“A word,” Hayes drawls. “Trust us. Edward has been manning the audio. You’re safe, which was Benedict’s stipulation.”
I swallow. “Okay.” I place the headphones on my ears.
“A man of his word,”a voice—Mitte says.“With this blood, we take our oath—and with this cut, we take the years. Do you understand that you’re sacrificing the rest of your bountiful years for us?”
“I do,”Benedict answers, and something about the way his voice sounds pained sends panic flooding through me. I turn to Hayes.
“He sounds hurt.”
Haye’s eyebrows knit together as he leans forward, listening.
“We thank you for this sacrifice. Your Brotherhood thanks you for this sacrifice.”
And then I hear a strange sound—a muffled word.
Then Benedict’s scream pierces through the headphones.
“No,” I whisper, moving to the door.
“The men are ready,” Edward confirms. “They’re in position.” I glance over at the computer. There’s no more video of the Offering, thanks to Benedict pulling his mask off. However, there is another monitor showing the locations of the rest of the team as little red dots. “He needs to give us the go ahead.”
“Go now,” I urge, pointing to the headphones. “He’s hurt,” I sob.
“Evelyn,” Hayes warns. “They each take a turn cutting him—surrounding him. We need to wait until they’re done. We wait until they’re grouped together closely, or they’ll scatter and we’ll lose them.”
“No,” I whisper, looking to Edward for confirmation. “There are twenty-two people in there! You’re not waiting until every one of them hurts him.” I move to the door, but Hayes moves forward and blocks the exit. “Move, Hayes,” I growl.
“Thank you for your sacrifice,” someone utters in the headphones, and then there’s another blood-curdling scream from Benedict.
“Get out of my way!” I scream, tears springing to my eyes.
I can’t lose him—can’t imagine my life without him. Not only did he save me, but he brought me back to life. Even the years he was absent, he was in my mind, reminding me thatsomeoneloved me—that someone cared, besides Lily and Salem. Even when my parents ignored my calls, angry about my life insurance policy. Even when I was alone at night in London, cold and scared. He was there. He was the reason I held on, the reason I put one foot in front of the other. I thought I hated him, but I could never hate him. I pushed him away, and he always came back. Always. And now he’s in there, righting the wrongs his father subjected me to. He’s trying to save other people, keeping me safe, yet allowing me to be involved. He’s giving me the best of both worlds—he always has—and now he’s surrendering himself to keep other people alive. I cover my mouth with my hand as I sob, thinking of the pain he’s enduring. He was there for me, but I left him—and now he’s broken and bleeding.
“I have to go in,” I growl. “I can’t leave him in there, those freaks slicing and dicing him,” I sob, my vision blurry with tears.
“Thank you for your sacrifice.” A scream.
“The girl is secure,” Edward adds. I assume they mean Sophie.
“What about Benedict?” My voice is shrill.
“Thank you for your sacrifice.” Benedict’s answering scream is weaker now, feebler, muffled. Like he’s on the ground.
“Hayes,” I beg, pleading with him. I reach out for his hands as my body shakes. “Save him,” I add.
“Thank you for your sacrifice.”
Hayes’s eyes water when Benedict goes silent, a whooshing sound sounding in the headphones—like he’s writhing on the ground.
“Please,” I hear Benedict beg. “Save Evelyn.”
My heart wrenches, and before I can process what’s happening, someone shouts on the headphones. I glance at Hayes, who is squeezing his eyes shut and grinning.
“Hands above your heads!” someone shouts in the headphones, and I let out a relieved sob.
“Call an ambulance,” Hayes says, looking at Edward.
Edward nods, and he has a large smile on his face. I see them high five, but my relief is short-lived when I hear a gunshot over the headphones.
