Ryder POV

I find her curled against the compound wall, arms wrapped around her knees. She's not crying. Just staring at nothing, her eyes empty.

"Jolie." I crouch beside her slowly. "Talk to me."

"I wanted to hurt her." Her voice is hollow. "At the end, when she was coming at me, I wanted her to hit that wall. Wanted her to feel pain like I've felt."

"That's natural." I settle beside her, my shoulder touching hers. "She's been cruel to you since day one."

"But I'm not supposed to be like that." ...