Chapter 39

LAKE: We pulled into the Empire's entrance. I prepared to alight from the vehicle, thinking of nothing but how to rest, I was all definitions of tired. I leaned against the head of my car seat just to shut my eyes for a moment.  "What the fuck is that?" Kenji's question echoed and hung in the air. I did not reply.  "Is he beating her up? Wait. Is that the new girl?"  This time, my eyes flew open - even without my permission -  and my head found itself in the same direction he was staring at.  Red hair, gloves...  Red and... I squinted my brows. The more the image became clearer, the more River gnarled in me, hungry for human flesh. My teeth bared at the sight of the man forcing his palm against her mouth. Her eyes were wide open with fear.  I was out of the car faster than the speed of lightning. My feet rushed towards them on their own accord. In a flash, I pulled him away from her, just like I had done many nights ago. Breathless with anger, I pressed his back against the wall and dr