Fracture Me (Shatter Me, #2.5)

by Tahereh Mafi

A weak link can bring everything down with it, and I don’t think this is the time to be taking chances.

I might walk onto that battlefield with a beating heart and be dragged off with a dead one.

I’m one part furious and one part terrified, and the two are having a battle of their own in my mind.

Kenji grins. “Okay then. Let’s go get our girl back.” “My girl,” I correct him. “She’s my girl.”

rrrrrrrt she's Warner's girl

Kenji snorts as we head in the direction of the compounds. “Right. Minus the part where she’s not actually your girl. Not anymore.” “Shut up.” “Uh-huh.” “Whatever.”

“We have to get a tank and get back to base as soon as possible—” “But what about Juliette?” Kenji asks. “Maybe we can split up—I can head back to Point with Castle and Alia; you can stay here with Ian and Lily—” “No. I have to get James. I have to be there. I have to be the one to get him—” “But Juliette—” “You said yourself that Warner isn’t going to kill her—she’ll be okay there for a little while. But right now they’re going to blow up Omega Point, and James—and everyone else—is going to die. We have to go now—” “Maybe I can stay here and look for Juliette, and you guys can go—” “Juliette will be fine. She’s not in any immediate danger here—Warner isn’t going to hurt her—” “But—” “Kenji, please!” I’m desperate now and I don’t care. “We need as many people at Omega Point as possible. There are tons of people left behind, and they don’t stand a chance if we don’t get to them now.”

Bruh i mean he's not wrong but bruh

The tension is so thick it’s practically its own person, taking up a seat we don’t have to spare. I can barely think straight. I’m trying to breathe, trying to stay calm, and I can’t. The planes are already overhead, and I feel sick in a way I don’t know how to explain. It’s deeper than my stomach. Bigger than my heart. More overwhelming than just my mind. It’s like fear has become me; it wears my body like an old suit.

The dead body of my ten-year-old brother.

Oop im dead

James is standing in front of me, sobbing, and I don’t know if I’m dreaming.

Oop spoke to soon

James must’ve been terrified. He must’ve been scared out of his mind and still, he snuck out of Omega Point because he wanted to help. Because he wanted to fight alongside us. I could kill him for it. But damn if he’s not one of the bravest people I’ve ever known.

The elephant in the room has made an appearance, and now no one knows what to say.

“Who wants breakfast?” I ask, holding up a few packets. Kenji falls to his knees, shouting, “Hallelujah!” in the process; Ian practically tackles me. James comes racing out of his room shouting, “ME ME ME I DO I DO,”

Aren’t you in love with this girl? Where’s the fire under your ass? I thought you would be dying to get to her right now—”

But I know I have a responsibility to Juliette. What would she do if I weren’t there to help her? She needs me.

I love Juliette. I really do. I want to help her and support her and be there for her. I want us to have a future together. But sometimes I wonder if it’s ever going to happen. This isn’t easy to admit, but part of me doesn’t want to put James at risk again—on the run again—for a girl who broke up with me. A girl who walked away from us. I don’t know what the right thing is anymore. I don’t know if my allegiance is to James or Juliette.

That's ok cause she don't want you lolol

“Juliette is dead.”

Sike

I trip backward until I hit the wall, leaning against it for support. I know who to blame. I know where the fault lies. Juliette is dead because of me.