Our Beloved Tyrants Scene 65

You think you know me? Only the pure and righteous know me. Your foul sin and degradation has put a permanent barrier between you and I. You shall not pass this point without being destroyed. You know that. You-

“Antonia, come back!” pleaded Andreea, who, blind to everything except the distress of her friend, had caught up and seized her by the hand. It cost her dearly: Antonia’s pain seemed to diminish by about half, the other half being conducted into poor Andreea, who collapsed alongside her, but still she did not release her grip. As the sense of oppression lifted from Antonia, she realised what she had not done before: the voice, hateful and accusing though it was, was also desperate, and she knew then that she was on the verge of a hard-fought victory.