My shot was true.

Thomas went down, struck backward with the blow of my arrow, but I was the one who cried out in pain. I held to my chest as my lungs seized. I didn't dare open my eyes to look at him, or Archer.

"The great thing about this game," Faust said, a victorious smile in his tone, "is that there's really no need for you to choose who gets released. It's been done for you by default."

I forced a swallow as I backed away from him, away from what ...