Chapter 3

I walked home with the beads wrapped in a scarf, my hand throbbing. When I got there, Mom had already left for work. Ruby was waiting in the kitchen.

She smiled.

"Hungry, sis? I made stew."

She pushed a huge pot toward me. Steam rose from the top. The smell hit me like a fist.

Meat. Rich. Gamey.

"Where's Ash?"

Ruby's smile widened. "Oh. You know. I figured you'd want a good meal before the Tour. You won't get food this good out in the wilderness."

My stomach turned. "You didn't."

"He was just a dog, Clara. And you're leaving anyway." She laughed. "Waste not, want not."

I lunged.

My hand connected with her face hard enough to snap her head sideways. She hit the floor, clutching her cheek, and I stood over her, shaking.

"We're sisters. Why are you doing this?"

She looked up at me. Smiled through the red mark blooming on her skin.

"Because Mom rigged the draw last time. She told you which straw to pick. She chose you." Ruby's voice turned cold. "Do you know what Chief Miller's son did to me? Do you know what it's like to be locked in a room for six months while a man twice your size uses you like a toy?"

Her eyes glittered. "This time, you get to suffer. You get to lose everything I lost."

"I didn't know—"

"Shut up." She stood slowly, still smiling. "And by the way? That fire that killed Pierce's mom? I started it."

My breath stopped.

"She found out about me and Pierce's uncle. I locked the door from the outside. I was going to let her burn." Ruby tilted her head. "But you had to play hero, didn't you? You ran in and saved Pierce. Got those ugly scars on your legs."

She stepped closer. "Pierce still doesn't know it was you. He thinks I pulled him out. I made sure of it."

Before I could respond, she threw herself backward into the table.

The pot of stew tipped. Boiling liquid and chunks of meat spilled across her arms and chest. She screamed.

The door slammed open.

Pierce.

He took one look at Ruby on the floor, covered in burns, and his boot caught me in the stomach.

I hit the ground. Couldn't breathe. He grabbed my hair and slammed my face into the tile.

Once. Twice. Three times.

Blood filled my mouth.

"I told you what would happen." His voice was a growl. "I told you to leave her alone."

He picked up Ruby like she weighed nothing. Carried her to the sink. Ran cold water over her burns.

Then he turned back to me. His hand closed around my throat.

I clawed at his wrist. Couldn't get air. The edges of my vision went dark.

Ruby's voice, faint and breathless: "Pierce, stop—you'll kill her—"

"Good."

Just before I passed out, he let go.

I sucked in air. Coughed blood onto the floor.

Pierce grabbed my hair again. Dragged me to my knees in front of Ruby.

"Apologize."

I couldn't speak.

He slammed my head into the floor. Again. Again. Again.

"This is your warning. Next time, I'll cut off whichever hand you used to push her."

He left. Ruby went with him, wrapped in his jacket.

I lay there until the bleeding stopped.

Then I packed my bag. Left the house.

And caught the first bus to the Fire Base.