Chapter 8 · Don't Let Her See Your Hand

Chen's ribs screamed with every breath. He was halfway up the basement stairs when he heard Su Mian's voice cut through the crowd noise below.

"Chen Feng, wait."

He froze. His left hand was shoved deep in his jacket pocket, fingers wrapped around the twisted metal that wouldn't let go. The guard had stopped melting two minutes ago but it was still hot, still fused to his palm like a second skin. He could feel ridges forming under the surface of his forearm. New bone, maybe. Or something worse.

"I'm good." He didn't turn around. "Just need to clean up."

"You're bleeding through your shirt."

Her footsteps came closer. Chen took another step up. The metal pulsed against his palm and his vision went white at the edges. Not now. He couldn't lose it now, not in front of her.

"Su Mian, I said I'm good."

"And I said you're bleeding." She was right behind him. Her hand landed on his shoulder and he flinched so hard he almost fell forward. "Chen, what's wrong with you?"

Everything. He wanted to say it.