I have never felt so much pain in my life.

The blade wrenched from my gut barely scraps the surface of the broken heart tearing its way from my chest.

"Maria. . ." Magnolia stares at me. Her face is smeared with bright red blood, and her eyes hold no light. The thing that scares me most is the lack of regret, the lack of guilt. Her spear drips my blood from the tip of the silver blade.

"Magnolia." My voice is raspy and wet, like someone poured wet gravel in my throat. "Why. . ?"

\Two years prior/

"We'll get out of here," I say, staring into the sky. "I'll make sure of it."

Magnolia nods.

I cross my pinky finger over hers.

"Promise."