I stared at the altar. At my hands that were supposed to touch it. At the blood creeping closer across the bone floor.
I shook my head.
"Haven, you have to choose." Astro's voice was desperate. "If you don't—"
I shook my head again. More violently this time.
I won't.
The thought burned through the red thread, making us both gasp with pain.
I won't choose. I won't judge who deserves to die. I won't become what the Den wants me to be.
"Then we all die!" Ori's voice cracked. "Please, just choose. Choose him, choose me, I don't care. Just don't let us all die for nothing."
I looked at the boy. At his terror. At his desperate willingness to be sacrificed if it meant someone survived.
And I still shook my head.
No.
"THE HOLLOW ONE REFUSES." The Den's voice was somehow satisfied. "THE SCENTLESS ONE CHOOSES SILENCE OVER JUDGMENT."
The blood on the floor began to boil. Steam rose from it, carrying the scent of burning flesh and moonlight.
