."

"Did you enjoy it?"

Cain’s jaw tightened. "No."

"Do you remember enjoying it?"

"No."

"Then how do you know?"

He looked down at his blood-covered hand.

"Because I remember the ones who begged."

Lila’s breathing changed.

Cain expected her to step back. Everyone did. Men had looked at his scars, his strength, the way he moved, and decided what he was before he opened his mouth.