Chapter 47: Foreplay

Mercy Hall

"So, did they give you silver, gold, what?"

Weakness, she mustn't show even the slightest sliver of vulnerability. Her parent's death, she can't change, but she can choose her next move carefully. When she's done, there'll be plenty of time for retribution.

"Nowhere near what I'll get for delivering you."

She shifts her attention to the tall grass. Deja vu hits her once more as five men creep out of hiding.

Tanager motions to each one in turn. The guards move in, closing the gap around Mercy and her brother.

Until this moment, she never realized how trapped a person could feel even when outdoors and in an opened field. Right now, she's more like a caged, wounded animal. Captured only to be released in the same puzzling maze to relive the day, over and over, or so it seems.