And it all Went Wrong

It hurt so very much.

"Cinder, we don't know if he's dead yet. May-- maybe we-- Maybe we can-- Maybe we can still-- still save him," he offered, his voice sounding unsure, like he wasn't trying to convince only her, but himself too.

Cinder scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Right, Kai. Because Her Majesty is so merciful." She banged her head against the wall, kicking it with her un-human leg, and punching it with her right fist. "He's gone, Kaito, he's gone. And it's all my fault," she whispered.

Kai cursed under his breath, something he seldom did, and turned Cinder around, balancing her by grabbing her firmly by the arms. "Stars, Cinder. Stop blaming yourself."

She looked down. She would never stop blaming herself, because it would never stop being her fault. She swallowed. "We should get going."