Page 39 of Master A-0011
Pearl turned to face Elec, loosening her hold as she met his studious stare. When his hand eased out, Pearl made awhimpering sound, but reached out and held it. He eased her forward, and each step didn’t appear easy.
“I know I’m supposed to be strong.I’m trying, but I don’t want to face them. I have to. I know I do, it’s just—” Her sob had me flattening my hand at the small of her back as I moved in. “Main Master?”
Elec’s lids lowered as if his body was softening, but his expression held no compassion. I saw determination. Resolve. Whispering filled the space, directed at her. It was so low, even straining, I couldn’t make out what he said.
“Pearl, sometimes people hurt us so deep that we never truly recover. Talking about it can help, but some scars can’t be healed.” The Main Master reached up with his other hand, tracing along her temple and down her cheek. “In hours, I’m going to have you fixed. I’m doing that for you. But what needs to be fixed the most is in here,” he said, moving his hand down to push right over her heart. “Only you can face the trauma and win. Ethan had to do this too. It’s your turn.Be ruthless.Be brave. You will feel no fear. Let your darkness guide you, no matter where it goes. The pain may not go away completely, but I promise, embracing your true self is a hell of a starting point. It’s time for you to do that.”
Muffled yells came from Quincy. All three were gagged and looked sedated, but his appeared to be wearing off enough for him to make sounds and slightly move.
“Chin up. You’re strong, Pearl. You’re Ethan’s. You can do this.”
“I’m strong. I’m Ethan’s.”
“Good girl.” A string of foreign words left Elec, and I felt my own heart jump at his snap. Anger resurfaced, swirling as I moved closer into Pearl’s side. Her jaw was chattering as she reached for my arm, turning to face the family who destroyedand abandoned her years before. Tears still came, but not the sobs as she took them in and adjusted to the scene before her.
“I’m strong.”
“You are,” I assured.
“Ten and two. Seven and five.”
I leaned over, kissing Pearl’s head.
“Who do you want first?”
“Sissy. That bitch took my life away from me. It’s my turn.”
The Main Master placed his hand on Pearl’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze as he headed for the door.
“Don’t have too much fun. Five AM. Have her there, Ethan.”
“I will.”
The guards followed the Main Master out, but I wasn’t waiting. I walked over, grabbing Sissy’s half-unconscious body and throwing it over my shoulder as I took large steps back to the bathroom. Groans sounded, but she didn’t attempt to fight back.
Clinking from metal banged as I untied her and strapped her in. By the time I turned around, Pearl already had a knife in her hand and was headed right for the woman who’d caused the accident.
“Wake up.”
The crack of the slap echoed off the walls. Pearl brought the tip of the knife up next to Sissy’s eye. The woman’s lids opened, and her eyes rolled, managing to stay focused on Pearl’s face for a few seconds before her head bobbed to the side. I stepped in, fisting her hair as I restrained her head to the wall.
“Better, baby?”
Pearl nodded, breathing hard as she looked over at me.
“She hated me. I was so excited to have a new sister, and she was mean to me from the first time we met. I lost my mother. I tried—Ireally triedto be okay with having a new one. They never gave me a chance.”
A deep sob tore from Pearl. Whatever emotion that pulled it free was overpowered as she turned, slicing the blade down from Sissy’s hairline. It wasn’t anywhere near as straight as Pearls. She intentionally zigzagged this way and that, cutting so deep the skin and meat split open to sag in one area. Her sister’s eyes flew open as Pearl made it below her cheekbone, but my girl didn’t stop. The woman’s agonizing muffled cry joined Pearl’s and got louder as Pearl neared the top of her separated lips.
“Mmmmphhh! Mmmph!”
“I was alone. I came to you as a little girl. You were four years older than me. A teenager. I needed someone. No one was there. No one helped me! You were mean. Taunting.You hurt me.” This time she swung at an angle, cutting from the woman’s shoulder to the far side of her ribs. The white shirt Sissy wore quickly saturated with blood around the long laceration site, and Sissy went wild with terror as she took in the rage on Pearl’s face, but there was nowhere for her to go.
“I bet you never thought you’d see me again. I bet you thought I was dead.”
“Mmmmph-Mmmph!”
Pearl moved in inches from her face. The closer Pearl got, the louder Sissy screamed into the cloth gag.