Chapter 47
"Do not worry, friend. I will put you out of your misery."
The stranger said it calmly as he unsheathed his blade. In the same breath, he brought it down in a brutal, straight thrust aimed right at Gazel's chest.
Pure instinct kicked in.
Gazel's hand shot forward and caught the blade midair.
Metal screamed.
The stranger raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised.
"Wow," he said lightly. "Do you want to die or what?"
Gazel looked up at him, unimpressed.
"Didn't you just say you wanted to kill me?"
The young man shook his head.
"If you don't let me do what I want," he said, smiling, "you'll be dead in a few seconds anyway."
Gazel's brow tightened.
Inside his body, the rat moved.
Deeper.
It scraped against muscle, burrowed harder, pushing toward bone. Toward his heart. The pain made his vision blur.
His grip loosened.
Just a little.
That was enough.
The stranger twisted his wrist, broke free, and plunged the short blade straight into Gazel's chest.
