Neil looks at me and then at Mia, and there is heartbreak in his face. “I didn’t…” I know he didn’t. He didn’t even touch her! Let alone hit her like she acted! Unless… “It’s the silver?” I say, unsure. His eyes go wide. He looks down at his hands. I’ve never met anyone with silver poisoning
“Please don’t think of me as a monster,” Angela says. Too fucking late. Angela isn’t throwing in the towel after a hardy effort to convince Neil to save himself. She’s throwing it all away without even bothering. Kind of like she’s throwing Neil away. I fucking hate it. “I don’t want Neil to
Now that we know Neil’s life is on the line, maybe they can be convinced to do something to help Neil. At the very least, they might have some Gods damned empathy. So I call them into the living room for a secret meeting about Neil. I’m surprised when Archer, Beau, and Steven all show up promptly.
“Our options are limited,” Archer concedes, and I wilt a bit, hope deflated. “So you aren’t going to do anything – again,” I say. I don’t care how close Archer is, how intimidating he is, or how much he’s glaring. “You are letting Neil take the brunt of your father’s ire all on his own.” “That’s
Beau laughs. I glare at him, but it only makes him laugh harder. “Neil is withstanding torture to protect whatever this thing is, and you expect us to just waltz in and convince him to give it up? Do you know my brother at all?” Okay, that’s a fair point, I guess. Neil is very stubborn. And prot
Beau and I followed closely behind Archer as he made his way toward Neil’s bedroom. Steven, carrying Mia, skirted along behind us. At Neil’s door, Archer doesn’t bother knocking, he simply barges inside. The door’s still unlocked. You’d think Neil would have learned his lesson by now. I’m about
“No,” Neil say, simple as anything. “You can’t say no,” I argue. “I’m telling you I quit.” “I do not accept your resignation.” “You don’t have a choice.” I’m getting angry now. It’s difficult to keep my voice level. “I quit, get it? I’m out. Done. Finished. I’m packing my things and out the do
Neil takes another breath. Then, like it pains him, he says, “I’m drawn to you… in a way I don’t fully understand.” I blink once, twice, as I try to let my brain process the words. It’s taking a good long while. Neil motions to Archer. “Archer is too.” Now, I’m doubly confused. Triply, when Ar