have helped him. A week ago, I would have looked away, turned a blind eye to his death, but now. I can’t. “What are you doing?” I hiss at him, my fingers clenching the earth as if it’s the only thing that can keep me grounded. A suit stands about five feet away from us, he has to be watching. Classic’s tired smile wavers slightly, his fingers grasping the note. He wasn’t made for this life, he had one before this field. “Have it-” he whispers. “No-” I whisper. “- You can’t.” “That’s not up to you. Like I said, I’ve got nothing better.” His note hits the side of my basket. The suit turns at the sound at watches as Classic’s had falls to the ground. There’s a flutter of movement as we wait; then I hear the boots making their way closer. I’m moving before I can think, my body lunging forward and grabbing his fingers. My chains pull me back, but I have him. I’m not letting him go, not when I just found him. Classic lurches forward, my grasp pulling him closer in. The suits must speak, but I can’t hear them. Their words muffle against my mind, leaving them muted to my ears. The suits grab me, their fingers digging into my skin as they try to pull me away from Classic. My body snaps, and I scream. My arm feels wrong, my shoulder pops in pain and in that moment, Classic slips from my grasp. The sound that escapes me is what I heard from the other women who died in this field, a wailing cry that grates the ears and rips the heart to pieces. But I’m not the one who is about to die. Classic lurches back, drawn by his golden chains and bands, until gloved white hands wrap around his shoulders. He wrenches himself forward, moving like a caged animal, snarling at the suits. I can’t tell if he wants to die or not, first giving up and only now does he fight. “You can’t take him!” I scream, forcing my body against my bindings. “He has a week! Only a week! Let him go!” The others don’t join my pleas, their eyes can’t help but stare, sadness at the corners of their eyes. I was one of them. I was one of the people who would look until the
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