SILAS

I took a deep breath, calming the chaos within me, resolute, just like when I used to swallow my hatred over and over again, plotting my revenge for some distant day.

I lowered my hand, blood dripping from my nails, some torn down to the flesh. This kind of pain didn’t affect me anymore.

I picked up the mask and stared at it, my finger tracing the carved patterns on the dark wood.

I just needed to be smarter, make my calculations in silence, and wait.

Finally, I walked back to my room, re