Shatter-Me-PDF-Shatter-Me-Series-Shatter-Me-Shatter-Me-1-Tahereh-Mafi (1)

Chapter Twenty-Eight
I’m burning.
The cord is chafing my legs into a fiery mass so painful I’m
surprised there’s no smoke. I bite back the pain because I
have no choice. The mass hysteria of the building is
bulldozing my senses, raining down danger all around us.
Adam is shouting to me from below, telling me to jump,
promising he’ll catch me. I’m too ashamed to admit I’m
afraid of the fall.
I never have a chance to make my own decision.
Soldiers are already pouring into what used to be my
room, shouting and confused, probably shocked to find
Warner in such a feeble position. It was really too easy to
overpower him. It worries me.
It makes me think we did something wrong.
A few soldiers pop their heads out of the shattered window
and I’m frantic to shimmy down the rope but they’re already
moving to unlatch the anchor. I prepare myself for the
nauseating sensation of free fall only to realize they’re not
trying to drop me. They’re trying to reel me back inside.
Warner must be telling them what to do.
I glance down at Adam below me and finally give in to his
calls. I squeeze my eyes shut and let go.
And fall right into his open arms.
We collapse onto the ground, but the breath is knocked out
of us for only a moment. Adam grabs my hand and then
we’re running.
There’s nothing but empty, barren space stretching out
ahead of us. Broken asphalt, uneven pavement, dirt roads,
naked trees, dying plants, a yellowed city abandoned to the
elements drowning in dead leaves that crunch under our