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

the first time that he wears a jade ring on his left pinkie
finger.
He catches me staring and stands up. Slips his gloves on
and clasps his hands behind his back.
“It’s time for you to go back to your room.”
I blink. Nod. Stand up and nearly fall down. I catch myself
on the side of the bed and try to steady my dizzying head. I
hear Warner sigh.
“You didn’t eat the food I left for you last night.”
I grab the water with trembling hands and force myself to
eat some of the bread. My body has gotten so used to
hunger I don’t know how to recognize it anymore.
Warner leads me out the door once I find my footing. I’m
still clutching a piece of cheese in my hand.
I nearly drop it when I step outside.
There are even more soldiers here than there are on my
floor. Each is equipped with at least 4 different kinds of
guns, some slung around their necks, some strapped to
their belts. All of them betray a look of terror when they see
my face. It flashes in and out of their features so quickly I
might’ve missed it, but it’s obvious enough: everyone grips
their weapons a little tighter as I walk by.
Warner seems pleased.
“Their fear will work in your favor,” he whispers in my ear.
My humanity is lying in a million pieces on this carpeted
floor. “I never wanted them to be afraid of me.”
“You should.” He stops. His eyes are calling me an idiot. “If
they don’t fear you, they will hunt you.”
“People hunt things they fear all the time.”
“At least now they know what they’re up against.” He
resumes walking down the hall, but my feet are stitched into
the ground. Realization is ice-cold water and it’s dripping
down my back.
“You made me do that—what I did—to Jenkins? On
purpose?”